The most dangerous thing about natural disasters and other emergencies is not so much their raw power or their ability to destroy—it is the way they surprise people, and how they catch many people off guard. If people could predict every natural disaster and how severe it would be, then there would likely be no casualties at all because of them. People could prepare correctly, evacuate the area if necessary, and just have peace of mind knowing that they would not be suddenly caught in a deadly storm. This, unfortunately, is not the way things work. Instead, despite all the attempts to do so, most natural disasters cannot be completely anticipated. For example, although weather experts can tell people when a hurricane is on its way, they cannot say for sure how strong it will be. Sometimes, hurricanes are better or worse than predicted since those storms behave differently once they hit land than when they are on the sea. And sometimes, even if the storm is every bit as severe or mild as predicted, unexpected disasters can occur because of it. One of the most famous examples, of course, is Hurricane Katrina. It was a terrible storm, but much of the damage was done once it had left when the i levees broke . Hurricanes are actually some of the easiest natural disasters to predict, since they are so dramatic and visual. Something like a tornado or especially and earthquake, on the other hand, can be sneaky and every bit as violent as a hurricane or winter storm. Most of the time, the damage done by an earthquake is much worse than a hurricane, because no one has the time or the inclination to prepare. In light of this, then, people should begin their preparations for disasters no matter where they live or what point in their life they are at right now. If nothing else, every part of the U.S. is considered to be a flood zone, so people should begin preparing their 72-hour kit for ii that possibility . However, in most areas of the country, there are other dangers that people must think about if they are to survive them. And natural disasters are not the only possibilities. People should find out what plants, factories, and other companies they live by that could have a toxic spill. This may sound like something out of a bad comic book, but every year, thousands of people are iii ordered to evacuate from their homes and cities because of something toxic in the area . And it doesn’t even have to be a huge nuclear plant to be dangerous, either. A truck carrying some chemicals and wrecking near a neighborhood could cause people to evacuate for hours or even days. Because of these risks, as well as others not discussed, it is vital that everyone start thinking about an important aspect of emergency preparedness: shelter and warmth. In many cases, if people have to evacuate their homes, any hotels or motels in the area will probably have to be evacuated as well. And in the case of earthquakes or hurricanes, it’s probable that nothing will be running anyway, so businesses will not be able to take credit cards, and most people won’t have any electricity. Shelters can be as complex as a building in the community meant to provide protection for many during times of crisis, or just a small tube tent for two. The point of shelter, however, is to provide protection from the elements, so plan accordingly. It is extremely important that in an emergency, people shield themselves from harsh weather since if they get hypothermia or heat stroke or any number of conditions, there may not be enough medical personnel on site to help them. People must plan ahead so they can protect themselves and their families. Other important items as far as shelter go include a tent that can fit the whole family and rain gear. A two-man tent is fine as long as only two people are planning on using it. Do not attempt to squeeze more than the recommended number of people into a shelter, since that can be a safety hazard, not to mention it can spread disease faster if anyone gets sick. Emergency sites like The Ready Store provide a variety of tents for a low price, as well as other shelter-based items. Since shielding against weather elements is the whole point of shelter, also make sure that there is rain gear in any emergency pack. This includes ponchos, umbrellas, and any rain-
resistant clothing that might come in handy. Another great idea that may not be the first thing people think of is storing waterproof matches, since they will help both with shelter and with warmth. An easier alternative to these matches is the magnesium fire starter, since it’s more convenient and burns hotter, making fires easier to start. After people have provided for their sheltering needs, it’s time to start thinking about warmth. This is just as important as shelter, and they go hand in hand with one another, since shelter doesn’t help if people can’t get warm, and warmth won’t help as much if there’s nowhere to stay. Having those matches or a fire starter is a great place to begin, but there is a much more pressing issue: once inside the tent or other shelter, how is everyone going to sleep warmly? One economic solution to this is to use multiple blankets, but these are never as warm as sleeping bags, and generally aren’t as comfortable either. Sleeping bags for every member of the family are great products to have (for emergencies AND camping trips), and if they are warm enough, a lot of worry about disasters melts away. They don’t have to be expensive or trendy; many emergency sleeping bags are designed to be lightweight, inexpensive, and retain up to 90% of a person’s body heat. Sleeping bags, however, will not be enough in cold weather, since if they are necessary, people will most likely be sleeping on the ground. People must have some kind of buffer to provide both comfort and warmth from the cold, hard ground when they are planning on iv sleeping outside . This can take the form of foam pads, blankets, or even tarps and ponchos (though the latter won’t help as much as the two former). Finally, once people have gotten these basic supplies, they should also pack warm clothing, even if they are making these emergency packs in the summer, or if they live in a typically warm area. There’s no telling what natural disasters will make the weather do, and if the damage is widespread enough, then it is possible that people will have to flee to a colder area to escape the danger. Winter coats, gloves, warm pants, boots, and anything else the family might need should all be packed and put aside in case of an emergency. Wool clothing is the best, since it repels water and keeps people warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It’s also a good idea to consider having little things tovkeep people warm and comfortable, like extra blankets or instant body and hand warmers . These can be held or put in clothing or sleeping bags (as long as they are not in direct contact with the skin) for maximum warmth and comfort. Although it’s not really fun or pleasant to think that an emergency or natural disaster could drive people out of their homes for an extended period of time, the people who do consider this and plan for it are generally the ones best equipped to survive such an emergency. Think about emergency shelter and warmth now, and avoid turning a disaster into a tragedy. i http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina/. Wikipedia article: Hurricane Katrina ii http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/faqs_flood.jsp/. Floodsmart.gov webpage: Resources: FAQs iii http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/evacuation.shtm/. FEMA article: Evacuation Plans iv http://gilescounty.org/pdf%27s/Community_Version.pdf. Giles County article: Be Aware, Be Informed, Be Prepared: A Reference Manual v http://theepicenter.com/howto.html. The Epicenter webpage: How to Prepare for an Emergency!