Basic kit : NWS radio, First Aid Kit, Lanterns, Water & Food & cash
#14,267
The big lesson from last year's Hurricane Michael is that intensity forecasts are not always as reliable as we'd like to believe.
Early on Monday, October 8th 2018, Tropical Storm Michael was centered over the western tip of Cuba, with tropical storm force winds of 70 MPH.The forecast was for the storm to strengthen to CAT 2 (110 MPH) winds, as it moved towards an expected Thursday landfall on the Florida panhandle.
While the NHC made a remarkably accurate forecast track, things did not go exactly as forecast.The following day, the forecast was increased to a CAT 3, and on Wednesday morning - just hours before landfall - came the news that Michael Was Now A Cateogry 4 storm. Since then, post storm analysis has convinced NOAA to upgrade Hurricane Michael To CAT 5 at landfall.
I provide this recap - not to criticize the forecasters - but to remind people that hurricanes are complex systems and forecasts are not perfect. If a storm is only expected to be a CAT 3, in the back of my head I consider that it could be CAT 5 on arrival.Hopefully Dorian won't come anywhere near CAT 5 intensity, but the truth is, we won't know how big of threat it will present to Florida or the Southeastern United States for several more days.
And by then, options for preparing may be limited.This year, Floridadisaster.org is now recommending a minimum of a 7 day supply of emergency food, water, prescriptions, and other necessities. And I'm sure they wouldn't be unhappy to see you extend that to 14 days.
Even though the storm may last only 12 hours, the impact on people's lives can extend for days, weeks, and even months. Outside assistance will eventually arrive, but it will be limited at first, and for some people it could take days to reach them.Having the ability to fend for yourselves, your families, and hopefully helping your neighbors for a week or longer can go a long way towards reducing the mental and physical effects of any disaster.
Last May, in National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Day 3 - Assemble Your Supplies, we looked at Weather.gov's recommendations'.
Assemble Disaster Supplies (Hurricane Preparedness)
Tuesday, May 7th
You’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of three days. Electricity and water could be out for at least that long. You’ll need extra cash, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. Many of us have cell phones, and they all run on batteries. You’re going to need a portable crank or solar powered USB charger.
While where you live, and your local threat environment, may dictate some changes, my general goals for personal and family preparedness include:
- A battery operated NWS Emergency Radio to find out what was going on, and to get vital instructions from emergency officials
- A decent first-aid kit, so that you can treat injuries
- Enough non-perishable food and water on hand to feed and hydrate your family (including pets) for the duration
- A way to provide light when the grid is down.
- A way to cook safely without electricity
- A way to purify or filter water
- A way to stay cool (fans) or warm when the power is out.
- A small supply of cash to use in case credit/debit machines are not working
- An emergency plan, including meeting places, emergency out-of-state contact numbers, a disaster buddy, and in case you must evacuate, a bug-out bag
- Spare supply of essential prescription medicines that you or your family may need
- A way to entertain yourself, or your kids, during a prolonged blackout
Riding out a disaster often boils down to unscheduled camping - for days, or sometimes weeks - in your home, at a friends house, in a community shelter, or possibly even in your backyard.
The better prepared you are, the less traumatic the experience is likely to be for you, and your family.In addition to the standard food, water, Rx meds, and First Aid kit, I've expanded my disaster kit to include items that will hopefully make my next post-hurricane experience a little more comfortable.
As I wrote earlier this year in Preparedness: Some Emergency Power Solutions, it is a relatively easy task to set up a simple solar charging system.
No, you won’t keep the A/C or refrigerator running on a budget system, but you can keep your LED lantern batteries, cell phone, iPod or iPad, or notebook computer running.The physical and psychological impacts stemming from the hardships following a disaster are quite real (see Post-Disaster Sequelae), and a modicum of creature comforts can go a long ways towards mitigating their effect.
The bottom line is - no matter what the emergency - the advantage will always go to those who are best prepared.
