After the hurricane preparedness and the disaster is over

Hurricane preparedness includes when the disaster is over

In French there is a word called “denouement” when translated means “unknotting” or “unwinding”. It can also mean ‘falling action” when it is at the end of a novel or in a disaster situation. It refers to the results of an intense reaction that has built up over time in a complex situation or multiple sequences of events. In a novel it is generally the aftermath or resolution found in the final stages of a story.

In critical incident / disaster thanatology (the study of death, dying, grief, loss and disasters) there is a ‘disaster denouement’ that occurs for all those who are in someway involved in a disaster or potentially disastrous event. This is true for disaster victims, emergency responders and media reporters as well as the general public who are concerned and to some extend emotionally attached to the outcome of the disaster situation.

For a period of time from before the disaster occurs to days, weeks an months after the disaster, individuals and groups will experience the thanostic denouement experience of the unwinding of the emotional surge that the potential or actual event causes. Ask any fire fighter or EMT about the emotional stand-down that they may experience after stressful and high adrenalin rush event.

Meteorologist, weather forecasters and reporters are no different; they are human and have the same emotional experiences as others in critical incident situations. So sure when you are watching a disaster report or a potential disaster situation and there seems to be some ‘let down’ or as some have viewed it as disappointment there is going to be critical incident denouement both on-air as well as behind the camera or microphone.

This is not to also say there is a void in all disasters of what is know as critical incident economics (death, dying, bereavement. Loss and disaster related economic issues). Television, radio, newspaper, websites are in someway or another influenced or involved in thanostic economics. That is how services are offered to the public and salaries are paid and the lights are kept on at the various reporting offices.

The issue is not so much that there is critical incident thanostic economics but the ethics involved and how that is played out. Often there is a balance like a wind chime that must be balanced intentionally so that the chimes ring pure and harmoniously giving a pleasant tune when the winds blow. In a disaster the winds blow intensely and the balance can be hard to keep! The better the quality of the wind chimes and the medial reports the more likely the chimes reports will stay in ethical tune even when they ring the loudest due to the strong winds of disaster.

Weather reporting in a disaster needs to strongly encourage views, listeners and readers to take shelter and be safe in a potential or actual natural disaster situation. It would be irresponsible of them not to do so. There is also a responsibility to be as accurate in the scientific art of meteorology as well.

All involved from weather forecasting industry to the audiences themselves need to learn more about disaster thanatology and the emotional affects it has on individuals before, during and after a disaster event and to act accordingly. The better educated all are the better the response to disasters will be.

There is a great deal of weight on the shoulders of those who represent the meteorological sciences. If they are scientifically in error in their scientific predictions and a mass evacuation is called or even schools are closed for the day(s) the impact is significant and compounding.

Hostility by the public is most often not the best instrument to find the maximum balance so the most members of the community can be served the best.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Eyes turn to Ike

By Charles Elmore | Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 12:23 PM

Hanna is softening, but Ike is on pace to get a lot meaner.

Wind shear is slowing Hanna’s momentum and pushing its projected path to the north, away from Florida. Ike, right behind it, is expected to become at least a Category 3 hurricane.

Ike should be packing 115 mph winds and parked on the doorstep of the Bahamas by Monday at 8 a.m., according to Wednesday’s latest projections.

“Ike is on the cusp of being a hurricane and should be one later today,” National Hurricane Center senior hurricane specialist Richard Knabb wrote in the 11 a.m. discussion. Ike’s winds were clocked at 70 mph, just below hurricane status.

“The underlying ocean temperatures will only get warmer along the forecast track,” Knabb wrote. A ridge of high pressure building in the western Atlantic could push Ike to the west and southwest in a couple of days — which probably means no quick right turn to steer it northward, away from Florida.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/stormblog/

Hurricane Preparedness and Victimitis

Emergency preparedness and our thoughts, words and actions

Hurricane victimitis is the condition of not taking control of one self and circumstance even in the face of a disaster such as a hurricane. It can be a serious and chronic condition that can be fatal if not properly addressed.

