Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Preparedness and Media Coverge

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:06:00 +0000

Why the media is important in hurricane preparedness

Meteorology is like most sciences also part art. We can not tell exactly how many hurricane storms there will be. What we do need to remember is that such storms CAN occur and can pose a serious affect on the land and those that live within the storm’s path.

The only way to deal with hurricanes is to prepare for hurricanes.

My concern is that there has been a major change in attitude concerning hurricanes 2008 hurricane season.

Compare the coverage of how disasters were discussed in the media over the past say even 10 year and how they were covered this year. The intensity of coverage was very high for several storms such as Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Gustuv before, during and after. There was more coverage of these storms that Hurricane Ike especially in the post hurricane storm disaster recovery process. There are approximately 300 persons still missing from Ike and the ruination of so many communities along Galveston coastal area is astronomical. Yet the amount of attention to that situation is a drop in the bucket compared to that of Hurricane Katrina.

It is not just hurricanes that are lacking in public interest. On the west coast wildfires are not getting the same amount of media attention as they were just a year ago. If we track the amount of media coverage it is most like less than 40-60% of former years.

Yes on can make the point that the media coverage is sensational and emotionally manipulating. Some media have gone to the emotional component to heighten ratings.

Yet the media coverage of the after affects IS VERY IMPORTANT in that it does three very significant teachings.

1- Highlights the needs of the disaster victims. For the general population, many shy away from the needs of those in pain and suffering. By keeping the awareness focused on the long term needs of a disaster recovery situation

2- Provides intense education on the needs for disaster preparation. Many will consider their own personal preparedness responsibilities and begin to better prepare for a potential disaster. The more people that are prepared for a hurricane the more likely they will survive and recover from a disaster quickly and in better physical, emotional and financial shape. With less media coverage there is less public hurricane preparation and recovery education that reaches the general population.

3- Sustains awareness for philanthropic generosity. Without the media coverage the hurricane storm the awareness for needs of the charitable organizations wane considerably and thus the amount of disaster aid that can be offered is often much less. When this occurs it is often the tax payers that foot much more of the recovery bill with longer term dependence on local and federal assistance programs such as medical assistance, food distribution, housing supplements etc.

There needs to be a balance between responsible and educational media coverage and that of sensationalism that is abusive to both the general public and disaster victims.

We are now past the two significant historical points in hurricane stats for the year however it doesn’t seem that nature got the memo on that particular issue. For thousands of individuals it looks like they will be strongly affected by 2008 hurricanes for still the near future.

Please find below an interesting article from the Palm Beach Post on Hurricane Omar. Some historical facts are very interesting especially when considered in light of media coverage

Omar ties 2008 for 8th all-time in tropical storms

By Charles Elmore | Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 01:14 PM

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/stormblog/

Omar became the season’s 15th named storm at 11 a.m., tying 2008 for 8th place in the most Atlantic tropical storms in recorded history. The storm threatens Puerto Rico by Wednesday with winds of 70 mph, and is projected to become a Category 1 hurricane that moves northeast, away from Florida.

Tropical Depression 16 off Honduras could well become Tropical Storm Paloma tonight or Wednesday, according to a 2 p.m. advisory. That would bump the season into a tie for sixth place with 2003 and 1936 in tropical storms (the ones that get human names).

“There’s every indication that it will,” National Hurricane Center spokesman and forecaster Dennis Feltgen said of TD 16’s likelihood to reach tropical-storm status. He said the storm counts and yearly rankings cited above were consistent with the agency’s records.

The leader remains 2005 with 28 tropical storms. In contrast, there were only four tropical storms in 1983.

TD 16 is expected to pour 4 to 8 inches of rain over parts of Nicaragua and Honduras, with up to 15 inches possible in places. Its forecast track eventually takes it inland to central America.

“These rainfall amounts could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides,” an NHC advisory warned.

