Though I live in the intermountain west, I followed the progress of Hurricane Bill very closely, praying hard for all of those who might suffer in its wake. These days, with climate shift and increasing storm activity across the globe, it can be scary sometimes whenever we hear even passing mention on the news of incoming weather changes!
Unfortunately, there seems to be no region of the United States which is immune to extreme weather. Growing up in Arizona, I experienced both droughts and flash-floods brought on by monsoons--two ends of the spectrum.
Because my parents' home was not situated on low ground, we never had to evacuate due to flooding. We were also fortunate enough to be able to remain in the city (Phoenix) despite the merciless drought.
Yes, we were lucky--but that doesn't mean we weren't prepared with the "just in case," sort of things we needed. Being adequately equipped for a disaster of any kind does not have to be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your family to expend the effort and resources necessary.
Many people that pass away as a result of extreme weather patterns are not stupid, lazy, or crazy--they may have simply been unaware and/or unprepared. They might have even panicked and resultantly done the wrong thing--like stayed indoors instead of evacuating the area.
First, being prepared means being aware. Learn to notice the natural warning signs that occur before some kind of storm or other disaster hit.
For example, when my spouse and I first moved to the state in which we currently reside, we heard from a relative that when the wind starts blowing hard north, a storm is coming--and it could be a thunderstorm or a blizzard, depending on the season. That got us paying attention.
You should have seventy-two hour kits--backpacks which are filled with bare necessities for one person for a solid three days--stored somewhere that is easily accessible for you and your children.
As you pay close attention to warning signs, the news, and radio forecasts, you should consider moving these into your car so that you can evacuate without having to take time to load the car.
Keep emergency food storage inside of your home. These items do not leave, as they are there for you in the event that you are trapped inside or are otherwise unable to obtain food but have access to your home. Many of these food storage items will be for survival only, so don't get fresh produce or other perishable items that may go bad if you lose power.
These are just a few things you need to do in order to get your family prepared for a natural disaster--it is not the whole list by any means. But once you start doing these things, I can promise you, the next time a hurricane comes churning in your direction, you will feel much more peace of mind.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no region of the United States which is immune to extreme weather. Growing up in Arizona, I experienced both droughts and flash-floods brought on by monsoons--two ends of the spectrum.
Because my parents' home was not situated on low ground, we never had to evacuate due to flooding. We were also fortunate enough to be able to remain in the city (Phoenix) despite the merciless drought.
Yes, we were lucky--but that doesn't mean we weren't prepared with the "just in case," sort of things we needed. Being adequately equipped for a disaster of any kind does not have to be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your family to expend the effort and resources necessary.
Many people that pass away as a result of extreme weather patterns are not stupid, lazy, or crazy--they may have simply been unaware and/or unprepared. They might have even panicked and resultantly done the wrong thing--like stayed indoors instead of evacuating the area.
First, being prepared means being aware. Learn to notice the natural warning signs that occur before some kind of storm or other disaster hit.
For example, when my spouse and I first moved to the state in which we currently reside, we heard from a relative that when the wind starts blowing hard north, a storm is coming--and it could be a thunderstorm or a blizzard, depending on the season. That got us paying attention.
You should have seventy-two hour kits--backpacks which are filled with bare necessities for one person for a solid three days--stored somewhere that is easily accessible for you and your children.
As you pay close attention to warning signs, the news, and radio forecasts, you should consider moving these into your car so that you can evacuate without having to take time to load the car.
Keep emergency food storage inside of your home. These items do not leave, as they are there for you in the event that you are trapped inside or are otherwise unable to obtain food but have access to your home. Many of these food storage items will be for survival only, so don't get fresh produce or other perishable items that may go bad if you lose power.
These are just a few things you need to do in order to get your family prepared for a natural disaster--it is not the whole list by any means. But once you start doing these things, I can promise you, the next time a hurricane comes churning in your direction, you will feel much more peace of mind.
SHARE
