Handling Weather Emergencies. Part 1; Forward Planning Makes The
Difference
Introduction
At some time in our lives, many of us will face an emergency.
Most will involve personal illness or injury, but severe
weather, including hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes and heat
waves, is a very common threat.
Severe weather and its after effects, such as flooding, results
in numerous deaths and injuries every year, together with major
property damage and loss.
But we are not entirely powerless in the face of these disasters
- a little time and effort now will significantly reduce the
risks of death, injury and property damage. It will also help
you recover much faster.
Planning for emergencies is complex subject, too big for a
single article.
Part 1 covers identification of the threats to you and your
family, how to make sure your safety is protected, and making
sure everyone knows what to do, even if you are separated.
The second part considers those precious few hours before the
the weather becomes really threatening. Preparation is crucial
to make sure your family is safe, and your home and belongings
are as secure as possible.
Advance Planning - It's A Drag But It Pays Off
One of the hardest things about preparing for emergencies is
finding the time.
But if you live in North America, your weather is arguably the
wildest on the planet. Your chances of being threatened by
severe weather are very real.
So at some stage (soon!) why not set aside an hour or so to do a
little groundwork and prepare for when things get nasty.
Involve your family - the more heads the better, and it is
possible that one of you may be incapacitated in a serious
emergency.
Four big questions need to be answered before you can regard
yourself as reasonably well prepared.
- What are the threats, and how can you minimize them?
- If you have to leave in a hurry, where will you go and how
will you get there?
- How will the family get together or keep in contact if they
are scattered between hone, work and school?
- What can you do now to help you handle the emergency
competently, and then return to normal life quickly?
What Are The Biggest Risks?
This sounds pretty easy, because you know where you live, and
what sort of weather to expect as the seasons change.
But when you get down to it, severe weather is often just normal
weather become stronger, or bigger, or longer lasting.
When considering your home, a great shortcut is to contact your
local emergency management office or the Red Cross to see what
information they have on your area. You should be able to find
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) hazard maps and other
relevant material to help with your planning.
It's also worth thinking about other places you regularly visit
- the beach, the lake, relatives - and even where you go on
vacation.
Shelter and Evacuation
Most severe weather emergencies arrive without much warning. You
may need to leave your home and move to a safer area.
Early warning and sound planning will reduce the stress of any
emergency, and the first step is to be well informed.
And there is no better way than to use the Weather Radio Service
provided by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration) and the EAS (Emergency Alert Service).
Advisories of threats and hazards are broadcast over dedicated
radio frequencies (to avoid interference from commercial
broadcasts) and can be received on specially modified weather
radios.
More information on the Weather Radio Service and equipment can
be found at
http://www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/weather-radio.html
Evacuations can be a matter of choice or they may be mandatory.
Becoming familiar with exit routes will reduce much of the
stress of having to move out fast.
In some cases, such as tornadoes, you may need to use a nearby
shelter. Again prior knowledge of its location and easiest
access will be invaluable.
Communication Between Family Members
Emergencies often happen at the most inconvenient times. Your
family may be scattered between home, work and school when the
weather becomes threatening, and you may remain separated for
some time until things return to normal.
Work out in advance what procedures are likely to be followed -
does the school have an emergency plan and shelter? How about
the work place? It will help if each family member knows what to
do, and what others will be doing and where they are likely to
be during an emergency.
Prepare wallet sized summaries of locations and phone numbers
for each family member, while cell phones should help you to
keep in touch.
Long Term Plans
So far everything I've suggested assumes that you will, some
day, need to act fast to protect yourself against a developing
emergency.
This section covers preparations which should benefit you
regardless of whether an emergency arises.
These include
- Checking your house and property insurance. Get the best you
can afford, and remember that even if you live on a floodplain
you can still get flood insurance. At the same time, make an
inventory of your possessions.
- Arrange secure storage of small valuable items and
documents, preferably away from your house. Include copies of
credit and ID cards.
- Learn first aid and how to administer CPR.
- Make sure you know how to operate a fire extinguisher
- And consider joining one of the volunteer emergency
organizations - the better you understand what may happen, the
easier it will be to handle it if and when it does
- Make advance arrangements for your pets - possibly a pet
carrier for small animals, and safe accommodation for larger
animals.
OK. Now you're prepared for the worst, and you have
significantly reduced the effects a major emergency will have on
you. Part 2 of this article reviews what to do as the weather
becomes threatening.
This article is adapted from a free special report on weather
emergencies. It can be downloaded from http:
//www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/tyvm.html
While you're there, check out the rest of the site for more
information on dangerous and spectacular weather.