Scientists continue to debate the reasons for the high number of storms, and there’s no neat and tidy consensus on the role of global warming with regard to hurricanes. Warm water does seem to feed storms, but some long-term models that plug in rising water temperatures have suggested the frequency of hurricanes may actually decrease over time because of wind shear and other factors, though surviving storms could be stronger. One camp of scientists holds 25- to 40-year natural cycles explain what we’re seeing, and global warming does not play a decisive role.

Also, bear in mind that technology is better now than it was back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and forecasters are better able to detect tropical storms that may form and fizzle before threatening land. That makes storm counts go up.

For example, Tropical Depression Nana far out in the Alantic has dissipated, falling off the NHC’s map. A little companion blob (circled in yellow) retains a low chance of forming a tropical cyclone.

Hurricane Ike’s Affects still hurt

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Tears and frustration after hurricane Ike

No matter how much hurricane preparedness you do and all the emergency survival kits stored away in the hallway closet there are still nothing that can fully prepare one for the hurricane damage that is done to the heart, mind, and spirit of a person, family and community when all is destroyed. There is just no type of hurricane safety for the heart. I wish there was.

As people in south Texas try to deal with their own personal disaster response there is now the complications of the economic storm that is hitting the nation with a 778 point Dow Jones plunge in the stock market today.

Families trying to secure loans for flood damage not covered by an insurance policy it is becoming more and more difficult more challenging to get fully started on disaster recovery. There is no emotional or financial storm shelter for them to flee to for safety.

Numerous families suffering form Hurricane Gustuv and Hurricane Ike beside the tropical stro Hanna that flooded out communities even past Chicago are not getting the emotional and financial disaster support that other natural disaster victims in the past have received. I have not seen any Hurricane Ike aid concerts or mass collections for Hurricane Gustuv. Emergency response socially to help thee families is not that common at all.

Crisis management teams are running low on money especially when the cash flow is almost no where to find. It is becoming harder for the Red Cross and other humanitarian groups to get donations. There is little in the way of advertisement. Disaster supplies in a number of areas are very limited.

Volunteer help is also limited as well. Many who would have been willing in the past to take time off from work as vacation time or even in many accounts leave without pay are terrified to be away from their jobs even for a day. Besides there is no money to travel to the disaster sites and offer disaster supplies. People and companies don’t have the extra money to do that now days.

The face of disaster recovery has changed so much so fast in a few years. Everyone is so preoccupied with their own personal security that few are able to help like they would want.

Yet disaster survival will occur no mater what. It will be harder but it will occur. The people of Galveston and surrounding area are strong and they will survive oh yes they will survive and even more so they will thrive.

Dr. Terrie Modesto, disaster grief specialist, author of Train For A Hurricane. Website: www.trainforahurricane.com Blog: http://disastergrief.blogspot.com/

Possibility of an atlantic hurricane storm are YOU ready?

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:40:00 +0000

Hurricane storms are also possible for us along the atlantic coast.

Just listened to the local news this morning, currently we are being told by hurricane forecast experts that another Atlantic storm may start the process of becoming a hurricane. Then I receive a CBN.com email calling for as much disaster volunteer help as possible since there are over 37,000 what can not go home yet from the deadly hurricane storm. Still 2.2 MILLION people still don’t have power. One organization alone is providing 2,000 people meals in their mobile kitchen and handing out emergency relief supplies and tarps as well as hygiene kits.

Hurricanes don’t go away just because the news media does. Those with emergency preparedness have been doing much better than those that do not have them.

Most hurricane storms will significantly impact a 100 mile inland. With Hurricane Ike it was a 200 mile inland impact area. That is double the area threat generally gets hit.

If the weather condition currently in the Atlantic forms into a hurricane it will be called Hurricane Kyle and this time there is a better possibility that it will be affecting the Atlantic shoreline instead of the Gulf of Mexico.

