Disaster Planning: Hurricane Preparation
One of the world’s most damaging and fatal disasters is the hurricane. Because of the impact of man’s activity on the environment and global climate changes, hurricanes have evolved into very destructive forces. How then do we survive these?
The smartest things to do are to prepare for the worst things that might happen and to evacuate to higher, safer grounds when necessary. As soon as a weather disturbance is detected by atmospheric radars, the weather forecaster makes an announcement of the possible areas that the hurricane might be hit. Along with this, information regarding wind velocity, amount of rainfall, and the expected time of arrival of the hurricane is also presented. This highlights the importance of keeping ourselves updated by tuning in to our televisions or radios.
People who reside in places frequently hit by hurricanes are already well acquainted of things to be done. Procedures such as stocking emergency supplies like food, potable water, medicines and batteries for flashlights and radio are carried out right away. Strong hurricanes usually cause power failure and a standby generator is a wise investment. Also, buy enough gas to keep your generators working if it would take some time for electricity to be restored.
Aside from power supply, ensure you have enough water to use. Fill all containers inside your house with clean water. You can also improvise by cleaning your bath tub and filling with water that may be boiled and used as drinking water. Hurricanes may cause floods and other major damages to the pipelines thereby cutting the water supply. Besides, groceries and convenience stores may remain closed for some time and it would be impossible to buy bottled water anywhere.
Hurricanes are packed with very strong winds that travel up to 100+ miles per hour. These may cause cars, pieces of heavy metal or wood to crash into our homes. In order to avoid these damages, homeowners are advised to secure their houses with permanent storm shutters and set-up thick protective plywood on the windows. After the hurricane, this installation can be removed and stored away for future use.
When the weather bureau announces the hurricane to climb up to categories 4 and 5, residents near the coastline or in low lying areas are advised to immediately evacuate to safer grounds. Pack with you protective clothing, food and water and other emergency supplies.
Hurricanes may pass an area within a few hours or days but the damages it leaves behind can be very massive and repairs may take several months or even years. But just as long as people are safe and no one has been hurt, a community may, after the storm, work together to rebuild what was lost.
