Hurricanes, wildfires, tornados, floods and active volcanos that devastated much of the U.S. last summer are generating new dialogues about how to survive them.
The Department of Homeland Security, American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are now advancing communications to help people prepare for natural disasters that can endanger citizens while destroying homes and property.
Most Americans are not prepared
A national survey of more than 1,000 Americans by a major insurance company found that despite the increased frequency of natural disasters, 75 percent of people do not proactively prepare for severe weather or disaster events.
In 2017, the U.S. suffered 16 major natural disasters, with collective recovery costs of more than $300 billion. The survey revealed that:
- Eighty percent expressed concern about the increasing pace of such events but only 25 percent proactively prepare for severe weather or disaster events.
- Fewer than half of people surveyed have a backup cell phone on hand. Less than 25 percent have severe weather apps installed to warn if dangerous weather is approaching where they live or work.
- For most people who do prepare, preparation constitutes only food, water and first-aid kits.
- Half of those surveyed are not aware of home technologies such as smart smoke alarms or water sensors that can alert homeowners via cell phone of approaching flood or fire.
- Only 25 percent possess portable electricity generators, hurricane shutters or wet-dry vacuums.
Prepare in advance to survive natural disasters
Hurricane Michael was one of the most devastating tropical cyclones in U.S. history when it hit the Florida Panhandle on October 10, with 155 mph winds cutting a destructive path northward, killing at least 29 people and causing more than $8.1 billion in home and property damage.
Hurricane Michael could have hurt or killed more people if local residents had not prepared in advance for Michael’s arrival with emergency readiness procedures. By comparison, Hurricane Harvey last year caused 106 deaths in Texas and Louisiana.
Unlike tornadoes and earthquakes, hurricanes can be forecast several days ahead of landfall, giving residents time to take precautions. The National Safety Council and other agencies provide these protection guidelines for hurricanes:
Acquire emergency survival kits equipped with supplies for three days (See below)
Store an emergency survival kit in your dwelling and also in your car or truck
Keep on TV or radio for emergency updates from authorities
Keep a full tank of gas in your vehicle
Board up windows of your dwelling with 5/8 inch plywood, or secure with protective panels
Move loose items like patio furniture to inside the dwelling
Seek shelter in a bathroom, basement or secured closet
Stay indoors until authorities order evacuation or announce it's safe to go outside
Know where to go in evacuation, such as a local FEMA shelter
Never drive into flooded areas; if flood waters rise around your car, abandon it
Different types of natural disasters necessitate different methods of emergency survival preparation. These links provide helpful guidelines from first responder agencies about different emergency preparedness and survival scenarios you may encounter, from winter blizzards to summer tornadoes, hurricanes and more. Click each for preparedness guidelines:
https://www.dhs.gov/natural-disasters
https://www.ready.gov/
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies.html
https://emergency.cdc.gov/
https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/emergency-preparedness?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuuHdBRCvARIsAELQRQG7kf0JkP5qQGTNvC7mYM9xjvxBaowuLp9fwjnKyzKeljdaI1fBEBAaAruyEALw_wcB
Survival kits
More than 10,000 people died in natural disasters worldwide in 2017, according to research website Statista.com. Many lives could have been saved if more people had acquired an emergency survival kit for their home, office or vehicles.
The American Red Cross and other organizations advise how to create emergency survival kits. Here is one example of survival kit contents:
* Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
* Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home).
* Flashlight with extra batteries
* Extra cell phone with chargers
* Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
* First aid kit
* Medications (7-day supply)
* Needed items such as hearing aids with extra batteries, contact lenses, baby bottles and infant formula
* Playing cards or games for kids, pet supplies, extra keys, two-way radio with extra batteries, manual can opener, multi-purpose tool
* Sanitation and personal hygiene items
* Copies of personal documents (medication list, medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
* Family and emergency contact information
* Extra cash
* Emergency blanket(s)
* Maps of the area
Bugging out
One thing that virtually all disasters have in common is the potential need to evacuate or “bug out” to avoid injury or death.
“Bug out” entered military slang during the Korean War to describe rapid mass retreats by soldiers. The term also relates to “bail out bags” filled with emergency survival gear for military pilots if they bail out or are shot down.
Some people would rather purchase a well-equipped “bug out bag” than create them by acquiring and packing necessary individual components.
The ER Emergency Ready Bug-Out Bag is a comprehensive “grab and go” emergency survival bag. It contains essential supplies to aid people in case of immediate evacuation. Its contents will fulfill needs for shelter, food/water, search & rescue, communication, lighting, hygiene and first aid. Durable enough for any environment, it can be stored anywhere.
The ER Emergency Ready Bug-Out Bag and additional types of survival kits are available from Quake Kare. (https://www.quakekare.com)
Story authors Brittney Bettonville and Brian Houser can be reached by calling 800.542.3697 or 314.423.4333 at Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that helps individuals who are legally blind maintain dignity and independence through gainful employment, education and support services.