I have been reading a particular blog from a newspaper in Florida. One of the commenter’s has repeated asked where is the bet place to go for shelter that has hot meals. According to their entries they don’t like cold sandwiches or too peppered potato salad at the shelter they have used in the past. This individual is very concerned about finding out what the menus will be at the various shelters so thy can select the one they want to utilize if Hurricane Ike or Josephine or Tropical Storm Hanna comes their way and the must evacuate.

Now it is true that food is a comfort item (see my next blog entry as my replay to the gentleman’s inquiry about emergency shelters and menus) and it important to have when faced with a troubling situation. That is not the issue of this particular blog entry.

My concern is that many in our hurricane prone areas are deep in the throws of ‘Hurricane Victimitis’. They feel helpless and are looking for the government and emergency resource organizations to help rescue them and provide for all their needs including hot meals in a life threatening emergency. That is not what these disaster organizations are there for! They are there to provide limited disaster support until the person can restore their own wellbeing and get on with their life.

There is no other way to put it. YOU are responsible for your well being and care – no one else. The emergency response staff is there to provide the most basic of basic of support care to keep the body alive in the midst of terrible and life-threatening conditions.

During the early part of our history as humans, little care was give to the common folk and this included the events of disasters. Yet in most recent times many have developed the idea that the officials of government and philanthropic organizations will arrange for the entire well being and comfort of everyone. That is so far from the truth. WE as individuals are responsible for our well being when faced with a disaster.

Only the very few that are so disabled as to not be able to help themselves such as the cognitively challenged or seriously handicapped should depend entirely on their support in times of disaster. That is a completely different situation and a limited population. Everyone else needs to get out of disaster victimitis and start to prepare for their won needs. Every attempt should be made each person to help themselves first. Then after they have done their bet to help themselves if a person still needs additional limited support then such services be available.

Not everyone has family or loved ones that can take them in during a disaster. Not everyone has the economic resources to find and stay at a motel or hotel during a disaster emergency. That is understood. That is why there are emergency shelters. Yet even in those circumstances EVERYONE needs to be disaster prepared to the best of there ability and supply as much of their emergency preparedness necessities as possible.

It is vital that we each take emergency preparedness seriously. WE are very fortunate to have the technology that will tell us when a disaster is pending.

Each person needs get as much necessary disaster preparedness information as possible and develop their own emergency preparedness checklist. This is particularly important when you know you live in a hurricane area. This means that you read hurricane reference guides and learn all the emergency preparedness tips possibly for your particular circumstance. You are the best person to know your current situation and what your particular emergency preparedness necessities are.

These disaster kits don’t have to be fancy and involved, many highly effective disaster kits are low cost emergency survival kits made from the discount dollar stores, the reduce racks at the back of the grocery store, thrift stores bargains and yard sales! To establish your emergency preparedness kit all it takes is a bit of creativity, a willingness to help oneself and their loved ones, and the necessary actions it takes ahead of time to establish the disaster kits. It also takes an agreement to sacrifice a few moments of creature comforts before and during a disaster situation for the bigger benefit of keep body, mind and soul together.

What a person experiences in an emergency shelter is just that an emergency situation location. There are no frills or menus like some sort of resort, that is not what emergency shelters are designed for or what should be expected to be.

I just read a wonderful article called “Curing Victimitis” sent to me by Bob Proctor from his website Insight of the Day, I’m enclosing it for you to read. The article comes from his outstanding website and I strongly suggest that everyone sign up – it’s free and inspiring (www.insightoftheday.com). I would not start off my day without reading Bob’s message to me each morning!

I hope that you will take serious attention to victimitis that is around each of us and often IN us and vow to do our part to correct our thinking so we can eliminate this cancerous plight especially when it comes to pro actively addressing frightening and difficult events like disasters.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Emergency preparedness checklists, disaster evacuations and peppered potato salad

Personalizing disaster kits for comfort and taste

Yesterday I told you about an individual on a forum that wants to know where the best food is in an emergency shelter. He was upset at the amount of pepper in the potato salad it seems.

At first reading I was ready to say “get real it is an emergency response situation” then I realized that pepper in the potato salad was important to this person because could symbolize his need for nurturing and comfort during an emergency evacuation.

