Preparing for a Disaster
Preparing for a Disaster: What To Do, What To Have
No one can escape the fury of Mother Nature once she decides to unleash her wrath. With this in mind, people should always be aware, prepare for the worst and find immediate shelter before and during bad weather.
Many towns throughout the world, including the United States, have prepared an emergency plan for fire, rescue and governmental operations. Cities will tactically pick locations for sirens that can blare announcements of evacuations. Sirens can also prevent lives being lost since most people listen for them during inclement weather. Should the power be disrupted, the system should still broadcast. There are also accumulations of water, food and medicine for after the disaster.
For people who live in communities along the coast, the months of June, July, August, September, October and November can put some people on edge. This is hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean. In the North Pacific Ocean, months May through November are considered rainy months.
When a hurricane is seen developing on radar, forecasters will keep the community up to date about it. Since weather is as unpredictable as earthquakes, there should be no cause for immediate alarm. However, should the threat become intense, emergency plans need to be set in motion and steps taken to avoid a catastrophic loss of life, which happened in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane force winds can exceed speeds of 100 miles per hour. At those speeds, cars can be tossed about; metal or wood pieces can cause significant damage to a home. Families can use plywood to protect windows and doors from flying glass and debris.
Imminent weather threats send people out in groves to grocery stores to buy water; food, batteries and other must have essentials. Should a family have a generator, stocking up on the fuel can help too. (Never bring a generator inside the home and use it.)
Tap water in milk like jugs often works. Filling the bathtub full of water can also help in staving off dehydration.
Never forget to have an emergency medical kit. What should this have in it? First off, bandages of different sizes as well as antibiotics. Should a person be injured or just ill, this kit can assure that no one has to venture out during rough parts of the storm to seek medical assistance.
Keep an eye on the hurricane. Should it be upgraded to a category 4 or 5, it is time to leave the home and find a place safe out of harm’s way. Pack the car lightly with only a few clothes, food and water. Bring some kind of entertainment to pass the time.
Be sure to drive carefully to avoid accidents. Never be panicked behind the wheel. Keep your cool and you’ll get to where you want to go.
Hurricanes can hit fast and leave quickly after just a few hours. After which, residents will typically venture out to see what kind of damage was left in its wake.
After the hurricane passes, town and city officials will note if the policies they set in place were effective. One way to tell if they have been is if they are no deaths reported. Most people understand that homes and businesses can be repaired and replaced but an individual is gone for good.
Family members should plan ahead and run through a emergency layout plan to look for flaws and find where changes need to be made, if there are any. It is imperative everyone has the plan in mind when going through this kind of disaster.
Being prepared is a way to stay away from death’s grip. Each year, more and more people move to the coast but no little in the way of hurricane training. For those who already live there, this is just one of those things that they must to do survive and enjoy the life near water at the same time.
