| The hurricane season will be upon us shortly and it | | | | Disaster-supply list |
| is wise to begin to plan for all eventualities | | | | -- Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day; |
| associated with these catastrophic events. Proper | | | | three-day supply ideal) |
| planning now will avoid much of the stress | | | | -- Cash (ATM and credit cards may not work or |
| resulting from hurricane damage and may well | | | | be accepted by businesses) |
| avoid injury and loss of life. | | | | -- Cell phone (with non electrical charger, such as |
| The hurricane season | | | | a car charger or AAA battery pack) |
| Many people do not realize that the hurricane | | | | -- Clothing and underwear |
| season is very long and spans the six month | | | | -- Phone numbers of friends and family |
| period from June 1 to December 1 each year. | | | | -- Documents (driver's license, passport, birth |
| The frequency of major storms has been | | | | certificate, etc.) in a waterproof container |
| increasing recently in cycles that increase and | | | | -- Dust mask (one per person) |
| decease over 10 to 20 year periods. Most | | | | -- Eating utensils (plastic or disposable) |
| weather forecasters acknowledge that we are | | | | -- Emergency numbers: local, state, and federal |
| presently in a cycle of increased hurricane activity | | | | -- Financial inventory (a list of bank and |
| with the potential for as many as 15-17 named | | | | investment accounts, mortgages, and loans, |
| storms forecasted in 2006. | | | | including account numbers and location of original |
| Areas of risk | | | | documents) |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms are a world wide | | | | -- First-aid kit (see "Your first-aid kit," below) |
| phenomenon. Those storms affecting the United | | | | -- Flashlight with extra batteries |
| States and the Caribbean are called hurricanes | | | | -- Food (canned goods and other nonperishable |
| while those storms in the Pacific are called | | | | items that don't require cooking) |
| typhoons and tropical storms in the Indian Ocean | | | | -- Masking tape, duct tape |
| are designated tropical cyclones. Low lying coastal | | | | -- Medical information (list of your medications, |
| areas are at increased risk but inland areas as far | | | | any chronic conditions, and medical history) |
| as 200-300 miles can suffer heavy damage. In | | | | -- Medications (three-day supply of all daily |
| the United States the coastal areas of the | | | | medications) |
| Southeast are at risk and all areas of the | | | | -- Paper towels, toilet paper, and sanitary |
| Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico have historically | | | | products |
| seen extensive storm damage. Areas as far | | | | -- Pet supplies and carrier (include food, water, |
| north as Massachusetts and Rhode Island have | | | | leashes, records of shots) |
| suffered direct hurricane hits however. In 2006 at | | | | -- Plastic sheeting |
| least one major storm is forecasted to hit the | | | | -- Radio (battery-operated) with extra batteries |
| Middle Atlantic and Northeast states. | | | | -- Scissors |
| Hurricanes are Serious Events | | | | -- Sleeping bags or blankets (one per person) |
| Anyone who has experienced a hurricane will | | | | -- Toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.) |
| attest to the fact that these are serious weather | | | | -- Tools (can opener, knife, pliers; a Swiss army |
| events. | | | | knife may suffice) |
| Hurricanes are ranked from category 1 (sustained | | | | -- Trash bags |
| winds in excess of 78mph) to category 5 | | | | 2) Create a portable supply kit |
| (sustained winds in excess of 155mph) and even | | | | In case you have to evacuate your home, it is |
| a category 1 storm can create extensive | | | | good to put the supplies you think you would |
| damage. Damage from wind, flooding and storm | | | | need the most in a portable container. Some |
| surge can destroy buildings and cause widespread | | | | people try to fit all of the supplies listed above in |
| flood damage. By far the most serious cause of | | | | a large rolling trashcan with a lid or a large rolling |
| damage however, is the storm surge created by | | | | cooler. Another option is to store the items in |
| wind pressure and wave action. Storm surges as | | | | several small coolers or boxes. Think about what |
| high as 30' are not uncommon in major storms. | | | | supplies you need, what you can reasonably carry |
| In 2005 a category 3 storm (Katrina) destroyed a | | | | or store in your car, and how many people will be |
| large portion of New Orleans and, notwithstanding | | | | available to help you transport the supplies. |
| substantial Federal Government aid, the area has | | | | 3) Develop and practice an emergency plan |
| yet to recover. In 2004 a deadly category 5 | | | | All the planning in the world won't do much good if |
| storm (Ivan) destroyed many of the homes and | | | | you don't practice ahead of time. Not only does |
| buildings on a number of islands in the Caribbean | | | | this enable you to go through your plan while |