For those of us who have not had to face a significant hurricane season since Hurricane Isabelle, we may have let our emergency prepardness guard down and do not have our disaster supplies current. For many in our area that have moved in over the past several years most will not have had to deal with a hurricane safety issues. It is important that everyone get their get a current disaster plan in place. Most emergency management officials are more likely to call for emergency evacuations to be on the safe side than for their community to experience a Hurricane Katrina situation.

Even if we have to shelter in place it is important to have as much emergency supplies as possible ready for your household use. It’s no fun have to go to a mobile kitchen for food or not have the disaster supplies to get through at least 2 weeks without electric, water etc.

If a hurricane should roar into your community would you have hurricane shutters or plywood ready to be put up at your windows? Believe me tape on windows is a joke it will not stop a tree limb form smashing through your doors and windows. If a tornado would tear through your community as an after-affect of a hurricane, where is your storm shelter and is it disaster prepared for any type of emergency in a 2 minute emergency response time?

These are just a few of the questions that al of us within a 250 miles of a atlantic ocean or gulf of mexico shoreline need to have answers for ASAP. Quick disaster response can save your life and those that you love. Disaster survival is a year long must. Don’t expect the government or the disaster response agencies to help you out immediately or have all that you need for the longer term.

The only person you can depend on to help you is YOU.

Please check out my newest blog Disaster Grief and Recovery Bog http://disastergrief.blogspot.com/

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Hurricane Preparedness means never letting our guard down

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:29:00 +0000

We are just over half way through hurricane season

Many think the golden day concerning hurricane storms is September 10^th of every year. That is the historic peak day for Atlantic hurricane activity. This may be statistically true HOWEVER that does not mean that we can just forget 2008 hurricane season and think that it is all over with. There is a 20-50% CURRENTLY of another hurricane forming. That doesn’t include another peak of hurricane activity in October. With the summer been a VERY hot one the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico will stay warmer also.

We have been reminded of the mighty force of a hurricane from what w say with Hurricane Ike just a week or so ago. Still families are with out electric in many parts of Texas and the evacuation order has not been lifted as of yet.

This all adds up to one thing and that is hurricane preparedness. Hopefully everyone has their emergency preparedness plans completed and disaster kits at the ready. Emergency preparedness is not just hurricanes -- let us not forget the severe flooding that parts of this state experienced earlier this year from tropical storm hanna. Having our emergency preparedness necessities for sheltering in place as well as at least 2 weeks supply of basic disaster supplies for an evacuation for all members of the household including pet disaster kits for our companion animals will make a possible disaster situation a bit easier to cope with.

Our sisters and brothers in Texas and Louisiana can tell the pain, anguish and sorrow related to a category 2 hurricane. The saddest thing is that less than 20% of the population is adequately hurricane prepared nationally. True Floridians are some what better prepared but still we can never let our guard down.

Please check out my newest blog Disaster Grief and Recovery Bog http://disastergrief.blogspot.com/

Developing an emotional storm shelter in disaster and recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Hurricane preparedness means disaster planning and recovery for the short and long term.

Hundreds and even thousands of families are being allowed to journey back to see what is left if anything of their homes and communities after Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Not since hurricane katrina has so much hurricane damage been done by the sheer force of wind and water.

When assessing hurricane damage one must assess it from the practical side of monetary loss but also from the emotional and community life aspect as well. For those who are facing the devastating destruction of their homestead, the emotional impact will deeply felt for years and lifetimes ahead. It is not just the house that is destroyed but also the community and the sense of wellbeing that was associated with the home will compound the disaster event.

As those who have experienced hurricane damage from such famous hurricanes as hurricane charlie, hurricane andrew, hurricane wilma and hurricane hugo to name just a few will tell you, the hurricane response is physical, emotional and financial. After the emergency response to disaster recovery of the physical safety issues of individuals has finished, the longer term emotional hurricane rescue ad recovery will need to happen. That is not an easy time for anyone involved. It can feel like for some like hurricane force winds will be beating at your heart .

