| Introduction | | | | Most severe weather emergencies arrive without |
| At some time in our lives, many of us will face an | | | | much warning. You may need to leave your |
| emergency. Most will involve personal illness or | | | | home and move to a safer area. |
| injury, but severe weather, including hurricanes, | | | | Early warning and sound planning will reduce the |
| thunderstorms, tornadoes and heat waves, is a | | | | stress of any emergency, and the first step is to |
| very common threat. | | | | be well informed. |
| Severe weather and its after effects, such as | | | | And there is no better way than to use the |
| flooding, results in numerous deaths and injuries | | | | Weather Radio Service provided by NOAA |
| every year, together with major property | | | | (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) |
| damage and loss. | | | | and the EAS (Emergency Alert Service). |
| But we are not entirely powerless in the face of | | | | Advisories of threats and hazards are broadcast |
| these disasters - a little time and effort now will | | | | over dedicated radio frequencies (to avoid |
| significantly reduce the risks of death, injury and | | | | interference from commercial broadcasts) and |
| property damage. It will also help you recover | | | | can be received on specially modified weather |
| much faster. | | | | radios. |
| Planning for emergencies is complex subject, too | | | | More information on the Weather Radio Service |
| big for a single article. | | | | and equipment can be found at |
| Part 1 covers identification of the threats to you | | | | Evacuations can be a matter of choice or they |
| and your family, how to make sure your safety | | | | may be mandatory. Becoming familiar with exit |
| is protected, and making sure everyone knows | | | | routes will reduce much of the stress of having |
| what to do, even if you are separated. | | | | to move out fast. |
| The second part considers those precious few | | | | In some cases, such as tornadoes, you may need |
| hours before the the weather becomes really | | | | to use a nearby shelter. Again prior knowledge of |
| threatening. Preparation is crucial to make sure | | | | its location and easiest access will be invaluable. |
| your family is safe, and your home and belongings | | | | Communication Between Family Members |
| are as secure as possible. | | | | Emergencies often happen at the most |
| Advance Planning - It's A Drag But It Pays Off | | | | inconvenient times. Your family may be scattered |
| One of the hardest things about preparing for | | | | between home, work and school when the |
| emergencies is finding the time. | | | | weather becomes threatening, and you may |
| But if you live in North America, your weather is | | | | remain separated for some time until things |
| arguably the wildest on the planet. Your chances | | | | return to normal. |
| of being threatened by severe weather are very | | | | Work out in advance what procedures are likely |
| real. | | | | to be followed - does the school have an |
| So at some stage (soon!) why not set aside an | | | | emergency plan and shelter? How about the work |
| hour or so to do a little groundwork and prepare | | | | place? It will help if each family member knows |
| for when things get nasty. | | | | what to do, and what others will be doing and |
| Involve your family - the more heads the better, | | | | where they are likely to be during an emergency. |
| and it is possible that one of you may be | | | | Prepare wallet sized summaries of locations and |
| incapacitated in a serious emergency. | | | | phone numbers for each family member, while cell |
| Four big questions need to be answered before | | | | phones should help you to keep in touch. |
| you can regard yourself as reasonably well | | | | Long Term Plans |
| prepared. | | | | So far everything I've suggested assumes that |
| | | | you will, some day, need to act fast to protect |
| 1. What are the threats, and how can you | | | | yourself against a developing emergency. |
| minimize them? | | | | This section covers preparations which should |
| 2. If you have to leave in a hurry, where will you | | | | benefit you regardless of whether an emergency |
| go and how will you get there? | | | | arises. |
| 3. How will the family get together or keep in | | | | These include |
| contact if they are scattered between hone, | | | | - Checking your house and property insurance. |
| work and school? | | | | Get the best you can afford, and remember that |
| 4. What can you do now to help you handle the | | | | even if you live on a floodplain you can still get |
| emergency competently, and then return to | | | | flood insurance. At the same time, make an |
| normal life quickly? | | | | inventory of your possessions. |
| What Are The Biggest Risks? | | | | - Arrange secure storage of small valuable items |
| This sounds pretty easy, because you know | | | | and documents, preferably away from your |
| where you live, and what sort of weather to | | | | house. Include copies of credit and ID cards. |
| expect as the seasons change. | | | | - Learn first aid and how to administer CPR. |
| But when you get down to it, severe weather is | | | | - Make sure you know how to operate a fire |
| often just normal weather become stronger, or | | | | extinguisher |
| bigger, or longer lasting. | | | | - And consider joining one of the volunteer |
| When considering your home, a great shortcut is | | | | emergency organizations - the better you |
| to contact your local emergency management | | | | understand what may happen, the easier it will be |
| office or the Red Cross to see what information | | | | to handle it if and when it does |
| they have on your area. You should be able to | | | | - Make advance arrangements for your pets - |
| find FEMA (Federal Emergency Management | | | | possibly a pet carrier for small animals, and safe |
| Agency) hazard maps and other relevant material | | | | accommodation for larger animals. |
| to help with your planning. | | | | OK. Now you're prepared for the worst, and you |
| It's also worth thinking about other places you | | | | have significantly reduced the effects a major |
| regularly visit - the beach, the lake, relatives - and | | | | emergency will have on you. Part 2 of this article |
| even where you go on vacation. | | | | reviews what to do as the weather becomes |
| Shelter and Evacuation | | | | threatening. |