I'll be really honest. The worst weather I have been through was a hurricane and a blizzard. No tornados, no earthquakes. However, I wanted to be a journalist, so I have spent a lot of time reading up about the different preparations one should make when facing a natural disaster. I was also the kid who hated when the power went out. Now that I'm 22, I don't think I would have nearly as much of a problem with being told to sit and read a book by a wood fire...sounds like a perfect day to me! However, not all natural disasters simply cut off our access to power. Many deprive us of food, fuel, clean water, and our daily routines and homes. Please educate yourself and your family members to best prepare for your course of action if faced with a natural disaster.
So, in the midst of Hurricane Sandy colliding with winter weather and causing havoc for places such as New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Connecticut, here are a few things that you may not realize you need when facing an extended power outage or evacuation due to a natural disaster.
- Know your surroundings, including potential flooding hazards, elevation of your home/residence, evacuation routes, and how you would arrive at these locations in the event of an emergency.
- Prepare your home for the worst. If an impending evacuation or natural disaster is even remotely possible, make plans ahead of time to ensure that something is not left out.
- Have storage for your outdoor furniture in an indoor and safe location, permanent shutters or marine grade plywood (at least 5/8 of an inch thick) to protect your windows and doors, and reinforce any areas within your home you think pose a potential risk.
- Carefully asses any outdoor shrubbery, trees, and branches that may come loose during high winds, and remove them so that they are not a threat to your home or to others.
- Clean your rain gutters and make sure they are free of all leaves and debris so that water can adequately flow through them.
- If you plan on using a generator, have it set up well in advance. Generators are heavy and usually require a large amount of strength to move. Also remember to have extra fuel on hand to keep a generator running.
- Fill up your gas tank in all of your vehicles ahead of time, and if necessary, bring additional fuel. Hurricanes especially can cause a sharp decline in the amount of fuel available, especially when everyone rushes to fill up their cars at the last minute. Be prepared ahead of time so that you aren't faced with a challenge of being able to evacuate if necessary.
- Create and test your emergency evacuation plan with your family. This way, if unseen problems do arise, you are able to find solutions beforehand.
- In case of separation, provide each member of your family with a contact number for an out-of-area relative or family friend, someone who is unlikely to be affected by the same storm that you are. This way, in case of an emergency, you have an outside contact. Also, it is usually easier to contact someone long-distance as their phones are not impaired by the disaster you are facing.
- Discuss your emergency plan with your neighbors. Strength in numbers is usually good in situations such as these. Also, be sure to ask if any of your neighbors have emergency medical training. This could be come very important knowledge in case you are injured and unable to leave your home.
The Obvious
- Non-perishable food that doesn't need to be refrigerated and can be cooked on a camp stove or that doesn't require cooking at all. I'm a fan of trail mix, crackers, peanut butter, Luna bars or other granola bars, and dried fruit. Things that require minimal effort to be cooked while still providing lots of nutrients are things such as beans, canned veggies, pasta, etc. Keeping a supply of camping-type foods in your emergency kit is a great way to stay prepared. These items can be found at sporting good stores or specialty hiking stores, while general non-perishable items can be picked up at your local grocery store.
- Plenty of bottled water! Stock actual bottles for drinking and cooking as well as gallons for things such as brushing your teeth, washing off, and flushing the toilet. You can also include serving-size packets of Crystal Lite and other drink mixes to add to your bottled water if you prefer the taste of something more substantial than water.
- Medicines, any important medical records or emergency items such as extra medicines, epi-pens in case of allergic reactions, Benadryl, tissues or toilet paper, bandaids, Triple Antibiotic Ointment, baby wipes, and ace bandages. Remember that you are preparing for the worst case scenario and not just a fun camping trip. Natural disasters are no joke, and being over prepared is much better than being under prepared!
- Foods, medicines, toys, beds, leashes, harnesses, bowls, and drinking water for any pets. My dogs are a major part of my family, and I applaud the directors of shelters in places such as NY and NJ for welcoming families with their pets during this terrible natural disaster. If your pet is more comfortable in a carrier or crate, do your best to bring this as well. Having a comforting place for them that best simulates their normal environment will help prevent additional stress during this already incredible stressful time.
- Batteries, flashlights, a battery-opperated radio, cell phone chargers, matches, candles, and supplies for cooking.
- Money, your drivers license, social security card, credit cards, checks, and if available, a copy of your will. I know that seems a little overkill, but having essential documents with you isn't necessarily a bad thing. You never know what you are going to encounter if you are forced to evacuate.
The Less Obvious
- Clothing that can be worn in layers and that is acceptable for the current weather conditions. Just because you think that you are going to be holed up in a shelter doesn't mean that's always the case. Be prepared to be relocated if need-be, meaning weather appropriate shoes, clothing, and outerwear.
- Emergency blankets. These can be picked up at your local sporting goods store. I am also a big fan of super absorbent towels. Made of very thin material, these are specifically designed to store in a small location and absorb high amounts of water, very useful when preparing for a flood or hurricane.
- Any feminine products you may need. Ladies, just because you're not expecting your period during this time doesn't mean that you will be back in your home before you get it, or that a high-stress environment will not make your monthly gift come early. Like I said, better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
- Family photos, special mementos, or similar items that you could not replace. Remember that if evacuating your home, that there is always the possibility that you will not return to a house in the same condition in which you left it. I know this is something that no one really wants to think about, but better safe than sorry. For me, this would be my external hard drive for my computer will a back up of all of my photos, the flags that were presented to me when my grandfathers passed away, a copy of my giant family tree, and any first edition books that I treasure, such as A Time to Kill by John Grisham. Don't judge.
- Entertainment. Okay, I know this isn't really essential, but for families with younger children or in my case, a person who simply can't sit still, I would definitely bring books or a Kindle. Having entertainment to pass the time makes people a lot easier to deal with because it gives their mind something to occupy itself with aside from the impending stress of the situation.
- If you plan on staying at home, make sure that your home is the most secure it can be. Are things liable to fall on you if your house experiences a strong gust of wind? Do you know where your water and gas shut off is in case a line breaks?
- DO NOT STORE BLEACH AND AMONIA IN THE SAME AREA. These chemicals create a toxic and deadly gas when combined, and an accidental mixing could be lethal to you and your family.
Remember: A natural disaster can strike anytime and anywhere. Although some we are warned of in advance, others appear very quickly leaving us very little time to prepare. Consider all of these tips when preparing for any type of natural disaster.
STAY SAFE!
No comments:
Post a Comment