While Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer, June 1 is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season (ending Nov 30). Procrastinating on creating an emergency plan can cause more stress, money, and damage than you could ever imagine.
This year (and every year) the U.S. Army is asking everyone to “Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit and Get Involved!”
Ready.gov provides four simple steps to assist you in making sure you’re ready in the event of a natural disaster:
Step One: Be Informed.
Hurricane hazards come in many forms: lightning, tornadoes, flooding, storm surge, high winds, even landslides or mudslides can be triggered in mountainous regions. Look carefully at the safety actions associated with each type of hurricane hazard and prepare your family disaster plan accordingly. But remember this is only a guide. The first and most important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense.
Hurricane photo from National Geographic
Step Two: Make a Plan.
Make a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
Step Three: Build a Kit.
Get an Emergency Supply Kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car in case you are told to evacuate.
Step Four: Get Involved.
In the face of disaster, Americans come together with courage, compassion and unity and ask, “How can I help?”
There are many ways to Get Involved especially before a disaster occurs. The whole community can participate in programs and activities to make their families, homes and communities safer from risks and threats. Community leaders agree the formula for ensuring a safer homeland consists of volunteers, a trained and informed public and increased support of emergency response agencies during disasters. Major disasters can overwhelm first responder agencies, empowering individuals to lend support.
Remember, this are only resources and tips; it is up to you to put this information into action. Check out other great resources below:
National Hurricane Center website: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml
Hurricane FAQs: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/tcfaqHED.html
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service website: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
Hurricane Season Preparations from DHS: http://www.dhs.gov/files/gc_1224786766297.shtm
Are you Ready? Share with us and others your tips for preparing for a nature disaster.
