11 disaster preparedness ways to get ready for Hurricane Ike

No one wants Hurricane Ike – Finish emergency preparedness & activate your disaster plan NOW!

There are a whole lot of things that many on the southern portions of Texas would rather be doing than preparing for Hurricane Ike. If you are possibly facing the wrath of Ike or live with the threat of an atlantic hurricane NOW is the time to be reading this article and getting ready. Crisis management is a must if you could be in harms way of a disaster. In many ways disaster survival depends on how ready you are to face a disaster.

1. The MOST important thing during hurricane season you can have when facing a hurricane watch or full blown hurricane warning is an emergency plan. In a hurricane situation a well planed disaster response can mean the difference between life and death, comfortable situation when the wind howls and hurricane anxiety as the flooding rises around you.

2. Get your home’s hurricane safety plan started quickly. This includes putting up hurricane shutters, and doing a hurricane protection inspection to make sure all items that could blow away are inside the building so they do not become flying projectiles. Also stock your safe room with survival supplies.

3. Take time for frequent hurricane tracking so you will have a good idea of when to decide if you need to do a voluntary or be required to comply with a mandatory hurricane evacuation. Know of at least 3 reliable and high quality hurricane news resources who can offer a reasonable hurricane prediction of the timing and strength of the hurricane and any other important hurricane information. Take their hurricane warnings seriously.

4. Finish getting your emergency supplies ready. This means that you will have enough food, water, medical supplies; baby care items like diapers for at last 3-7 days should monster hurricane or tropical storm come knocking on your door. Being pro-active in your emergency planning is vital, so make sure each and every one in the family including the family pets from birds and snakes to cats and dogs are thought of in your hurricane preparedness.

5. If an emergency evacuation is called quickly in your area due to secondary emergencies in your area as a result of a hurricane like a levy breaking or a tornado threat, know the first 10 things that are important for you to take with you in hasty departure and where you need to go. Write them down and keep them in your wallet and posted on your refrigerator. If there is a possibility of an evacuation then put these most important items close to the door that you will most likely need to use to leave. Try to get the items numbered so you can count them off and know that you have all ten securely in your vehicle or safe room should you need to leave quickly. In a hurricane evacuation every minute counts in emergency preparation. These items may be :

1. Emergency survival kits with food, water, flash lights, and a change of clothing and any and all medications for each member of the family including pets.
2. Identification like a passport, driver’s permit, birth certificates, vaccination shots for children and pets. Include a copy of each employable person’s resume since you may need to look for another job if your company or business is destroyed or will be a while before reopening.
3. Personal address and telephone book. Often there are so many numbers that will be hard to replace if the address book is lost.
4. Emergency communication items like cell phone& charger, battery powered radio, CB radio ( one of the best items to have in your car in an emergency – cell phones can go out but CBs may still be able to get you help) as well as GPS (Global Positioning Systems).
5. Photos of loved ones and non-replaceable pictures.
6. Highly valued items like jewelry, sterling silver (if you are so lucky to have it), computer external computer backs, and collectables.
7. Comfort items like pillows, blankets, air mattresses, folding chairs
8. Important papers like home and vehicle insurance documents
9. Emergency cash – ATMs run out fast in a emergency situation – sometimes in less than 30 minutes. Also if electricity goes out so do ATMs,
10. Extra fuel for vehicles since there may be no emergency response services like AAA if you should run out f gas for the car.

6. Contact a loved one out of the disaster region and let them know what are your hurricane safety plans for evacuating the disaster area. Ask them to be your emergency management team to contact everyone else that needs to be notified. They can be a great communication resource to the outside area before, during and after a hurricane storm hits. They may be able to give you more in-depth and updated hurricane information quickly to free you up to get out of harms way. They may be able to help get you reservations for a hotel / motel room or an emergency shelter to ride out the storm. This loved one who is out of the hurricane cone of uncertainty can be an essential help in crisis management in a disaster situation.

