Natural disasters can strike without warning, but with a little planning, you can be ready for anything.
If a devastating hurricane, tornado, earthquake or flood hit your corner of South Carolina tomorrow, would you know what to do? The sad fact is, most of us wouldn’t. A recent survey conducted by the American Red Cross found that only 7 percent of Americans are adequately prepared to survive a natural or manmade disaster. It also found that 69 percent of people living in hurricane-prone states (like South Carolina) don’t have a disaster supply kit, and 60 percent don’t have an evacuation plan—two things every family needs in case of a major storm.
To underscore the need to be prepared, the Department of Homeland Security has declared September (which also happens to be the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season) National Preparedness Month. It’s a reminder that a little planning now could save your life, and the lives of your loved ones, should the worst happen. The good news: It only takes three steps to be prepared for anything that Mother Nature might throw your way.
Step 1: Assemble a survival kit
“The first thing a family needs to do is have a kit with basic items in case of a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado or a flood,” says Karen Anderson, regional disaster director for the American Red Cross Columbia Region. “Add or subtract from the kit throughout the year based upon the season.”
The Red Cross sells prepackaged emergency kits, but you can easily assemble your own following Red Cross and South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) guidelines, which suggest having enough of these supplies on hand to last three days:
Water
You’ll need at least one gallon per person, per day—half for drinking, and half for cooking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers or anyone suffering an illness may require more water, so plan accordingly. Water should be stored in plastic bottles rather than in glass containers and should be replaced periodically throughout the year to ensure freshness.
Food
Your kit should be well-stocked with canned or prepackaged food that is ready-to-eat, has a long shelf life and requires little or no water to prepare. Don’t forget basics, like salt, pepper and sugar, and be sure to include high energy “comfort foods” for good measure. All items should be replaced twice each year.
Flashlights
Have several on hand with plenty of extra batteries. The Red Cross advises against using candles due to the risk of fire.
Radio
A radio is critical for monitoring pending storms and for finding out what’s happening in the wake of a disaster. Radios that pick up NOAA weather alerts are preferred. Don’t forget the extra batteries.
Medical supplies
A well-stocked first aid kit is a vital component of any disaster survival kit. You should also have a seven-day supply of prescription medications.
Personal hygiene items
Remember to include soap and shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste and other related items, like contact lens solutions, that you might need.
Cash
Banks will be closed and ATMs may be out of commission in the wake of a disaster.
Sleeping bags
Each family member should have a sleeping bag or at least a blanket to keep warm.
Extra clothing
Pack at least one change of clothing, coats, work boots or sturdy shoes, hats, and gloves.
Important documents
These include bank account, Social Security and credit card numbers as well as insurance policies, passports, birth and marriage certificates.
Take time to choose other items that you might need if you were forced to evacuate on a moment’s notice or to subsist at home without utilities, grocery stores or public services. Pack everything in watertight containers and store them in a location that is easily accessible. For more information on packing and maintaining a disaster kit, visit redcross.org/beredcrossready.
Step 2: Have an evacuation plan
In addition to creating a survival kit, your family should have a clear and well-rehearsed evacuation plan in place for emergencies large and small. The Red Cross suggests establishing two fixed meeting places—one outside but near the home where family members can meet in the event of a sudden emergency like a fire or an earthquake; the other outside the neighborhood in the event that the family is not able to return home.
“Another good thing to set up with your family is to arrange for somebody who does not live in the area to act as a ‘call center,’” says Anderson. “If something happens during the daytime and the family becomes split up, each person will know to call that relative, and that relative will tell everybody who calls where each family member is located.”
Social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can also be useful for keeping track of family members during and after a disaster. Regardless of which channel you use to communicate, the point is that everyone in the family knows how to reach one another. In the case of large-scale events, emergency management agencies and relief organizations will use these same social media channels to guide survivors to shelters and relief services. After a disaster, the Red Cross also activates its Safe and Well program, a web-based registry service that allows the public to stay in touch with loved ones by visiting redcross.org/safeandwell or calling (866) GET-INFO.
For an event with advance warning--a hurricane, for example--public safety officials may issue mandatory evacuations, says Lance Cpl. Robert Beres of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Having an emergency kit prepacked and your evacuation plan mapped out (along with alternative routes) can save valuable time and help you avoid the traffic snarls that often result.
“When you are asked to leave, please do so,” says Beres. “Don’t wait until the last minute. You’re not only going to put yourself in jeopardy but also the personnel who may have to come rescue you.”
Plans also need to be made for evacuating family pets, says Anderson of the Red Cross.
“If you are evacuated to a general population shelter, there is actually no place to house your pet,” she says. “So you have to make sure you have that plan in place before the disaster strikes.”
Step 3: Be informed
While disasters can strike without warning, emergency management officials stress it’s important for South Carolinians to know what kinds of events are most likely in their area and to prepare their survival kits and disaster plans accordingly.
As part of their advice to be informed, the Red Cross also recommends training in basic first aid and CPR—life-saving skills that can also be useful in everyday life. “The more prepared you are,” says Anderson, “the more likely it is that you’re going to survive.”
Derrec Becker, public information coordinator for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), says that one of his agency’s main concerns is public apathy about potential disasters. “It’s been 21 years since we’ve had a direct landfall from a major storm,” he says, referring to Hurricane Hugo. “And just imagine the growth in the state that has happened in the last two decades.”
Just as his department works with first responders and relief agencies to be ready for anything, “We want people at home to do the same,” he says.
_____
Related stories
After the storm – In the wake of disasters large and small, your co-op’s line crews are right beside the first responders working to restore basic services.
Common disasters – Disasters often strike with little or no warning. These tips will help you prepare for and survive the most likely emergencies in our state.