I could not tell him specifically where to find the best dinners at the emergency shelters but here is my reply to him. I hope it helps to understand the differences in the types of responses that occurs in a disaster situation as well as the issues surrounding emergency shelter food.

Next blog will talk more about he reasons to select an emergency shelter close to home.

I can certainly appreciate your desire to know the menu especially if you have a very selective taste in foods and pepper in your potato salad is a bit offensive for you. There is a great diversity of taste and preparation even in the most simple of food items.

In disaster experiences and upsetting emotional events, people often look to food for comfort and a sense of stability. That is often why people will want to drink hot chocolate or milk supplied or base of a beverage like coffee with cream – it is nurturing for many individuals.

In a small local disasters such as a tornado, the menu is often much more reflect of a ‘home-cooking style’. This is most likely a group from the nearby local community with similar taste and cooking experience that are preparing it for a relatively small number of people ( say 150 +/-). Often the food is based on an experience of a community supper or church / faith center dinner event.

When one gets into mass evacuations and disaster response of larger numbers of individuals, the focus become very institutionalized and unfortunately often impersonal since vast amounts of cold sandwiches, and coffee have to be made and the ingredients are stretched to the maximum to serve the most people in need. In mass emergency situations, there is a possibility that the food needs to be as simple and easy to prepare as possible to meet the needs of the many.

Often emergency shelters have to deal with intermittent supply of power resources that influence the selection of foods that can be prepare and store locally. As a result there is less probability that the meals will be as personal as one would like.

When faced with the possibility of an emergency situation, as always it is best to be personally prepared for you individual taste and needs as much as possible – this includes comfort foods. I suggest you select some enjoyable foods you can take with you in your disaster kit for your personal enjoyment to an emergency shelter. This can help make your stay a bit more comfortable for you. Having a disaster preparedness plan that includes special treats can help a great deal when faced with a challenging situation of an emergency evacuation.

Should you have medical / dietary needs, you may want to contact the health department for information as how to address your physical nutrition needs in an emergency. If you have special medical needs it is vital that you make disaster plans and have your health care provider look them over to ensure you have addressed all your health concerns. Get your doctor or health care provider to write a note explaining exactly WHAT YOU NEED not what you want in the way of nutrition that will directly address your medical condition. Collaborating with the local health department and emergency management center is also important in such a situation.

As for a list of emergency shelters, check with your library and they most likely will have an emergency preparedness checklist that will include this information. Also check the local newspapers, fire department / rescue squads, community recreation and senior centers information boards for current emergency shelter information for emergency preparedness tips.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Staying close to home and emergency evacuation centers

Consider local when thinking emergency disaster shelters

I agree with many others there is no place like home except in a hurricane emergency and you live in a low-lying area of the cone of uncertainty and a hurricane is knocking at your door. If you are in possible danger then do all you can to get out of the dangerous area as fast as you can! This is why a disaster plan and well thought-out evacuation plan is so important for every person.

When thinking of emergency evacuations often one of the first images that come to my mind is the l-o-n-g congested interstates filled with over-heating cars and people desperate to get out of the area.

When a disaster event occurs, requiring emergency evacuation take it seriously and get out. Your life and that of loved ones is more important than any property etc.

Many people try to outrun the disaster such as a hurricane and think that 300 miles away is better than something closer in a safe and secured area. If you have loved ones to stay with then that is a good choice PROVIDED that you leave early and stay late to avoid the crush of congested t ravel.

If you need to get to use a community disaster evacuation shelter than if possible first think local. Here are some good reasons to think locally if there is room available. To get registered in a closer to home emergency evacuation shelter you will need to act early to get in. Emergency shelters can fill up fast.

I hope you will consider these suggestions when developing your disaster plan and planning your emergency shelter choices.

The following list suggests a few reasons to consider a local emergency evacuation shelter.