Emotional disaster management needs to take place. Many will want to push ahead at lightning speed and try to spend 12-18 hour each day if possible working at storm clean up. The emotional backlash from this can be significant.

No matter how strong and practical a person is, emotionally, it takes time to grieve the disaster loss. It doesn’t matter how much emotional hurricane preparation you have done before the storm or contingency planning you do as your journey back down familiar roads that you hardly recognize due to the damage, nothing can prepare you for the intensity of emotions, tears, anguish and despondency one can feel when a disaster hits home.

Many who have gone through a devastating hurricane season and personally experienced tremendous loss will tell even years later that when first seeing their damaged or destroyed home, they wish they have could have just pull down an emotional hurricane shutter around their hearts and emotions and shielded it from the pain of such loss.

It sure would be nice if that was possible. Unfortunately there are no physical hurricane panels that can protect that can someone from the pain and anguish.

Even though there are no hurricane panels that can save the heart from disaster grief, there are ways for you and your family to start to get through the anguish. During those first few days, friends and family can be emotional hurricane protectors to help a person to get through the initial moments of disaster grief.

It is vital that you do not make any decisions during this time. Your emotional state of mind is in more turbulent than a category 5 hurricane with bands of grief, fear and loss swirling around inside.

Often when we are overwhelmed with the severity of loss, as well as the magnitude of issues that a person must face frequently due to a disaster, our ability to cope with the situation is impossible to do alone. It is during these times major a part of the disaster recovery will be that of friends and family can help provide a respite with some disaster management support while you begin the long road of disaster recovery physically and emotionally.

Allow these caring friends and loved ones to help with the initial disaster cleanup and salvaging for personal items from the damaged home. Let them take the pictures of the home and make phone calls that may be necessary. You don’t need to do everything yourself. Delegation of disaster cleanup tasks will help get the job done without tremendous stress all falling on your shoulders.

There will be volunteer services that can be of help and comfort as well as provide important information for disaster follow-up services. Get all the information you can. Many of these organizations such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army are well recognized as disaster support services. There will be lesser known ones as well who are also are very willing to offer support and help. Utilize their help and care that is what they are there for. Get as much information including as many of the handouts as possible.

It is unfortunate that during some of the more difficult days of your life you will need to also be very aware that not everyone is there for your best interest. There will be scam artists, individuals who will try to take advantage of you and the situation.

Avoid making any decisions without talking it over with a trusted friend and / or family members that you have know from BEFORE the hurricane disaster and NEVER sign anything without a trusted confidant and / or lawyer look it over. Even if you feel that all you want to do is to pull down the emotional hurricane shutter over your eyes and heart and walk away, this is not the time to make such important life choices. Give your self a week or so to adjust to the realities of the hurricane damage situation to your property and life before even thinking of making any long term drastic action.

hurricane recovery forgotten already?

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Keeping an eye on hurricane recovery not a national priority I guess

My heart goes out to all those who have experienced loss in the terrible Hurricane Ike disaster.

I am very surprised at the lack of continued media coverage that has occurred in this catastrophic event. During Hurricane Katrina, there was significantly more media coverage over a longer period of time than what we are experiencing now.

Hundreds of thousands of people are still out of their homes and many more are out of electricity, water and sanitation services. A rescinding of the mandatory evacuation order has not been lifted as I write and yet it seems that our attention has already left this region and gone on to other important things like political campaigns and celebrity trails in another State.

It is still an emergency in the Southern part of the Texas and surrounding areas. Yet how much attention are we giving to it?

There is still the possibly of countless residents that have died as a result of Hurricane Ike and are even now rotting in the hurricane strewn debris along the shore lines of the Gulf of Mexico or what is left of their flood ravaged homes. Emergency rescue workers and loved ones have not been able to reach the deceased and give them their proper eternal rest. Yet the media coverage seems to have gone on to other bigger and better news rating events.

