August 13, 2007
How’s your emergency preparedness?
Hurricane Flossie is messing around in the Pacific and the Big Island is battening down the hatches. She’s not a huge storm, but could cause some flooding and wind damage. A storm that will likely become Hurricane Dean is brewing in the Atlantic. It’s a good time for all of us in Hawaii and elsewhere to review our own preparations. There’s never a good time to be unprepared, regardless of where you live. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, wild fires and other disasters can change your world in a moment. Are you ready? There are things in this world that a New York personal injury lawyer can’t help you with, and this is one of them. You need to do it for yourself and your family.
I spent most of my growing-up years living just outside of New Orleans. My father was an engineer, a bridge designer, and he took such things quite seriously. We were always prepared. Every year there were several threats from hurricanes. Every few years there was a “hit” that affected us or those near us. Our personal worst was Hurricane Betsy in 1965. She ripped the roof off of our house and blew out a bunch of windows. Our entire neighborhood was a mess and help was slow to come. We did okay. We had plenty of food and water. We and another family on the block had gas stoves and we cooked for the neighborhood for the two weeks that we were without power. One neighbor’s father was a merchant marine whose ship docked a day or two after the storm. He had truckloads of ice brought out to us every day. The worst was the sweltering heatwave that followed the storm. There was no way to cool off and the heat sped up the growth of the molds and mildew that soon covered walls, clothing and pretty much everything inside our home. As soon as the insurance adjuster had completed his job, we four kids were put to work helping rip out soggy sheetrock and drag building materials and spoiled household goods out to the street. The water was unsafe for the first week, so we couldn’t waste any of it with bathing. I remember feeling hot and nasty and itchy. But we were prepared. We never ran out of food or water. We had shelter, though it was not the most comfortable. We had basic sanitation. It probably would have been wise to have evacuated prior to Betsy, but that would not have made much change in our situation. Evacuation is the one area where Dad fell short. Like most folks in that part of the country, he usually didn’t believe it was necessary.
Most emergency preparedness programs will tell you that you should have enough food and water on hand to sustain your family for three days in the event of a disaster. I’ve always tried to keep two weeks worth. My current evac kit has that much. I have canned and dried foods, water, disposable plates, cups and eating utensils, paper towels and toilet paper. I have wet wipes, a basic first aid kit and plenty of rubbish bags for disposing of all kinds of waste. I try to keep at least a two week supply of dog food on hand for the boys, and refill old Buddy’s prescriptions before they get down to less than that. I have run lines (twenty-foot chains that can be staked into the ground) that I can attach the boys leads to so they can have some freedom but won’t run off and get lost. If I had to evacuate, I could leave the house within about fiteen minutes. My two Rubbermaid tubs are packed and stowed in the carport shed, right next to where I park my car. After stashing those in the trunk I’d need to put the boys crates in the back seat. I have a battery-operated lamp, two oil lamps and a battery-operated radio handy to throw in with my supplies at the last moment. The only things I would have to pick up would be the things that don’t keep well over an extended period of time - batteries and bread or crackers. I also have a destination in mind.
I called my friend this weekend and confirmed my emergency reservation. My home is just a few yards from a stream that goes to the ocean. It rises and falls with the tide. A storm to the south of us (like Flossie, if she decides to get mean) could push the ocean up the stream and cause serious flooding in our community. Evacuation centers generally do not make arrangements for pets. My plan is to go to my friend’s place up in the mountains. The coast only has one entrance/exit, but hurricanes give plenty of warning, so I’d have time to leave the coast. A tsunami is a possibility here, too, and there have been several threats in the years that I’ve lived here. The coast highway would not be a good place to be caught in a tusnami, so in that event I have a place picked out up in the mountains above my community. No nice condo to go to, but we’d be above the danger and we’d have what we needed to survive.
I’m ready. Are you? Do you have a plan and keep supplies handy? Does your family have a meeting place in case they are separated during a disaster? What would you do if you had a few hours warning that you needed to evacuate? What if you only had ten minutes? Would you be prepared? If not, today’s a good day to work on that.
[tags]emergency preparedness, evacuation, Hurricane Betsy[/tags]
Posted by skeet @ 3:29 pm • Home & Family
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August 13th, 2007 at 9:13 pm, patrick Says:
Get the latest update from the Hawaii county civil defense.
http://estatenoni.com/HawaiiIslandGrown/
August 13th, 2007 at 10:12 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo Patrick! My thoughts are with all of you on the Island of Hawaii tonight. I’ve had the Hawaii weather channel on and knew about the earthquake almost as soon as it happened.
