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While I continually promote the idea that everyone should strive to have at least 10 days (or more) of emergency supplies on hand (see #Natlprep: Cultivating Preparedness), with another series of `atmospheric rivers' expected to slam into California over the next 10 days, emergency managers in the most vulnerable areas are urging residents to prepare for up to 2 weeks.
The first of these storms is expected to arrive tomorrow (see NWS forecast below), but additional waves are forecast for next week.
Even though every year brings dozens of local and even regional disasters (see 2022 map below of $1 billion dollar disasters), most Americans remain woefully unprepared to deal with a prolonged disruption of essential services.
According to FEMA's 2021 Household Survey on Preparedness, only 59% of households took 3 or more (of 12 recommended) preparedness steps in 2021.
Although that is up 2% from the 2019 survey, it is far from ideal.
This week it will be California's turn to face a potentially life-threatening natural disaster, but next week it could be severe storms in the Ohio Valley, or a few weeks from now, spring floods in the Midwest. The Atlantic Hurricane season is less than 90 days away, and earthquakes, wildfires, and tsunamis can happen anytime.
So, no matter where you live . . . if a disaster struck your region today, and the power went out, stores closed their doors, and water stopped flowing from your kitchen tap for the next 7 to 14 days . . . you are you prepared with:
- 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 handle basic sanitation and waste disposal.
- 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
If not, you've got some important work to do. A good place to get started is by visiting Ready.gov.
Some of my practical preparedness blogs from the past year you may wish to revisit include:
The Gift of Preparedness
#NatlPrep: When Evacuation Is The Better Part of Valor
Sweltering In Place (2022 Edition)
Hurricane Preparedness: Some Simple Off-The-Shelf Solar Solutions For Power Outages