How come?

In other parts of the community, homes are still under water. For us, the media audience outside the disaster region, we are encouraged by lack of media coverage to return to our regularly scheduled programming and safe and comfortable lives out of harm’s way and the pain of disaster grief.

It’s easier that way I guess, but for whom?

How can we do that when 500,000 people still need emergency food and water while other disaster victims wait 12 hours in the heat for gasoline for their generators and the gas station runs out of fuel.

What gives?

Have we become so accustomed to catastrophic events in our life time that when a massive disaster in one of the largest cities in our nation is hit by a hurricane that is bigger than the entire state of Texas, the media networks give less than 48 hours of full post-event coverage?

Have we lost our heart?

Instead of showing the plight of so many, the media audience is being shown repeatedly the bickering of our potential national leaders over silly name calling antics, while hundreds of thousands of our citizens suffer and grieve. By the way does anyone remember that many of Hurricane Ike disaster victims and their loved ones can still vote even if voter ID cards are buried in the hurricane debris on Crystal Island or floating out in the Gulf somewhere after the storm blew everything they had away?

Have we become so callous to the devastation of a natural disaster? We gave more time and media attention to the Olympic Games held in a foreign country on the other side of the world than we are paying attention to the needs and plight of our fellow citizens HERE in our own country who are suffering a marathon of grief because of a massive storm called Hurricane Ike.

Where are our values and priorities?

When Hurricane Katrina hit, countries around the world offered their support with funding, material support and battalions of specialized disaster experts to aid us in our time of need. Where is the out pouring of help and prayers this time?

Or is it that there no value added opportunities to get photo ops and sensational coverage with everyone out of town in mandatory evacuations? Celebrities are not racing down to Galveston to “bring attention to the plight of the needy” when there is no one to see them do it under the craft skilled ability of publicity managers trained at arranging free national and international exposure of their celebrity product covered in skin stuffed with Botox.

Could it also be that since this is an election year some want to sweep the hurricane disaster situation under some flood soggy rug? Or is it that disaster coverage could take attention away from an election campaign that has gone on endlessly for almost 18-24 months already.

Is it that hard to share the spotlight of campaign media coverage? Is it too hard give a bit more of the spotlight of media coverage as rays of hope to hurricane victims that now have nothing but memories, grief and bills?

Many sit in cold and impersonal emergency evacuation centers with hundreds of other hurricane marooned strangers far away from home desperately looking for a glimpse of their home or community that may never be there again.

Frankly I really don’t know. That is the most honest to God truth I can say. I’m not pointing fingers, just trying to make sense of the developments and lack of coverage.

Does any body know the reason for this?

Have we become so compassion fatigued that we need more sensational events to keep audience attention, advertising dollars and media ratings? Where is the out pouring of concern and compassion that occurred for others in disastrous situations?

In communities far away from the Gulf coast we use to immediately go into compassion support not fatigue. Kids and adults together would stand at busy intersections of our cities an towns and collect pocket change and dollar bills from motorists driving by for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and 9-11. Both catastrophic events that called for our help and we responded enforce.

I haven’t seen anyone collecting on the streets for Hurricane Ike victims on the roads I travel these past few days. As residents of this great country are we so tapped out financially and emotionally that all we can do now is focus on ourselves?

Are we so fearful of what is happening with our retirement accounts with AIG and the other financial institutions that are on the rocks or buried under boulders of enormous financial burdens and debt that we are not as tuned in to the events and the needs of our brothers and sisters of the Galveston region?

Promises were made not to forget Hurricane Katrina victims and thank God many have not forgotten. We shouldn’t forget.

My fear is we are already forgetting or have forgotten Hurricane Ike disaster victims. Our amnesia and lack of compassionate response would be an additional disaster to those in need.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, PhD, author of Train For A Hurricane is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response with 20+ year’s experience. She has over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit. Website: www.trainforahurricane.com Blog: www.hurricane-prepared-ness.blogspot.com

Long time before disaster grief heals

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:38:00 +0000

Disaster recovery – more than homes that are broken – so are hearts!

