How to Teach Your Children About Hurricane Safety
When Should I Be Prepared?
Hurricane season starts on the 1st of June and lasts all the way through the end of November. It is much too easy when September arrives and the air feels cool and crisp, to forget that the hurricane risk is still very high. By the time October arrives, we usually are thinking of all kinds of things that do not involve hurricanes at all. And forget it during November because we are preparing for the holidays or upcoming snow storms. Keep in mind that the hurricane season does not end until the last day of November and you won’t get caught unprepared.
I Don’t Live Along the Eastern Seaboard, Why Must I Know?!
Perhaps two years ago, this question would be valid, but after Katrina dealt out her demolition it became everyone’s problem. You don’t need to live along the eastern coast or the Gulf Coast to be affected by this monstrous show of nature’s might. We all watched the devastation, we all wanted to help.
Another concern is that although a hurricane hits the coastline, tornados can be spawned quite far inland due to the unstable air conditions. Later, even though it generally turns into a tropical storm force, the remnants can travel all the way through the Midwest or Northeastern states, through New England, and so on. Often flooding comes along with those traveling remnants of a hurricane.
Okay, So Get On With It, Educate Me!
There are a few things to do immediately so that you and your family are prepared for a hurricane event. Be sure that everyone in the family knows the plan so that if you are not all together when an evacuation is called, you will know where to meet. Set up a “phone tree” so that not only family in the stricken area, but also family members in other parts of the country or world will know that you are safe.
Be sure far ahead of hurricane season that your insurance policies are sufficient to cover the damage from a storm such as this. Most homeowners know, but some don’t, that while some policies will cover wind damage, flooding from the storm is not covered. This is something that needs to be taken care of very long before you hear there’s a storm heading in your direction; it is simply too late by that point.
If you plan to have a box of mementoes to evacuate with you, either have a list of what you will put into the box if a hurricane is heading your way. The items to put into it would include things such as a few photo albums that are important to you, maybe a couple of home movies and heirlooms if you choose. That takes care of the sentimental side of things.
On the practical side, things to write down on your “pack for evac” list include:
– Medications and physician contact information
– Some easy to open and eat food if you don’t know where you will be going or spending the night
– Enough water until you can find a hotel or reach a family member or friend’s home, or a shelter
– Medical paperwork that is vital to your health
– Things like birth certifications, citizenship papers, etc. (Things that would frankly be a pain to replace if it takes just two seconds to grab them from the safe on your way out)
– Insurance policies of all kinds, also probably currently in a safe
– Cash . . . and also be sure to have your credit cards in your purse or wallet for immediate needs such as hotel rooms
– A good radio with a supply of batteries so you can keep tuned for emergency instructions concerning your area. This is especially important if you don’t know that you will be able to find a hotel the first night
– Flashlight and a supply of batteries for it
– First aid supplies
Keep in mind that this advice is for if you have enough time to evacuate safely. It goes without saying that if you are forced to evacuate at the last moment and the storm is bearing down fast, always put your safety first because most of these items can indeed be replaced.
I Have My “Pack for Evac” List, What Else?
Plan an evacuation route. If you don’t know what your town’s disaster plan is, ask local emergency officials; they will be able to tell you what the evacuation routes are. The routes will head inland, so it may be a good idea to get a grasp on what towns you will be going through, and the lodging that is available in those places.
Although it may be painful currently with the exorbitant price of gasoline, don’t allow your vehicle to get too low on fuel. You should always have enough fuel to assure you could get to an area unaffected by the hurricane.
Pet Considerations
While you are preparing ahead of time for a possible evacuation, it may be a good idea to know which hotels in inland towns will be pet friendly. If you are planning to go to a shelter, be advised that they may or may not welcome your pets. More often than not, a shelter will not allow pets so an alternate plan is very wise.
Last Minute Items
(1)Be aware of things such as whether you should turn off your water, electric, or gas if you are evacuating.
(2)Board up your windows. If you live in a storm-prone area, you should already make sure you have these types of supplies. When a hurricane is coming fast, too many people choose that as the time to buy boards for windows and often the stores that sell such things are overwhelmed with customers buying the wood. The time you would have used standing in the checkout line could be put to much better use if you already have the boarding materials.
(3)Make some kind of provision for outdoor pets and/or livestock.
(4)Bring things like outdoor furniture, bicycles, tools, etc. to shelter. Anything you don’t bring in could be turned into a flying projectile that could injure someone when the wind begins.
Katrina’s Most Painful Lesson
Many things were learned from the monster storm of 2005 and the lessons will hopefully remain in the collective minds of all of us for a long time. One of the most important lessons to learn is that when an evacuation is called, leave. Don’t wait for someone to have to chop a hole in your roof for rescue. It is an inherent trait to want to protect our home and property, but when it is at the risk of our life or the lives of our family or rescue workers who would have to come out in a storm and save us, it becomes a very unwise and often deadly choice.