1. The faster you can get to an emergency shelter, register and get settled, most often the better you are in comfort and conveniences. So the closer the emergency shelter the quicker you can get there.
2. You are more likely to learn sooner and more accurately the emergency situation and disaster recovery status of your local area and neighborhood than if you are sheltered farther away. The farther away from your home, the more likely you will receive less specific the information and disaster status of your particular area.
3. Staying at a local, nearby emergency shelter you will have more probability of knowing some of the people there at the shelter either as quests or as volunteers since many may be your neighbors and family. This can help provide more reassurance and comfort. It can also be a great way to work on developing personal and community disaster recovery plans.
4. You will most likely be allowed back into your home faster the closer your emergency evacuation housing is to your residence due to less travel time congestion, etc.
5. It may be possible to have disaster response staff that will know your area and help you with disaster recovery resources than those who seek assistance in other jurisdictions and states

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Staying close to home and emergency evacuation centers

Consider local when thinking emergency disaster shelters

I agree with many who say there is no place like home -- except in a hurricane emergency and you live in a low-lying area in the cone of uncertainty with a hurricane knocking at your door. If you are in possible danger then do all you can to get out of the dangerous area or circumstance as fast as you can! This is why a disaster plan and well thought-out evacuation plan is so important for every person.

When thinking of emergency evacuations often one of the first images that comes mind is the l-o-n-g congested interstates filled with over-heating cars and hot tempered people desperate to get out of harms way.

When a disaster event occurs, requiring an emergency evacuation, take the danger seriously and get out. Your life and that of loved ones is more important than any property etc. Many people try to outrun the disaster such as a hurricane and think that 300 miles away is better than something closer to home in a safe and secured area. If you have loved ones to stay with or desire need for privacy etc, then staying with loved ones or a motel/hotel provided you can get reservations is a good choice. This can be a very good choice PROVIDED that you leave early and stay late to avoid the crush of congested travel. If you need or want to get to use a community disaster evacuation shelter than if possible first think local. Here are some good reasons to think locally if there is space and services available that meet your needs. To get registered in a closer to home emergency evacuation shelter, you will need to act early to get in and get comfortable. Emergency shelters can fill up fast. Know of several emergency evacuation shelters n your area so if one or more are already filled then you have a better chance of getting into one still close by.I hope you will consider these suggestions when developing your disaster plan and planning your emergency shelter choices. Which ever type of emergency evacuation you choose - PREPARE AHEAD and make sure you have a well stocked disaster kit for each member of your household. The following list suggests a few reasons to consider a local emergency evacuation shelter.

1. The faster you can get to an emergency shelter, register and get settled, most often the better you are in comfort and conveniences. So the closer the emergency shelter the quicker you can get there.
2. It will cost much less to travel to a local emergency evacuation shelter than to drive across state or hundreds of miles somewhere else.
3. You don’t need to pack as much to take with you to an emergency shelter closer to home. The more miles you drive to evacuate the more supplies and resources you will need to sustain yourself in the emergency evacuation process. Many stores and restaurants will be closing early or will run out of supplies quickly with the crush of people traveling the roads. This will mean there will be less food and beverages available and yes less restrooms and even less toilet paper and possible water supplies since many facilities will shut down their utilities long before a disaster hits! So if you’re preparing to travel a long distance to get out of harms way make sure you include additional supplies of water, food, hand cleaners and toilet paper. Many vehicles run out of fuel while attempting to evacuate. Make sure you bring extra fuel as well.
4. You are more likely to learn sooner and more accurately the emergency situation and disaster recovery status of your local area and neighborhood than if you are sheltered farther away. The farther away from your home, the more likely you will receive less specific the information and disaster status of your particular area.
5. Staying at a local, nearby emergency shelter you will have more probability of knowing some of the people there at the shelter either as quests or as volunteers since many may be your neighbors and family. This can help provide more reassurance and comfort. It can also be a great way to work on developing personal and community disaster recovery plans.
6. You will most likely be allowed back into your home faster the closer your emergency evacuation housing is to your residence due to less travel time congestion, etc.
7. It may be possible to have disaster response staff that will know your area and help you with disaster recovery resources than those who seek assistance in other jurisdictions and states.
8. Natural disasters like a hurricane can result in a great deal of disorientation when returning home with road signs down and familiar locations severely damaged. The more familiar you are with the area the easier it will be to reorient yourself and begin the disaster recovery process.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

ww.trainforahurricane.com

No fun and games when facing Hurricane Ike emergency preparedness

Hurricane Ike no cartoon Hurricane Preparedness a MUST gets disaster supplies & emergency preparedness kits ready

OK when I was growing up I loved the cartoon Popeye so on a whim I figure I’d offer the Top 4 Ways Hurricane Ike and Popeye are similar.

Both appear weaker than their potential

1. Both know where to go for energy ( Popeye + spinach -- Hurricane Ike + warm waters)
2. Both tear thing up ( Popeye and Brutus destroy things while fighting Hurricane Ike destroys community in Cuba, Turk and Caicos Islands
3. Both have people crying for help ( Popeye its Olive Oil that is yelling for help Hurricane Ike it is the people devastated by severity of storm

Ok the fun stuff is over. Yes not only for this blog entry but also in getting hurricane survival ready. We have seen what can happen as a result of HurricaneIke. It looks currently like Texas might be the principal area of Hurricane Ike to strike later this week. Hurricane Ike projected landfall is still up in the air. No matter it is important for everyone to have their hurricane supplies at the ready. Have your gone over your emergency preparedness checklist recently? Do you have all your disaster preparedness necessities at hand? Where are you going if you are told to emergency evacuate? Where is the local emergency shelter? What are you doing to safeguard your pets? Do you have a good disaster guide?

Theses are just a few of the questions you need to be asking your self to prepare for a killer hurricane.

Cartoons are just that cartoons someone draws up on paper a hurricane is not fictional -- it is real and kills hundreds and disrupts the lives of thousands so please get hurricane prepared NOW.

So please get your hurricane preparedness done now.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Hurricane Preparedness and the peppered potato salad guy

Disaster preparedness and evaluating emergency evacuation shelters

My peppered Potato salad guy wrote again on another forum saying that we need to see the evacuation shelters and head of time so as to be able to make a wise selection based on the amenities offered. While waiting for my initial comments to download onto the forum that I just sent, a ‘V-8 light bulb’ moment of inspiration went off in my head. I think. His principal position is correct! The peppered potato salad and perked coffee with fresh donuts l seem a bit far from the basic truth but he basic truth is still there concerning hurricane preparedness.

We really DO need opportunities to become more acquainted with the REAL situation and NEEDS at disaster centers and emergency evacuation shelters. For some people the only way to get them to come to check out an evacuation center ahead of time and get some solid hurricane preparedness information and disaster planning advice is to have a ‘show and tell’ hurricane evacuation situation fully displayed in 3-D and hands on.

I am not suggesting that it be done to discern what is the most entertaining of disaster response and hurricane evacuation shelters --for that is not what is important in such disaster situations. Life is more important than entertainment, food or creature comforts.

What I am saying is that many individuals in our communities don’t have a clue as to what to expect at an emergency evacuation center. This is obvious every year by what people bring to emergency evacuation shelters. Sometimes what people bring into an emergency shelter can make one stop and scratch their heads wondering "what were these people thinking?". Few know what REALLY is important to bring especially if it is their first time at an emergency evacuation shelter. Different populations have different needs. So yes my potato salad guy is onto something. Perhaps there should be a rotating hands on exhibit during non - hurricane season to inform the community with an entire set up disaster shelter looks like in a full mock-up setting. Perhaps the day’s schedule to educate the community could look something like this

7am-9am Senior Citizens -- Yes with coffee and donuts – hopefully fresh to my potato salad guy's likening!:)

10am-12noon Day Care Centers and Pre-School offer cookies and punch

1pm-3pm Middle and High School grade students some sort of snacks teen acceptable

4pm-6pm Special Needs Populations cookies and punch

7pm-9pm General Public cookies and punch

When I was in congregational pastoral ministry, a very wise, successful and very retired senior pastor told me on more than one occasions ‘if you want people to come to a meeting feed them. If they’re in distress or upset at something – food not necessary”. I had forgotten that wise counsel until Mr. Potato Salad guy brought it back to mind.

Testimonials and peer ranking is very interesting and insightful to most people in the pubic. By teaming up with day care providers, youth and even some children to get their opinions as well for the other sections of the guide this information might be more quickly received than from officials on high. When going in together with these other groups and writing disaster information guide on evacuation shelters, it would be helpful to the community for next year’s hurricane season. It could offer some important insights that have not been looked at before.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com