Emergency Preparation for Storms

If Mother Nature wants to send a storm our way, it's going to come, and there's not much we can do about that. However, emergency preparedness can take some of the edge off the impact...no pun intended.

Emergency Preparation for Storms

If you are someone who lives in an area which is prone to storms, you should already be up on what to do, where to go and how to be prepared for bad weather. However, maybe you're new to the area, and not yet accustomed to getting beat up by high winds and hard rain. If that's the case, you probably don't yet have a good handle on how to face a storm situation.

One thing in your favor is that storms don't show up without some sort of warning. If you check the weather reports, you will probably have a good idea what's coming your way.

Here's a few of the things you may hear about, depending on where you live. Common sense here. You're not likely to get a blizzard warning if you live in Miami. On the other hand, stranger things have happened, and, since an unexpected type of storm that normally doesn't show up in your neck of the woods might catch emergency people flat footed, you should take that into your emergency preparation plans.

The first thing you need to understand is the difference between a watch and a warning. I'm mainly going to use the word "storm", but watches and warnings apply pretty much the same way to hurricanes, tornados, and other bad weather events.

A "watch" is issued when the conditions are right for a storm, or other event, in your area. As you would expect, with a storm, you might be able to look outside and spot dark clouds, feel wind gusts, and maybe even some rain. There may or may not be a "storm" per se, but the conditions tell you it "might" happen, so, this is the time to double check your emergency preparedness supplies and keep an eye on the weather reports.

By the way, this is a good time to mention that owning an emergency radio with access to the NOAA weather alerts might be a good idea. My own emergency radio has solar and crank recharging and backup powder.

A "warning" occurs when a storm is actually headed towards your area. It usually also means that the particular event, such as a tornado, has actually been spotted. This is definitely the time to listen to the weather warnings and take the advice that emergency authorities give. Don't wait until the last minute, either, or you may wind up burning up all that gas you added to your tank sitting in a long line with other people who waited until the last minutes.

To make things worse, waiting to the last minute may not only strain your resources, but put you in danger as well.

Snow can always become a problem if you're not prepared, but a snow storm, especially a blizzard, means extra danger...even if you are. You need to make sure you have taken the appropriate emergency preparation steps as, in the case of a heavy snow storm, in addition to services such as electricity being disrupted, you might not be able to get out for supplies you don't have.

While a whole lot different from a snow storm, a hurricane can be even more disruptive than a blizzard in certain ways, and, while preparation is valuable, simply "getting out of Dodge" may be the best option. Listen to the authorities and don't hesitate to leave town to avoid meeting the next "Ivan" or "Katrina" face-to-face.

It's a fact that Mother Nature has the edge. If she wants to send a storm our way, it's going to come, and there's not much we can do about that. However, emergency preparedness can take some of the edge off the impact...no pun intended. So, here's a few tips about what to do if a storm is coming.

Dress for the occasion:

You will need to think about protection from rain and, perhaps, cold. If the power goes out, you may need extra clothes and blankets to keep warm. Don't forget gloves, hats, socks, and even bad weather boots.

You'll need to feed:

During emergencies, including storms, you will still need to eat. You will need emergency food supplies which you can accumulate by buying long storage foods at the grocery or by purchasing an emergency meal kit. The power may go out, so have some sort of backup means of cooking your food, such as a propane camp stove, or stock up on food that doesn't need cooking. You may also need a manual can opener, scissors, and the proper utensils for preparing your food. If the weather event lasts too long, you may not be able to get out to re-supply your food stocks, and, even if you may, the shelves may still be empty, or the stores even closed.

Prepare to drink up:

Keep a stock of clean drinking water handy. In a storm situation, clean water may be hard to come by during really bad conditions and you don't want to suffer from dehydration because you were not prepared. You should keep at least one gallon a day for every person in your home. Estimate about 3 to 4 days. Don't forget, if you are going to use prepared emergency foods, such as those in an emergency food kit, that require water for preparation, you will need extra water for that.

In any emergency situation, including storms, water may be available, but not clean, drinking water. One way around this is to have some emergency water filters on hand. Even a simple "straw" type water filter the size of a ball point pen can purify over 90 liters of water.

Keep in mind also, that the amount of water we are discussing here is drinking water.

Skip the rub-a-dub-dub, fill up the tub:

Since, in the event of a storm, you'll probably need water for washing and flushing the toilets. During, and after, a storm, your water supply may be interrupted, or the water may be unsafe to use, so best fill your bath tub, water containers and pails with water.

Be a medic:

You should always have a good size first kit ready and make sure it's freshly-stocked. At the minimum, it should contain disinfectants, gauzes, cotton balls, Q-tips, bandages, and necessary medicines for pain. It's not a bad idea to have a kit for your car as well.

If anyone in your family is under special medication, try to arrange to have enough supplies to last until after the storm is over and drug stores are open again.

If the lights get switched off:

During storm events, power outages are common. If you want to have light, stock up on candles, flashlights and emergency lights. It's a good idea to have extra fresh batteries and matches. Personally, I prefer flashlights, lanterns, and other emergency devices which can be recharged with solar power or by cranking.

You will want to have a battery-powered radio that will pick up a station that covers your area. The local weather people will be monitoring the storm and emergency conditions and can keep you updated.

If you feel you might need hot water during the period when power is not available, that camp stove may come in handy. In some cases, an outdoor gas grill will do nicely.

Get to your happy-ier place.

If there's reason to believe your primary residence is in danger, you should consider an alternate shelter. This can be someplace the emergency service people have set up, as an evacuation center, or some other house or building that is safer. Maybe even go to a motel out of the path of the storm. However, you will need to be sure you have enough gas in your car in case you do need to leave your house and move someplace safer. Keep to high ground to avoid flooding, do not drive into water, and travel to a place where you have a better chance of staying safe and dry.

Emergency Preparation for Storms - Emergency Meal Kit
Page Updated 12:29 PM Thursday 10/02/2014