After the recent swarm of devastating tornadoes, residents in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri must prepare for the continuing prediction of storms. The latest tornado to hit the U.S. left 117 known victims in its wake; it is the deadliest tornado in over 60 years. MSNBC reports that about 1,500 are still missing after the recent storm.
Preparing for a Storm
Experts cannot predict the exact time a tornado will hit. Therefore, it is important for you, your family and business to have an emergency plan that you can implement at a moment’s notice. When creating your emergency disaster plan, include the following:
Know what to do if your family is not together when a storm hits. Include a meet-up spot and instructions for different scenarios. For example, think about what you should do if the kids are at school, a friend’s house or the mall, if you are at work or are out running errands. Each family member should have a list of important phone numbers written down that each person keeps in a wallet or backpack.
Know the safest location in your house in the event of a tornado warning. Keep a battery-operated radio, flashlight, whistles, safety goggles, first aid kit and your emergency disaster kit near this location. You should have enough whistles for each family member to use to call for help if any get caught under debris.
Make an emergency disaster kit that includes water, food, medications, important documents, phone numbers, batteries, blankets, disposable camera, first aid kit, cash and pet supplies (if needed). Use this kit in the event that you cannot live in your home after a storm or you need to evacuate.
If you are a business owner, create a tornado emergency plan and make sure your employees know what to do in the event of a storm. Designate an area of your business as a “safe” area for employees to wait-out a storm and include a battery-operated radio, flashlight, whistles, safety goggles, first aid kit, emergency contact numbers, important documents and the company emergency procedures manual at this location.
Create a plan to recover. Worry about your possessions well before a storm hits or after, but do not risk your life to protect your belongings during a tornado warning. Keep photo negatives and copies of important documents in a safe location away from your home or business, like a bank’s safety deposit box. If you have not done this and a storm hits, remember that you can restore wet documents and damaged photographs with the help of a disaster recovery company.
Hurricane season is just around the corner and will last from June to November. ABC News reports that over 1.8 million homes on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at the greatest risk of receiving damage caused by hurricanes. The amount of homes in this at-risk zone is three times greater than those in flood zones defined by the federal government, according to CoreLogic. This means that two-thirds, or 66%, of the homes that are most likely to receive storm damage from a hurricane are outside of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood zones. The ABC News report states that the homes with the most risk of experiencing hurricane damage include those in New Orleans, La.; Tampa, Fla.; Virginia Beach, Va.; Long Island, NY and Miami, Fla.
In addition to damaging high wind speeds and rain, hurricanes can cause storm surges and extensive water damage. Storm surges are when sea or ocean water breaks through structures designed to prevent flooding. Surges can cause massive flooding and can carry harmful debris. However, the states most vulnerable to a direct hit from a hurricane, according to ABC News, are Texas and Florida.
In the last ten years, eight Category 5 hurricanes (the strongest kind) in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea made landfall in North and Latin America. Colorado State University researchers predict there is a 72 percent chance that U.S. will experience the devastation of at least one major hurricane during the 2011 hurricane season.
Retirement, college funds, vacations, large purchases and rainy days are all reasons most people save money. However, many fail to save cash in the event of a disaster. It is common for vendors to only accept cash after a disaster as their electronic equipment may not work properly.
Experts recommend that you save emergency funds in your bank account in the event you cannot work after a disaster so you can continue to pay your bills using checks. However, you should also keep enough cash to pay for gas, food and water (in the event you run out), a telephone card and any additional supplies you may need. The amount you should save depends on the size of your household, medical needs and the needs of pets you may own.
When saving money for an emergency disaster kit, you can place a large amount in it right away or add small amounts to it every month so it grows. However, make the cash you save in your kit off-limits because you will depend upon this money if you experience a disaster. Consider placing the cash in a small, fireproof safe next to or inside your prepared emergency disaster kit.
Tornadoes and storms continued to pummel the South over the weekend, wreaking havoc in 25 North Carolina counties. South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland also issued scattered tornado reports. The North Carolina twisters claimed the lives of 21 people and seriously injured 130 throughout the state, and President Obama has already pledged his support to Governor Beverly Perdue.
The Hardest Hit
Most of the injuries and fatalities occurred to those who were in mobile homes. Shaw University’s campus in Raleigh, NC experienced so much damage that it has cancelled what is left of its spring semester. Governor Perdue reported in an interview that thousands of acres of agricultural land were also destroyed by the tornadoes.
Advanced Planning Pays
A major franchised home improvement store in North Carolina experienced the fruits of its employeeemergency disaster training during the turbulent weekend. Part of the company’s employee training includes directions about what to do in the event of a disaster, such as a tornado. As soon as employees recognized the signs of a tornado, they ordered the customers to go to the back of the store. An MSNBC report states that the employees had 1.5 to 2 minutes to react to the situation and get everyone to the safest area of the store, the back. Despite one customer’s protest, employees were able to get everyone in the building to safety just before a tornado ripped the front of store to shreds of twisted metal and broken glass.
Every company should create a business emergency disaster plan and incorporate it into ongoing employee training. The benefits of taking the time to do so are multi-fold, as employees will know how to act quickly, reach safety and help save the lives of others. A business disaster plan should also include steps to recover after an incident to help ensure speedy business continuity.
Like a scene from a Hollywood production, trees toppled, rooftops flew off houses and cars were tossed like toys as a storm sent tornadoes to pummel the Southern states. Dozens of homes and businesses experienced damage, and residents can expect the severe weather to last through Saturday, according to a report by CNN.
So far, this storm has claimed the lives of nine people and has left 15 injured. Like house fires, tornadoes are unpredictable and require families to act quickly so they can get to a safe location. Commit the following tips to memory before a storm affects your community:
The safest place in your home is in your storm shelter, basement or a room/area on the bottom floor that does not have windows. Examples of such areas include bathrooms, closets, under a stairwell or in a windowless hallway. Put as many walls as you can between you and the outside of your home.
Crouch down on the floor, facing down, and cover your head with your hands. Keep in mind that a bathtub may offer extra protection. If possible, place thick padding over your body, like blankets or pillows.
If you live in a mobile or manufactured home, get out and go to a community storm shelter or to a building that has a permanent foundation. If shelter options are not readily available to you, go outside and lay face down on the ground away from other mobile homes, cars and trees.