| and the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. Ivan was | | | | you're calm and thinking clearly, but it also enables |
| particularly dangerous with 24 hours of sustained | | | | you to fine-tune it before you have to put it into |
| winds of 165 mph and gusts recorded as high as | | | | action. |
| 207mph. With a storm surge of over 20' over 1/3 | | | | -- Identify emergency evacuation routes and |
| of one island was covered by water and | | | | shelters in your community and near your |
| disappeared from radar as the storm passed. | | | | workplace. |
| Hurricanes generally result in at least some loss of | | | | -- Decide where family members should meet if |
| life both at sea and on land even for relatively | | | | you are separated in an emergency. |
| minor storms. Major storms can be much more | | | | -- Identify a backup location to meet at, in case |
| devastating. At the turn of the twentieth century, | | | | the first location is impossible to reach. |
| an unnamed storm took the lives of between | | | | -- Identify a point-person in the family who will |
| 6,000 to 10,000 people in Galveston , Texas. The | | | | serve as the central contact to call in case of |
| worst recorded loss of life resulted from a | | | | confusion. |
| tropical cyclone that hit East Pakistan (now | | | | -- Choose an out-of-state friend or relative to |
| Bangladesh) with over 200,000 lives lost. | | | | serve as a backup contact, in the event that local |
| At a minimum, hurricanes result in the loss of | | | | lines are tied up or out of service. |
| water service, electrical power and | | | | -- Provide every member of the family with a cell |
| communications for a period during and after the | | | | phone or prepaid phone card to make sure they |
| storm. Frequently, this period can extend for | | | | can make a call in an emergency. |
| weeks and even months in some cases. | | | | -- Consider family members with special needs |
| Modern Technology is Good News | | | | while making plans. (For example, who will help |
| Modern computer technology and forecasting | | | | someone in a wheelchair?) Don't forget your pets, |
| techniques have increased the period of warning | | | | either. (For example, where can you leave pets if |
| that allows preparation for the impact of the | | | | you have to evacuate to a hotel that does not |
| storm. These types of warnings allow preparation | | | | allow them?) |
| and even evacuation in the event of a powerful, | | | | -- Practice the plan at least once a year. |
| threatening storm. | | | | Source: Harvard Medical School (hms.harvard.edu) |
| For those who remain in place during a storm | | | | Water is Critical |
| however, advance preparation is required in order | | | | Of all the supplies listed the most critical by far is |
| to survive the aftermath of the storm. This | | | | an adequate supply of drinking water. Everything |
| requires stockpiling of the proper supplies in | | | | else (including food) is secondary to water |
| advance because demand for supplies immediately | | | | because the body needs a large and continuous |
| before a storm skyrockets and shortages occur. | | | | supply of fresh pure water. |
| Advance preparation is the key. | | | | After a hurricane, water service is interrupted for |
| A Three Step Disaster Plan | | | | lengthy periods because of lack of power and the |
| In order to survive a hurricane disaster proper | | | | fact that existing water supplies are often |
| planning is critical and it takes effort. In addition to | | | | polluted. Pure fresh water is mandatory to ensure |
| assembling supplies as early as possible, a plan | | | | proper hydration and avoid disease spread |
| must be developed and practiced. A simple but | | | | through polluted water. |
| effective plan developed by The Harvard Medical | | | | Plan to collect and store water supplies that |
| School is: | | | | exceed the minimum and use the highest quality |
| 1) Collect disaster supplies | | | | water possible. Ultra pure distilled water can be |
| The devastating hurricane Katrina is graphic | | | | stored for long periods because there are no |
| evidence of just how disruptive natural disasters | | | | minerals or bacteria in the water and supplies can |
| can be. Those affected are without electricity, | | | | be maintained almost indefinitely if stored in a cool |
| water, stoves, phone and even shelter. To be | | | | dark place. |
| prepared, collect the following items and store | | | | Estimate supplies for more than your immediate |
| them so that you can find them easily in an | | | | needs due to the fact that in a hurricane many |
| emergency -- but not so easily that you end up | | | | people move to safer structures or higher ground |
| raiding and depleting the supplies without realizing | | | | and this may burden existing supplies of safer |
| it. Some people store these items in a section of | | | | locations. |
| the basement or a closet that is used infrequently. | | | | Plan for the worst: your life and well being may |
| Decide what will work best for you. | | | | be at stake. |