Though
Severe Storm Preparedness week is in March, this seems like a more appropriate
time to talk about storm prep. A little over a year ago, the East Coast was
(and still is) dealing with the fall out of Hurricane Sandy.
The damage is
still unable to be totaled, though estimates are in the $65 billion range, and
285 people lost their lives. The New Jersey shoreline was changed forever.
There was little time to prepare for the storm and no one knew how bad it could
and would be. Even as far inland as Buffalo and some of the Midwest felt the
effects of the storm. How can we prepare ourselves for something as ever
changing as the weather patterns? We can take all the possible steps now and
hope that we have enough knowledge and warning to take further steps.
Some of
these steps might seem a little common sense, but many people who die during
storms die because of not heeding warnings. Safety tip number one is stay
inside during a storm. Make sure Fluffy and Scruffy are inside! They are part
of the family too. Do not drive. I know
we’ve always been told during a lightning storm a car is safe because the tires
keep it grounded. But flash flooding is quickly becoming a huge problem with
storms recently. In June, there were cars flipped upside down in front of the
Boulevard Mall due to a flash flood from so much rain. If you are told to
evacuate, do it.
Number
two is stay away from exterior windows. Storms are beautiful to watch
sometimes, but debris can come through a window and either hit you or the
breaking glass can injure you. Tape an ‘X’ across the inside of the window and
that may give it extra resistance to breakage. During a tornado, leave windows
slightly open. While you are inside, limit the amount of electricity you use.
Unplug electronics. Unplug the surge protector instead of relying on it to save
your computer. Unplug cable boxes to avoid getting the equipment fried. Stay
off the phone, especially those plugged into an outlet. It is possible to get
shocked through a phone plugged into a jack as well. Make sure you have a
corded landline as well as a cell phone for emergencies. If you have outdoor
cords or extension cords, bring them in if possible. Try to minimize possible
debris by bringing things like potted plants, outdoor furniture, etc. indoors
if you know a storm is coming.
Have
bottled water, among other supplies. Last fall, we did a blog post about being
prepared in emergencies. You can find it here.
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