Emergency Security and Protection When natural disasters and other emergencies strike, they can cause some pretty confusing, frightening times. Regardless of what it is--hurricane, earthquake, ice storm, or anything else--people are almost always caught unawares. No one likes to think that their house could burn down because of a raging forest fire, or that they could be injured because of an earthquake, or even that someone could become seriously ill because of a toxic leak. But these disasters do happen, and often. Thousands of people in the U.S. are evacuated every year because of disasters, both manmade and natural. And although this is a scary and uncomfortable subject, as long as people plan ahead and are careful, they should be able to effectively secure themselves, their houses, and their pets and possessions. The first and most important aspect of emergency security is protection of the individual. In times of chaos, a lot of the time, each person has to be responsible for themselves because no one else has the capacity to do so. The best way of taking care of oneself is to become and remain informed. People who understand the dangers of the area they live would obviously be better prepared to withstand disaster than someone who prefers ignorance. That’s why it’s important to talk to any emergency officials in the community--if there’s a committee, discuss dangers and plans with them. If not, contact the local police department and ask them what to expect from the area and what to do when things get bad. Know when and from where an emergency broadcast will come; and learn how to respond to any level of severity. Even the most harmless of rainstorms can turn into a personal emergency if it, for example, collects around the house and floods the basement. After discussing these issues, however, people cannot just assume they know everything. If authorities broadcast an evacuation order, people need to leave. Or if officials quarantine a part of the city because of illness or something similar, people must respect that ban so they don’t endanger themselves and others. In order to be thoroughly protected, it’s also a good idea for a person to get to know their neighbors. This is a good idea at any rate, but it’s especially important for when a disaster occurs--if the neighbors are familiar, then they will be more willing to help and communicate than if everyone were strangers. Individuals should also prepare in a general sort of way for any kind of disaster. This means food storage, emergency packs, first aid kits, and any other specific materials they might need. Each person and each family should assess their own needs and pack emergency supplies accordingly. The Red Cross recommends that each person should have at LEAST three days’ worth of food and water stored, but that it’s much more practical to have two weeks’ worth of supplies. Varied food storage will ensure that if someone has to live off of their supplies, they won’t grow so tired of eating the same thing over and over that they prefer not to eat at all. The Ready Store, among other emergency preparedness businesses, sells a wide variety of nonperishable foods. Besides just having food at home, individuals must recognize the need for an emergency “to go” pack. If an evacuation order was ever announced, there may not be any time to pack food or necessities. So for each person’s safety, it’s best to have a pack for every person in the household; and the pack should have food, water, a sleeping bag, tools, and other necessary supplies in it. The next part of emergency security and protection is securing and protecting the house. After the health and safety of all the individuals has been protected, then people can start to consider how to reinforce their home. Authorities recommend that people become informed about what they can expect in their area, and then follow safety protocol after that. For instance, a person living in a hurricane-prone area can “storm proof” their house, even though it is likely that they will have already evacuated. They should put in double-pane windows and a heavy, sturdy front door (this also helps with robberies). In an area with terrible storms where evacuations are common, it’s almost necessary to reinforce windows and doors because of the many looters that remain behind. They would also certain that the
roof is up to standard--especially if it’s an old house--and, if the storm was predicted to be bad enough, they’d board up the windows. However, these may not be the precautions a person would take if they lived in an area susceptible to earthquakes. A person there would want to get their home looked at to make sure the foundation was steady and that there are no frayed wires (which have started fires during several earthquakes). The list goes on, however. The best thing to do is stated above: become informed and STAY informed. The more knowledgeable a person is about there area and ways to avoid harm, the more likely they’ll be to suffer less than those who are unprepared. Finally, the last security issue is that of possessions and pets. Anyone who lives in storm zones is encouraged to either bolt down outside furniture or return it inside the house during the storm. And the possibility of looters was already discussed. If people must evacuate, then thick, double paned windows and secure doors are probably their best be for returning home with all of their possessions intact. It’s also a good idea to close the curtains or the blinds so no one could glance in. If the area is prone to flooding, then don’t keep special possession or important documents on the first floor if it can be helped. Move these sorts of items to a high shelf or, when possible, the second story of the house. Again, it all comes back to discussing the dangers with local authorities and assessing what needs to be done for each individual house, since every family is going to have different needs. Finally, it is important to provide for the security of any animals. Generally, animals are not allowed in shelters, except for those that work with disabled people. That means that before the emergency actually happens, people must make arrangements as to where their pet will go. Just locking the animals inside with some food and water will not cut it; that’s actually how many pets died in Hurricane Katrina. The owners assumed they would be right back, but instead were away from home for weeks. Many animals starved, others drowned, but all this could have been avoided had these owners made prior arrangements. Providing for the security and protection of individuals, houses, and other possessions and animals may seem like a lot of work--and pricey. But it certainly isn’t more expensive than having to buy a new home, and it won’t be as much work as digging through debris to find possessions would be. As long as people realize that they are not immune to disasters, and are willing to work to become more prepared, then they will be much better equipped to deal with that emergency once the time comes.