Disaster recovery is filled with lots of broken things including hearts, dreams and lives. A few disaster victim families have been able to see their homes. One CNN reporter took some pictures of a family’s home that was damaged but still standing and showed it to the family since they were not allowed to go back to see the damage. . Others will see aerial pictures of miles of vacant lots on the shore line of bay side where once many homes stood against the bright sun and blue sky.

In the weeks ahead there will be a voyage to the nightmare of hurricane destruction. There will be so few things left that speak of life before Hurricane Ike came ashore. People will either want to just walk away and never come back or they will want to try to rebuild their lives instantly with what is left. Much of what is left, are memories that no one can not run away no matter how hard we try – nor should we.

Friends and family will want to help in the disaster recovery by tossing everything in a trash bag to get rid of the hurricane memories stained with tears, mud and seaweed.

Yet there is something else that is there—the few remaining artifacts that there was a life before Hurricane Ike. Please be gentle and careful of what you throw away. If you are not sure about an item then wait. Take your time sifting through the life you had before Ike blew in. It is a time to remember and to grieve the loss of home and history. There is a sort of grief comfort in sorting through the rubble. A broken cup, a broken picture frame can a have special meaning that it never had before. Those items many have no monetary worth but they can and often will have loads of sentimental value.

Coping with grief especially after a disaster is very difficult. Many think that grief help is about cleaning up and getting on with life. That is a part of grief process way down the line perhaps months or possibly years. The initial part is dealing with the grief by adjusting to the massive loss of not only things but of a history of life. The best grief support you can give during this period of time is not the clean-up but the listening to the stories and holding a loved one in the sobs of heart wrenching tears and wailing. That is disaster grief work of recognizing the depth of the loss that wind and water washed away violently.

Hurricane survivor grief does not go away quickly if ever. There is always a small portion of it that sits unmovable in the center of the heart. The tears spill out beyond the heart into everyday living.

Dealing with death of a homestead is a pain grief that unless you have experienced it is beyond words. It is a thief that has stolen the inner anchor of physical stability called home. Helping grief of this magnitude and nature is the strength of silent presence in the midst of disaster grieving. No one can take away the pain but can journey along side those that are in disaster anguish.

In the days, weeks and months ahead there will be numerous grief resources to help with disaster recovery as a promise of healing grief. Some grief resources will be more helpful than others and each person’s grief is different. The one frequent commonality is the slow process of time that heals some of the layers of disaster grieving. In time one adjusts life and faces again a new day while in some ways to a greater or lesser extend is coping grief in the face of a hurricane called Ike.

Bereavement support groups can be helpful for many as well as journaling, praying, jogging and drawing. They are all ways that can help disaster stress grief subside. Traumatic grief is one of the most sinister forms of grief, it sneaks back when you least expect it. People who have gone through such tragedies as a hurricane disaster often find bereavement help and grief counseling every helpful.

If you are beginning to clean up after a hurricane disaster both physically and emotionally, the best advice from one that has been there is take your time for rushing can often just delay the grief process and extend the pain of mourning, bereavement and grief. Grief can not be done away with quickly. It has its own pattern, time and rhyme.

“When in doubt- don’t throw out” a small mud stained hair brush that was your mother’s or a folk that was a favorite of your grandmother that is now bent and broken. These can be the gems to help hold on to the past as you reluctantly move into the future.

If the temptations to just get rid of things and move on at all cost then beware, for once you throw out a memory or an item no matter how broken it can often be impossible to retire it. So as you enter into the recovery phase of disaster deal gently with the time and decision hat you have to make. Not everything ahs to be done in a day or a week.

