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Disaster Readiness As climate disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, heatwaves, and flooding become more frequent and far-reaching, the odds you will experience some kind of emergency that may require you to evacuate or cut you off from accessing drugs and healthcare services will increase. By preparing ahead of time, you can mitigate the disruption to your life and ensure you are as safe as possible in a chaotic event.
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Stay or Go? •
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While following the advice of the National Weather Service is the safest option, evacuating may be difficult due to money or mobility constraints. Most places offer bussed evacuation or shelters to go to during a weather emergency. It is imperative to understand that if you are trapped without assistance during a natural disaster, help may not be able to reach you for some time. Take all of these things into account when thinking of your disaster readiness plan. If you have renters or homeowners insurance and know that you will be evacuating, take pictures of your home for claims purposes later on. If you expect flood waters, place important items you cannot take with you in high up places or on second stories. Before you evacuate, turn off your gas, electricity and water to prevent further damage after city services begin to be repaired and turned back on. You may evacuate to an unfamiliar location or have to stay in an emergency shelter where your drugs of choice may be hard or impossible to come by. Seeking out drugs in a new place may be much more risky than traveling or evacuating with your supply in the first place. Consider the legal risks of either option when choosing to evacuate.
Supplies •
If you anticipate losing access to drinking water, it is recommended you have on hand one gallon of water per day per person. Doing drugs can dehydrate you so plan on having more. Electrolyte drinks or powders can be used to replace salts you lose from sweating. Soft drinks, juices, and coffee are not as hydrating as water. Alcohol will make you more dehydrated!
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It is important to have at least a three day supply of non-perishable food in the event of a disaster. Try not to eat all of your disaster snacks early! If you’re doing drugs that take your appetite away, have small snacks you can munch on throughout the day like lightly salted popcorn or a candy you like. Keep gum on hand for dry mouth, it will also help you conserve your water. You may be sheltering in place with friends, family, or strangers. Make sure you and others have naloxone on hand in the event of an overdose. Remember emergency services will not be able to reach you during a weather event, and may be blocked from getting to you afterwards depending on the damage in your area. Stock up on harm reduction supplies to avoid having to share with others, as well as a first aid kit because small cuts and burns can become infected more quickly in harsh environments.
Safety Tips •
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If you are in a region that floods, Do Not Walk Into Flood Waters. There can be harmful wastes, downed power lines, and other unseen dangers. If you absolutely must leave your place of shelter, avoid flooded streets and wear sturdy shoes and loose fitting clothing to protect you from the elements while not overheating you. If cold weather is a concern, layering clothes will keep you warmer and allow you to regulate your temperature without having to take off your main layers. If you are exerting yourself or doing drugs that increase your temperature, sweating will make you colder later on. Frostbite can set in as little as 30 minutes in sub-zero temperatures. If you have poor circulation be sure to check your toes, fingers, ears and nose often if you are without heat. If you are experiencing pale skin or numbness in your extremities, warm yourself slowly – hot water or standing too close to a heating source can burn your skin without you realizing it. Many places where people are not acclimated to hot weather are experiencing heat waves. Pay attention to the signals your body is giving you! If you are sweating profusely and feeling flushed, find a shaded place to rest, ideally indoors with air conditioning and cool fluids to drink. If you have been hot and find that you have stopped sweating, your skin feels clammy, or you feel confused or dizzy you may be experiencing heat related illness beyond simple exhaustion. Heat stroke can occur when internal body temperature reaches 103F. It is important to remain hydrated and to not exert yourself. Attempt to seek medical attention if you are experiencing a severe reaction to the heat.
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Drug Supply •
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If you can stock up before having to evacuate or hunker down, try to ensure you have enough to last you a week. If stocking up is difficult, try doing a little bit continuously to keep you from going into withdrawals. If you are on any prescription medications, check in with your doctor to see if you can get a larger refill than normal, say 30 or 60 days. Also confirm that you will be able to fill the prescription at your evacuation destination. Some areas make it harder to pick up scripts for things like Vivitrol or Suboxone.
Medical Considerations •
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Whether you decide to stay or go, have a list of your medications, medical history, and emergency contacts. Keep in mind, many places that provide evacuation services before a disaster only allow each person 1 carry-on sized bag. Be mindful of what you need most when you are packing! You can also pre-pack a “go bag” at the beginning of the natural disaster season in your area that is already stocked with all of your supplies and even an emergency stash of drugs. Inclimate weather can exacerbate underlying health conditions. If you are asmatic in a smokey area for example, or if you are prone to swelling in your limbs, hot weather can make it worse. Keep these things in mind if you have the option to leave for a more comfortable location.
By planning ahead you can assess what your comfort level and needs are in the event of a weather emergency, make decisions about evacuating in advance, and prepare any supplies you may need to stay. If you have friends, family, neighbors or other community members, it’s important to relay your decisions to them so people who care for you know where you are. If you are in a situation where officials are asking you to evacuate but you decide to stay, there may be some time before you can receive assistance. Keep in mind, you can quickly go from being independent to needing help. Stay safe and stay smart!