NEWSROOM
Family
emergency plan critical in preparing for hurricane season
May
26, 2008
If your family
has a plan for what you’d do in case of a hurricane or other
disaster, now is the time to pull it out and review it. If you
don’t, there’s still time to write your plan, Louisiana
Sea Grant and LSU AgCenter disaster preparedness specialist Pat
Skinner says.
“The
chaos that came in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita demonstrated
the need for families to have basic plans for what to do in case
of a storm or any other emergency,” Skinner said. “The
nation saw families separated and people who didn’t know
where they’d go next or what to do.”
LSU AgCenter
experts say making plans for emergencies isn’t complicated,
but they need to be made well before a disaster strikes.
“That
ensures everyone has a better chance of knowing what to when an
emergency comes along,” Skinner says.
The start
of hurricane season is a good time to review your existing plans
and update them – or to make plans if you’ve never
done so before.
“Although
having a family emergency plan won’t stop the destruction
or devastation that may come from a major storm, such plans can
help to reduce your losses and to help you and your family cope
better with the aftermath,” Skinner says. “They also
may help you stay together throughout it all.”
Experts say
emergency plans should address basic issues such as these:
- Know the
emergency broadcast station frequency for your area, so you
can keep up with the latest news bulletins.
- Map out
where you would meet and who you would call if you were separated
from other family members in an emergency.
- Think about
measures you need to take to protect your home and property.
Are there things you can do well in advance, such as trimming
trees to prepare for a storm? And what will you need to do at
the last minute, such as turning off utilities, securing loose
items or covering windows?
- Make sure
you have basic emergency supplies, such as a battery-powered
radio, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit and so forth.
- Keep at
least a three-day supply of nonperishable food on hand and devise
a means of storing ample water for that time frame, in case
you need it.
- Consider
if there is someone you would tell if you decided to leave home
in an emergency (neighbors, out-of-town relatives or others).
Doing this also gives family members someone else to contact
about your status if they can’t get in touch with you.
- Where would
you go if you needed to evacuate? Would you go to a shelter?
Do you have out-of-town friends or relatives who could house
you? Remember, hotel rooms are difficult to find during an emergency.
- What route
would you take during an evacuation? Do you have a car, and
would you drive? Would you need to depend on public transportation,
and if so, will it be available? Check with your area’s
emergency manager for information on your community’s
evacuation plans.
- What would
you take with you if you had to evacuate? You’ll definitely
need to have identification, some cash, copies of important
papers, medications you take regularly, clothing for at least
a few days and other necessities for daily living. You also
might want to take copies of a few family photos or other sentimental
items you could reasonably transport.
- How will
you provide for your pets’ care and safety? Will you take
them with you if you evacuate? Can you provide them with plenty
of food and shelter if they must be left behind?
“You
need to make sure everyone in the family knows the basic parts
of your plan, so it’s definitely a good idea to write it
down and share it with those in your household and others who
may be concerned about you,” Skinner advises.
“A written
plan also can serve as a checklist for you, so you’ll want
to keep it someplace where you can find it in a hurry,”
she says. “After all, emergencies tend to be a time when
people get excited and may forget what needs to be done. If you
have a plan, it helps smooth things out a little.”
For more information
on preparing for emergencies, visit www.lsuagcenter.com
and search for keywords like family safety, hurricane preparedness
and storm news.
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