Follow that broken heart as it heals, the love inside will be the best compass and leader of them all.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:52:00 +0000

Hoisted from a flooded-out rooftop is no fun - Why people should be hurricane prepared.

I just checked out CNN main web page. The headline reads that 2,000 people have been rescued from the resulting floods of Hurricane Ike. FEMA says “be patient” and there is a picture of long lines at a grocery store somewhere in Texas where people are worried that food supplies will run out.

These new articles illustrate the need for all of us to be disaster prepared. This afternoon Chicago is under water in some parts from the Tropical Depression Ike. By Monday morning people as far away as New York City and Nova Scotia will be hit by the wind and rain storms of the aftermath of Ike to the point that vast numbers will be with out electric or water and significant flooding will occur. I wonder how many have a disaster kit quickly available and who has a generator with fuel at the ready.

Who would have thought that Chicago, New York, New England and beyond our northern boarders will feel the affects of Hurricane Ike that slammed ashore in the southern gulf shores of Texas only two days ago. Yet the impact and a severe one at that can be felt thousands of miles away. That is why every one should be disaster prepared at all times. We can not predict who, when, where and how a disaster situation may occur. I get if you asked folks in Chicago or New York city about possible flooding in their areas because of a hurricane in South Texas many would look at you like you were crazy especially if you suggested they take hurricane preparedness action ahead of time!

This is why everyone needs to have their disaster kits and emergency preparedness plans ready at a moments notice. Everyone needs to have an emergency preparedness checklist to see what they have and what they need to get. If you don’t have an emergency preparedness checklist, there is a free one offered here on this blog for your use. Just look to your right in this blog, the emergency preparedness checklist is FREE and will help you get started.

Remember that emergency preparedness does not have to be fancy or expensive. Low cost emergency survival kits can be easily and quickly stocked with much that you already have scattered around your home in closets and dresser drawers. Collect them into one place and see what you have already. Then go to a discount store or dollar store and start there to stock the other emergency preparedness necessities.

Get as much disaster preparedness information as you can. Check out my website Train For a Hurricane (www.trainforahurricane.com) and get the FREE report that offers emergency preparedness tips that can help you be better disaster prepared.

I hope that where ever you live you will take time to consider if you were hot and thirsty how you would feel if you hear the words “Be Patient” when all you want is a glass of water to drink. If you are disaster prepared then you can be patient. You can also enjoy that glass of water and a snack as well as you listen to the news on your battery operated radio or TV in a safe location out of harms way

Joel in his blog today has a great statement:.

“Yes, the government agencies at all levels have a responsibility to protect and respond. Yes, in many cases over the last few years when they have been called upon there have been problems. And yes, we have a long way to go before we can rest easy knowing that they're ready for the next big thing. However, all that aside, it is still the responsibility of each and every one of us to be ready for common emergencies where we live.” Joel : Preparedness and Response

http://preparednessandresponse.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Hurricane Preparedness means having the ‘3 Rs’ – Reasonable – Responsible – Ready

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:25:00 +0000

Is your emergency preparedness 3R- rated?

Hurricane Ike has given a huge punch to the Galveston and Houston communities. Thank God (literally) that the surge was not was not as bad as feared before the storm – 30’ in some estimates. Yet the damage to the high-rise buildings in Houston is significant, many are flooded out of their homes. In some areas there are stranded people wanting to be rescued from their roofs.

For the majority of people the biggest problem for some time to come will be lack of electricity, sanitation and water supply. This is going to be a hardship for millions of people. I just heard that there may be over 4+million people without utilities for at least 3 WEEKS. Many will only be prepared for 3 DAYS if they really do have 3-days of supplies. Do the math; it is not a pretty picture for those in the longhorn state.

Most people over estimate what they really have in the way of emergency supplies. Most don’t know what is really necessary to get through a disaster. I know a woman who was writing an emergency food guide who talked big about how much she had ready in case of an emergency. Yea really… when I went to her home I was shocked at what a small amount of emergency supplies she really had. She thought she had 6 months to or more. When we did the math she has less than 3 weeks at most. Get sound and specific disaster information as to what you REALLY need be well stocked for a disaster as well as how to stock it.