7. Review your emergency preparedness checklist often to ensure that you have everything that you were able to think of when life was calmer with no hurricane threat to your area. Hurricane survival depends on you and your loved ones being well trained in hurricane preparedness. It is never too early to start teaching children in emergency response training skills. Some families worry about possibly frightening children unnecessarily with such emergency training. This is a falsehood and a form of disaster avoidance. Family preparedness is a must to safeguard your loved ones in a natural disaster situation. The better trained for a hurricane that every member of the family is -- the better the chances that they will know what to do as a cohesive family emergency response team to better avoid hurricane damage or loss of life.

8. Shut off all utilities to your home like water, gas, electricity at their main source leading into your home before you leave in a hurricane evacuation. This will help ensure that you will not have additional threats to the home such as an electrical fire or gas explosion, drain water tank in house and turn off if you are leaving the home. Make sure you have a copy of the utilities emergency services telephone number so you can call after the danger has passed to re-establish service especially for gas service. DO NOT turn your gas back on after a emergency shut-down of the gas service. ONLY a professional and certified gas specialist authorized by your utility company should turn it back on. They will need to inspect the gas supply system to insure that no damage was done to the equipment that could result in an explosion at your home hurricane danger has passed.

9. If you are sheltering-in-place, then make sure you have as much emergency supply of water by filling you your bah tubs and large containers such as leak-proof trash cans / dumpsters that have lids. These hold a lot of water that can be used for the toilets should electricity fail.

10. If time allows take as many pictures of your home as possible inside and out with a current newspaper that will document that you had these items and their condition prior to the hurricane. If at all possible download and email them t a loved one so they will be able to hold onto the pictures for hurricane recovery purposes if you need to made a claim due to flood damage or other forms of storm damage.

11. Make sure you have survival equipment like a can opener, matches in a water-proof container like a plastic zipper bag. It also means having comfort items like toys for the kids, games and playing cards, books to read and stuffed toys. Rubber sandals that can be used for in the shower if at a public emergency evacuation center and as alternative shoes for tired hurting feet.

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 doesn’t stop jut because you are on vacation.

Part of vacation planning includes emergency preparedness plans

Just got finished reading Robert’s Caribbean Travel Blog ( see below). Yes there are great deals on travel and fantastic vacations to experience during Hurricane season. If you are going to enjoy a vacation in the Caribbean or even in the US hurricane zones like shore vacations along the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico then be hurricane prepared.

Make sure you have set aside some of your pre-vacation time to get disaster preparedness information on where evacuation shelters are, alternative routes for evacuation planning, what are the guidelines the airlines have for emergency flight changes to get out of a Caribbean dream destination before a hurricane nightmare.

Pack low cost emergency survival kits one for each member of the family with a flashlight, some shelf safe food, bottled water and extra medication. Bring alone a portable radio with fresh batteries.. Get a hurricane reference guide for the local area you are going to be vacationing at. Review emergency preparedness tips as well. Oh yes by all means make sure you have an emergency preparedness checklist to you can quickly see what you have and what is necessary to do if a hurricane is making its way to your vacation spot.

Remember to be flexible during a hurricane zone vacation. IF a hurricane is even a mild possibility then change your plans. Go somewhere else. Don’t risk getting stranded in a dream location in an evacuation. That is not the best kind of vacation in fact it can be the worst of vacations.

If you are going to go to a hurricane prone location then spend the extra money to get travel insurance. There is also vacation insurance that will offset the costs of an emergency evacuation. Yes it might cost a bit more (and insurance premiums will often be higher) to have the insurance but well worth it if a hurricane is joining you on vacation.

Enjoy your vacation but also keep a close ear on the news and weather forecasts so you can be some of the first out of a potential hurricane storm.

