Preparedness
Storms can have a devastating impact on your home and family, infrastructure and utilities. It is a sound approach to prepare for the worst and to know what to do in case of a hurricane or other emergency. In this post, we’ll go over the main items you can do to be ready and how you can prepare for a hurricane.
Living in Texas means dealing with Hurricane Season every year. It starts on June 1 and ends November 30. This year is predicted to be a busier year with more storms: so far, 13 tropical storms have occurred before the month of September. At this point, we have Tropical Storm Laura in the Gulf of Mexico gaining strength, moving towards the Texas shores.
Preparing for you and your family means that you have the necessary items to survive in your home for a few days. There may be items that you need for your particular situation, but the standard readiness kit will contain the same basic things.
It becomes a bit harder when the area you live in is flooded or otherwise closed off, and harder still when utilities are down. Electricity outages mean you lose light, air-conditioning and refrigeration. Loss of water or sewage issues may mean you lose the ability to shower, wash or use your toilet.
Build A Kit
A Disaster Supplies Kit is intended to have the basic items you and your family may need for a few days, and contains the items your family may need in the event of an emergency. It is important to make sure your kit is ready and prepared for any event, but when you realize an event is likely or imminent, double-check everything you may need is there, fresh and hasn’t expired. The basic kit could include the following items:
- Basics:
- Water. Prepare for one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
- Food. Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
- Manual can opener for food.
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties, for cleaning and personal sanitation
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
- Flashlight. Make sure the batteries are fresh.
- First aid kit. Make sure nothing has expired. Check for completeness.
- Extra batteries.
- Whistle.
- Plastic or paper utensils, plates, cups.
- Tools:
- Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape.
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. Be very careful if you have to work on utilities in a storm or when there’s standing water.
- Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery, and a phone charger for your car.
- Medication and personal care items:
- Medication, contact lenses and cleaning fluids. Painkillers, laxatives, etcetera. Feminine hygiene items.
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, cream.
- Pet foods and extra water for your pets.
- Documents:
- Keep copies of important documents, papers and policies.
- Use and download digital versions.
- Safely and securely store passports, ID documents, bank cards and checks.
- Blankets, sleeping bags, changes of clothes, sturdy shoes and boots.
- Books, games, toys and puzzles to keep you and your children entertained.
You can find a list you can print or download on your phone on ready.gov.
Other Things You Can Do
Make sure everybody around you knows what to do in the event of an emergency. Share information, and if you need to evacuate or leave your home or work, make sure you inform those around you. Follow the instructions of your employer, and ensure your manager knows where you are.
Prepare your home and surroundings by removing items that can get loose or fly around during a wind event: deck chairs, swings and tables.
When the power goes out, use flashlights. Don’t use candles. Stay indoors and don’t walk onto riverbanks and beaches. Flood water may be contaminated or contain dangerous insects or animals: don’t let children play in or near flood waters and stay out of it yourself as well. Fill up the gas tanks of your cars.
Don’t drive into water – even if you think your car can handle it. Two feet can flood your car, and a mere six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you off your feet. Remember: turn around, don’t drown, as underpasses, low spots and flooded roads may be deeper than you think. If you can’t see the road, you can’t tell whether manhole covers have opened, the road has disappeared or where the road actually goes.
Follow the guidelines from the official channels and make sure you know what to expect and what you need to do. Check out the websites of the National Hurricane Center, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and your local news outlets. Follow local authorities and their instructions.
Preparing Your Business
Finally, ensure your business is prepared, as well. Apart from making sure your employees remain safe, think of data, documents, products and offices. Prepare your business by implementing the following items:
- Design and implement communication protocols for your employees, clients and customers. Have a system and process in place to alert your employees about the situation at work and inform them in the even you need to close your office, and have a process in place to check in on employees to ensure their safety.
- Take a look at your systems and servers. Are they at risk of flooding and is there a back-up in place in case the power goes out?
- Store files, tools and electronics high and dry, and store securely.
- Make sure you and key employees have access to important documents and files in case you can’t physically return to the office.
About Us
Soaring + Company helps companies maximize their performance through their employees, systems and processes. If you and your organization are looking to improve your processes – for instance, if you want to implement or update an emergency preparedness policies and procedures – reach out to us: we are ready to help.