Do you know how much rice for example you need to feed your family for a week? What about canned foods and pasta? How much powered beverage mix do you need for a family of 4? There are very economical ways to stock up on all your emergency preparedness necessities without hocking the family retirement saving fund. What it does mean is having the 3 Rs – Reasonable – Responsible – Ready for a disaster.

Every person living in the country needs to be ready for any type of disaster than can occur. That includes hurricanes, floods, mudslides etc. It is also estimated that less than 20% of US residents have emergency preparedness supplies. That means that 80% are going to look to others when a disaster hits! The government and the humanitarian organizations will not be able to supply all your emergency preparedness necessities! How long will it take for folks in this great nation to get the idea firmly planted in their heads that each person is responsible for their own well being?

No one else can take care of you better than YOU.

It is vital that disaster preparedness information be available and that emergency preparedness be taught in each and every school, community center and faith center. Every family should have their personal emergency preparedness checklist and an emergency preparedness kit for every member of the household including the dog and cat. It is not enough to have an emergency disaster kit at home; everyone should have one for their car, work and school.

What gets me personally is that people can plan for months for a wedding or a birthday party but do not take the possibility of a disaster occurring seriously that could affect them personally. They take more time worrying about what flavor of cake to have at the party then they do to take the few hours to complete their emergency preparedness plans. What’s more important, a birthday party to celebrate another year of life or a disaster plan that can save your life another year? I vote on saving the life for another year.

This not a political issue of red vs. blue or donkey vs. elephant it is about saving lives - YOURS. It has nothing to do with religion, social status, gender or sexual orientation. It has to do with saving life, your own and that of loved ones.

Disaster kits do not have to be expensive; they can be low cost emergency survival kits that will meet your needs. You can get a lot of bang for the pop if you are willing to be creative, make a few temporary changes to the budget and stock up on emergency preparedness necessities and put together that low cost emergency survival kits that can save your life. Forget the latest edition of Wii and instead use that $500 for a fully stocked pantry of emergency preparedness necessities! Christmas and Hanukkah are not far off. What about giving people things that can help them through a disaster like a NOAA weather radio and extra batteries? What about a bag of canned foods instead of a bottle of wine in one of those fancy fuzzy wine stockings that do nothing but cost money and look sort of cute and trendy as you walk through the door of your host or hostess? Face it – how many fuzzy wind stockings does a person REALY need?

Spend the money that would be spent on a fuzzy wine stocking on a flashlight and batteries. If you give more expensive wine and fuzzy stocking, then give a crank power supplied flashlight with the emergency radio built in to it. It will keep down a hangover and help for a whole lot longer.

Oh yea, instead of that flower arrangement with the candle stuck in the middle that costs a fortune -- why not buy a hurricane lamp and some extra lamp oil and matches? The lamp will last a whole lot longer than a flower arrangement and one candle! Besides you the hurricane lamp can be used at the holiday party on the mantel as well. Many are simple but very attractive and they don’t cost an boat load of money.

We also need to stop the pretense that a 3 day supply of water and food will get us through a disaster. That is a JOKE at best. It is a way to calm the anxieties of a frightened person. Hey get scared- you should be!!!

Let’s get real here a 3-days food and water supply --my foot! The very bare minimum needs to be a week or better. If for any other reason than not having to stand in line with hundreds or thousands of others to get a few 16 oz bottles of water or if possible 2 gallons of water that will last say a day for most families?

By getting your own emergency preparedness supplies and in adequate amounts, the safety of your loved ones is of utmost importance. Instead of spending long agonizing time in line for a few very temporary handouts you, could be doing loads to recover from the disaster at your own home or salvaging what you can of keepsakes etc as well as feed and hydrating your family. