Preparedness
It’s late spring—that time of year when the Weather Channel starts gearing up for hurricane season and local newscasts across the country present tips on how to prepare for summer storms. Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 24 through 30, 2009, and offers an opportunity to think about how to respond when severe weather threatens or strikes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that, on average, hurricanes cause 20 deaths and $5.1 billion in damages per year, and tornadoes cause over 80 deaths and $1.1 billion in damages per year. The risk of these particular weather events varies from location to location, but with tornadoes occurring in every state of the union, there is reason to be prepared wherever one may reside.
Along with the news and weather media, government organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and NOAA, as well as state and local public safety agencies, provide an abundance of information on preparedness. Much of that information is geared to a mass audience, which typically consists of families with children. However, preparedness is no less important to the childfree and may require some unique planning.
One of the most crucial keys to preparedness is a weather radio. These devices receive continuous feed from NOAA and can be programmed to sound when a severe weather watch or warning is issued nearby. Many also have battery backup and can provide weather information for days after a power outage.
Emergency kits are essential if an evacuation becomes necessary, and it is advisable to plan ahead to ensure a kit is ready or can be quickly assembled. FEMA recommends packing non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, prescription and non-prescription medications, clothing, cash, and legal documents. The National Hurricane Center at NOAA also recommends a list of emergency kit items and advises filling vehicle gas tanks before leaving town, since gas shortages often arise along evacuation routes.
In preparing for weather disasters, the entire family must be considered. For many childfree individuals, that family includes pets. When Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana, many people stayed behind rather than abandoning their precious pets; even so, hundreds of thousands of pets were abandoned or killed by the storm. As a result, in 2006, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which requires state agencies receiving federal aid to include pets in their emergency and evacuation plans. Many state emergency management agencies now offer emergency planning advice to people with pets and provide information on pet shelters during and after disasters. The American Veterinary Medical Association provides links to state animal disaster plans and resources and offers a preparedness guide called “Saving the whole family.”
Pet emergency kits include additional water, pet food, litter, leashes, pet medicines, and medical and vaccination records. Evacuation plans should take into account pet-friendly accommodations. Public shelters are not ideal locations for the childfree, particularly those individuals who prefer not to be around small children. In addition, many shelters do not allow the canine, feline, and other animal family members.
When planning possible evacuation routes or thinking about temporary shelter in the event of damage to one’s own home, websites such as Pets Welcome and Pet Friendly provide pet friendly hotel and motel options. For longer term temporary living arrangements, other websites assist in finding pet-friendly apartments. Local rescue organization websites may also provide links to pet-friendly hotel and apartment finders.
In addition to being pet parents, a growing number of Americans, including the childfree, are taking on roles as caregivers to elderly family and friends. Preparedness plans should include consideration of medical needs of these members of our households and communities. These needs can range from physical assistance in the act of moving to emotional assistance in understanding that, although circumstances may change, the love of family and friends will not. Some situations will require advance planning and coordination with doctors and other caregivers to ensure specific needs are appropriately addressed. FEMA’s website includes emergency preparedness advice geared toward individuals with special needs and their loved ones.
Preparedness is an individual responsibility, and for those of us in caregiver roles of any sort, preparedness takes on a much broader scope. The events for which one must prepare vary by location. However, simple planning now can save heartache and hopefully spare tragedy in the future.
Copyright Julie Nisley. Published 1 May 2009 in The Zone.
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