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

Robert's Caribbean Travel Blog

By Robert Curley, About.com Guide to Caribbean Travel

http://gocaribbean.about.com/b/2008/06/16/hurricane-shmuricane-poll-finds-many-travelers-unconcerned-about-storm-threat.htm

Hurricane, Shmuricane: Poll Finds Many Travelers Unconcerned About Storm Threat

Monday June 16, 2008

A recent survey of TripAdvisor members finds that 30 percent of travelers -- and 36 percent of U.S. travelers -- say they plan to visit a destination in the hurricane zone this summer even though it is hurricane season. Moreover, 43 percent of those traveling to hurricane-prone areas like Florida and the Caribbean say they are not concerned about a storm interrupting their trip, and 15 percent said they are taking advantage of low, hurricane-season prices on hotels, airfares, etc.

The survey found that while the Caribbean is the "most feared" hurricane-season destination, 64 percent of travelers said they would be willing to visit a destination in the hurricane zone if it meant significant savings: 26 percent said it would take a half-off deal to lure them, while about a quarter of travelers would take the risk for a 41-50 percent discount (only 17 percent of those surveyed said they wouldn't travel to a hurricane area for any price). Lucky for travelers, those are exactly the kind of discounts you can find in the Caribbean for summer stays.

If that's not enough evidence that travelers are hardier souls than they usually get credit for, the poll also found that fewer than half say they would immediately cancel their vacation plans if a hurricane was due to hit their destination, and 10 percent said they would ride out the storm. Only about one in five travelers say that predictions of an active hurricane season would alter their travel plans.

"Travelers consistently appear to have a healthy respect for hurricanes, but generally won't let weather get in the way of their vacation plans," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for Trip Advisor.

When pigs are on the roof, it's time for disaster preparedness!

Hurricane preparedness, floods and three little pigs

A neighbor of mine, a long time go had a favorite saying: “yea when pigs fly!” He would say this as his absolute and definitive cynical statement of disbelief on any given topic. Today on the news, we actually see 3 fat pigs barely able to stand on a slippery barn roof eating what ever has floated down the riptide waters that is licking at their hooves in the farmlands of America. Who would have thought such a situation would ever occur.

Most people in the mid-west were told that they were miles away for the river and there was no need to worry about flood protection insurance. They were reassured many times by so called experts that catastrophic flooding from swollen rivers cresting over their banks would never happen to them in the pristine farmlands in the good old US of A. I guess it was as unlikely in the eyes of many as it was as pigs flying or pigs grazing on a metal roof of a barn.

Unfortunately, 3 pigs are on a barn roof and we need to reconsider our disaster preparedness information. We need to re-examine what we have been told from disaster organizations, insurance companies and the local, state and national government emergency service agencies. Often we have been told simplistic disaster preparedness information in 30-60 second sound bits Pubic Service Announcements on TV and radio as well as quick how to brochures that are flimsy and filled with generalized disaster information as if it was being issued from God’s own mouth.

We are living in a very different time that what was the scene even 15 years ago. We always thought that the government would provide all the emergency preparedness necessities any one or any community could ever want. People thought it was crazy to think that they should have emergency preparedness kits for car, home, work and school. Many a PTA had hotly, passionate discussions of how come families were asked to supply students with a school emergency preparedness kits. The mantra was we don't want o frighten the children. The reality / was is we didn't want to feel our own fright. Denial is a wonderful opiate to reality and common sense.

Yet now we see the wisdom of having an emergency preparedness checklist attached to a well thought out emergency preparedness plan. Even after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita not to mention the Alamos wildfires we still hear the sentiment that we don’t want to alarm anyone unnecessarily about disasters that may or my not occur. Yea I agree we don’t need to be Chicken Little, but then again, go ask the farmer with the 3 pigs on the roof if he or his neighbors are alarmed now at what has happened. I’ve got a good idea what the answer might be

If you have not started your own disaster kits and a long term emergency supply of food and other emergency preparedness necessities such as medications, water, cleaning supplies, then you need to start yesterday. Food costs and all other supplies will be rising as fast as the waters have over the corn fields of the mid-west. Inflation is already rising more swiftly than what was ever considered most likely to occur likely. Disaster kits and emergency pantries will cost much more today, tomorrow and next week unfortunately than they did even a year ago or even last month. They will cost more next month.

The terrible thought is we are not even at the summer point of when things start to really pick up with wildfires and hurricanes. We have had more devastating tornadoes than many can easily remember in the recent past. Wildfires are already happening in Florida and California made worse in multi-year drought conditions. People in Florida tell me that they really want the rain but fear that such rain will cause lightening and result in dangerous uncontrolled wildfires. The list goes on and on.

The best place to start with hurricane preparedness is to get sound disaster preparedness information. This is not the sort of information that says: place tinfoil over windows and wear metal cone caps on your head to keep others from reading and hearing your thoughts!

The thought of of a disaster can seem very crazy, especially when they have not happened and may never happen. Yet it is much more crazy and dangerous not to be disaster prepared. We are not talking outlandish stuff or downright insane stuff. We are talking about practical, basic emergency preparedness necessities.

Instead of mental cone caps, put on your thinking cap and get well researched and thought out disaster preparedness information. Get materials that are comprehensive and not a 2 page brochure that leaves you out on a limb trying to figure out for yourself what all is really needed and how much. Disaster preparedness takes more time and thought than going out and buying a couple cans of tuna fish and a can of squirt soft cheese spread with crackers.

After getting solid disaster information, then start to develop a sound emergency preparedness checklist for each member of your household including the pets that addresses as many of the possibilities of a potential disaster as possible. Then become creative in developing low cost emergency survival kits for EACH member of the household.

Think about it, many will spend more time making summer barbecue plans including how many bags of Kingsford Charcoal BBQ briquets it will take to grill hamburgers for 25 of your closest friends than they will in how to evacuate safely from a disaster situation.

Now I love a juicy hamburger off the grill just as much as anyone else but I sure would feel better if all my guests had their disaster preparedness plans, emergency evacuation routes mapped out and emergency preparedness necessities all complete and stored safely in well labeled water-proof boxes that are easy to get to at a moment’s notice. Part of me wants to say, hey don’t come for the burger unless you have your emergency preparedness plans fully complete. Stay home and get your house in order before you come to my house for dinner.

Can all of us respond positively to these emergency preparedness tips? Sure we can.

Will all the citizens and guests of this great country take this advice? I fear they won’t. I sure wish they would.

Then again my old neighbor would most likely reply by saying “Yea when pigs fly!”

Unfortunately, even with pigs on the barn roof it will not be enough for this country to have an emergency wake up call!!!

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

Which hurricane preparedness category is your business in?

Are you in the 25% or the 75% Business Continuity Disaster Preparedness list?

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, one in four businesses that must close due to a hurricane NEVER reopen. That is a terrible hardship not only on the business owner but also on the community in which the business served. If there were employees then the devastation for the business employees’ families will be hard felt as well.

Study after study state that if you have even the most basic of emergency preparedness plans then the chances grow tremendously that your business will not only survive but that you will have both loyal employees AND loyal customers for years to come. Most people think that disaster preparedness is extremely expensive.

The most expensive thing about emergency preparedness

is NOT being disaster prepared.

Emergency preparedness kits don’t have to be fancy or expensive. Much of the emergency preparedness necessities can be found around the house or at the local grocery store and dollar stores can establish low cost emergency survival kits for you and your staff. Going to yard sales and flea markets can drastically reduce the cost of emergency preparedness kits.

Have a contest within the business to see who can create the least expensive, best use of resources low cost emergency preparedness kit for the office and home. Then give a gift certificate for lunch at a nearby sandwich shop as a prize.

Write up a press release and send it to the local news paper describing the company’s emergency preparedness kit contest and describing all the winners (everyone who has a disaster kit is a winner when an emergency situation occurs!). Make sure that all have the emergency preparedness necessities. Have a picture taken that can be submitted to the newspaper with all your staff displaying their disaster kits.

Many of the staff will enjoy getting their picture taken and will have extra pride in showing off their accomplishment of their emergency preparedness kits. Post the pictures in both the lobby of your business for your customers to see. This will encourage and inspire customers to develop their own disaster kits.

Also have a copy of the pictures in the employee lounge etc. Celebrate all employees that take disaster preparedness seriously. Remember the more your employees are disaster prepared not only at work but at home, school and play, the more likely these well trained employees will be able to quickly return to work at your business and help ensure business continuity and reduce new employee costs!

You can even send out a fact sheet in with your billing statements telling of the employee accomplishments and how reasonable they aware able to develop their own low cost emergency survival kits. Each month send out another employee’s account of what they stocked their emergency preparedness kits with and how they reduced the costs. Then just before hurricane season say in March – April - May have a customer hurricane preparedness contest and then put it on your website.

Host a reception with light refreshments and invite the local emergency service community to come and share their information with all the customers who have developed their own emergency preparedness checklists, disaster plans etc. Pass out disaster preparedness information to the local community. Often with amble notice the emergency response agencies and organizations will arrange to bring some of their supplies and equipment. Many in the community will enjoy seeing the emergency equipment (especially kids and the ‘kids –at-heart).

By having the reception and emergency preparedness awareness program, many in your community will be better educated on emergency preparedness as well as you and your company’s efforts. Good will is the best gift the business owner can give. Over time with effort on your part and sincere dedication to making your community safer, you and your company will be well identified as an emergency preparedness community expert and disaster preparedness information resource. Being such a leader in the community is a great honor, responsibility and opportunity.

Tell the local community upfront that should there ever be a disaster YOU and YOUR COMPANY are dedicated to recovering quickly and helping the local community in times of need. The goodwill this will establish for your company will be enormous.

Oh don’t forget to invite the media. Remember to not only include the local media but be bold and invite all the national news networks as well. Also get a news release sent out on PR Wire (www.prwire.com). This can be a great way to help promote your company’s efforts for emergency preparedness of the local community and businesses as well. You also might want to contact the Small Business Development center in your area to see if they would be interested in helping to promote your efforts.

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

Chamber's officials urge local businesses to set disaster plans
http://www.rockportpilot.com/articles/2008/06/18/business/business00.txt

One out of every four businesses which close because of a disaster never reopen, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), but with a disaster protection and recovery plan in place, business owners stand a much better chance of having business continuity.

The Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a contest to encourage area business owners to be prepared during the current hurricane season. The first business to turn in its completed “Open for Business Tool Kit” will receive a prize at the Chamber board of directors' Tuesday, July 15 meeting.

The deadline to turn in a completed plan is Monday, July 7.

One can download a copy of the 76-page Open for Business Tool Kit at www.disastersafety.org or call 1-866-657-4247 to request your free copy.

The tool kit provides the framework to help prioritize critical business functions and organize information needed to continue operating from a remote location.

According to IBHS documentation, contingency planning is a core part of running any successful business. Failing to plan is placing an unnecessary bet on the survival of your business.

Disasters don't have to be caused by catastrophic events. Widespread power outages, water main breaks, and fires also can effectively shut down a company for a long period, sometimes months, costing thousands of dollars in lost business. Some or all of that business may never return.

That is why business owners are encouraged to resolve to be better prepared for the 2008 hurricane season by putting together a disaster plan.

The top five business continuity planning steps are:

€ Make two copies of important documents and store them in separate locations. These should include lease papers, photographs of property and lists of inventory.

€ Update contact information for employees, key suppliers and customers, and local utility companies.

€ Consider an alternate location from which to do business if a disaster were to force you to relocate.

€ Review plans with employees and make sure they know how to reach their immediate supervisor in an emergency.

€ Assess current insurance needs with your agent and update their contact information, including emergency hotlines.

IBHS, a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry, works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.

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