In the last month, the South has been ravaged by natural disasters. Two hurricanes, one a Category 4, the other a Category 3, went through Florida and caused flooding in western North Carolina and parts of East Tennessee. Schools were closed in the Knoxville area all the way to Nashville due to high winds and potential flooding. Parts of I-40 will be closed or have major detours as the Tennessee state government continues to work on areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, natural disasters are increasing. It is shocking that mountain towns in Western North Carolina were affected by a hurricane in Florida. The need to be prepared for an emergency is more crucial than it was 40 years ago. Emergency preparedness means having a plan, a kit, and understanding the types of disasters in your area.
Here are the things you need in order to be prepared in an emergency:
Make a plan today for the steps you and your family will take in the event of an emergency. Decide now how you will send alerts and communicate with each other, and elect a meeting spot because you might not be together when disaster strikes. While preparing your plan, consider the needs of the people in your household and tailor your plan accordingly. Include a plan for your pets as well by creating a list of pet friendly places. (Ready Pets has great ideas to help you be ready to care for your four legged friends as well.) Create a plan for sheltering in place and one in case you need to evacuate.
A crucial item for emergency preparedness is to have an emergency kit. This will come in handy not only for a disaster that requires evacuation, but one where you might need to shelter in place as well. Here are some things that a basic kit should include: water and food, first aid kit, change of clothes for everyone in the household, cell phone chargers, medications, batteries, flashlights, copies of important documents, blanket, map of the area, and a way to receive information like a hand crank radio. A basic kit should have enough supplies for 72 hours for everyone in the household. In emergency situations, it can take up to 72 hours for emergency services to reach areas and provide relief. The needs of your household should be taken into consideration when creating your kit. Dietary restrictions, pets, prescription medications, and cash or traveler’s checks are few examples. Store your kit in a designated spot that all family members know about that is easily accessible in an evacuation.
Be informed of the natural disasters in your area. Tennessee’s unique geographical location exposes the locals to 13 types of disasters, eight of which are natural disasters. Those natural disasters include: tornados, flooding, earthquakes, wildfires, extreme temperatures, severe weather, drought, geological (sinkholes and landslides). The Tennessee State Government has information on what to do in all of these natural disasters. The key thing to do in a disaster is to follow the recommendations of state and government guidelines. Downloading an emergency app like FEMA can help educate and stay up to date on disasters in your area.
Prepare your kids for emergencies. The most effective way to prepare your children to deal with an emergency situation is to include them in the discussion. Have them participate in the family emergency preparedness plan. Teach them the building blocks for emergency preparedness (make a plan, create a kit, be informed). Practice the evacuation plan as a family. A good start would be to practice what to do if your house catches on fire. Have children memorize important family contact phone numbers and emergency numbers such as 911. Know what your children’s school or child care facility emergency plan is. Learn how to help your children cope in an emergency situation and include that information in your plan. Things to add to your emergency kit for your kids would be some books or games. Additional resources for preparing children for emergencies can be found at Ready Kids.
Emergency preparedness is not only imperative, but also smart. Disasters often come at no notice. Making a plan, creating a kit, being informed, and preparing your kids will help everyone in your household cope with the emergency situation. A couple of great online resources include Tennessee State Government and Ready.gov. There are a lot of free checklists and information on how to effectively prepare for emergencies.