Folks, his site is keeping up-to-date with Civil Defense broadcasts about Flossie and on the earthquake that struck the Big Island tonight. Good place to keep yourself informed if you’re in a position of needing to know these things.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:49 am, Tony Says:
Hope things are okay there. I see Flossie is bearing down on you and the 5.3 earthquake last night must not have been too pleasant.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:50 am, Elizabeth Says:
I came by to see if you had posted anything, the Posties are worried about you! I put the link to this post in a forum thread question from Jules expressing her concern. Be safe! We love you!
August 14th, 2007 at 5:53 am, Lisa Says:
Post soon and let us know you are okay.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:40 am, Kim Says:
I’m only thiking good thoughts for you skeet. I’m glad your prepared and hopefully, everything will be ok.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:44 am, Leigh Says:
So glad you’re OK and prepared for what may be coming!
I had no idea you grew up around New Orleans. My sister lived there 10 years and went through a couple of hurricanes.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:07 am, skeet Says:
Aloha Tony! Yeah, all good here. The earthquake and the immediate threat from Flossie are bad news for the Big Island, but so far all is calm on Oahu. Mahalo for your concern, you sexy thang, you!
August 14th, 2007 at 8:09 am, skeet Says:
Ah, Mahalo, Elizabeth. None of this is affecting us right now on Oahu, but we’re all watching the storm to see what she’ll do next.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:10 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo for asking Lisa! The storm is going to be a problem for the Big Island of Hawaii today, so far no solid threat to Oahu. I’m ready to do whatever needs to be done if she decides to make trouble here.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:11 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Kim! Yes, everything is good on my island so far. We’re all watching and waiting and really appreciate everyone’s concern!
August 14th, 2007 at 8:17 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Leigh! Everything is fine here so far, though I’m sure the folks on the Big Island would appreciate some good thoughts sent their way. Yes, I grew up in Jefferson Parish, right outside of New Orleans, so I’ve got the storm prep routine down pat.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:59 am, Tina K Says:
I thought of you yesterday when I saw the reports. Luckily, I remembered your being native to New Orleans, in addition to being an awesomely capable woman, so I didn’t worry ’bout ya.
Of course, all the islands will be in in thoughts, and I hope for no damage.
We were on island for Iniki in 1991. The Navy minds evacuated everyone from Iroquois Point where our house was a mile from the ocean to Barbra’s Point to a gutted barracks building where we could see the ocean from the balcony. I think the idea was to move from wooden to concrete.
Months later, when we had a tsunami warning, it was going to be a replete. My family headed for the hills for a day in Mililani. We saw a couple of movies, shopped, had dinner, while we waited out the tsunami warning.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:11 am, Lee Says:
I’m glad to know that you’re OK. You’re level of preparation is inspirational! I’m going to bookmark this post and use it as a reference.
Thanks for sharing Skeet! Stay safe.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:33 am, skeet Says:
Yeah, Tina, my background has me ready for hurricanes. I take them seriously, get ready, then just relax because there’s nothing else to do.
I wouldn’t want to be at Iroquois Point or Barber’s Point in a tsunami situation. Heading for the hills is the right thing to do.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:34 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Lee! I’m an old hand at storm preparation. I hope my post inspires a few other folks to get themselves ready for whatever might come their way.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:12 am, Charlotte Says:
Stay safe Skeet! I’ll be thinking about you.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:33 am, Marj Says:
I will say a prayer for you and your friends.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:34 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Charlotte! I’m a safety-first kinda gal, especially when it comes to hurricanes!
August 14th, 2007 at 11:36 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Marj! I’m feeling very overwhelmed by everyone’s concern! Don’t we have the best bunch of friends ever?!
August 15th, 2007 at 5:18 am, Jenny Says:
I hope everything is ok. And you’re ok. I would never know what to do in a hurricane. I’d be so scared. Be safe!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm, A Pretty Mess » Blog Archive » Propane Facility Explodes in Residential Toronto Neighbourhood Says:
[…] would have been almost simultaneous), all the while wishing I had taken Skeet’s advice about emergency preparedness. I’ve seen the videos, heard the screams and read the first-hand reports and it’s still […]
September 26th, 2008 at 10:04 am, Ann Says:
Great post, my friend! You know, I probably wouldn’t have thought of wet wipes and some other little things that would really be useful in an emergency situation. I love how we can all learn from each other!