Reminder: Hurricane Preparation Matters
By Forest Puha
 |
| From the Hypothetical Hurricanes Wiki. |
The hurricane season
of 2017 is here!
As of this writing,
Hurricane Harvey is bearing down on the Gulf Coast, aiming for the
coasts of Louisiana and Texas. Major cities are expected to be hit
hard. Citizens that can’t flee the coast are being told to prepare
as best as they can. Family Survival Farm wants to issue this general
advice to anyone who will be affected by this or other hurricanes so
that you and the people you love can emerge safe and sound.
1. Make a plan for
both evacuation and sheltering in place. If you don’t know how,
start with following the journalist’s six questions: WHY are you
evacuating/sheltering, WHO is going/staying, WHERE are you going to,
WHEN are you leaving, WHAT are you taking with you, and most
importantly, HOW will you do all this?
2. Do not wait to
evacuate. Contact your local authorities and follow the safest
established route to leave your area out of the path of the
hurricane. If you cannot leave by vehicle, find the safest high
ground above water and remain there.
3. Do not enter
flooded zones. This includes roads and highways that are covered over
with water. Watch for other hazards, such as broken tree branches and
downed power lines. Don’t walk or swim in flood water; it often
contains raw sewage and other unpleasant material you should avoid.
4. Carry a backpack
per person with bottled water, prepackaged food, flashlights,
batteries, toilet paper, garbage bags, clean towels and a change of
clothing. You should have enough food and water to last a single
person 72 hours at minimum, which gives you time to regroup and find
help.
5. Know your phone.
Most smartphones have FM radio function. Plug in a corded pair of
earbuds or headphones and use the wire as antenna to hone in a
signal. Text messages can be sent and received even when cell signal
towers are damaged during a storm. And most importantly, all cell
phones can be used as an emergency flashlight by simply adjusting
your phone’s brightness setting to maximum.
Stay safe, everyone.
For more
information, visit the following sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/features/hurricanepreparedness/index.html
https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
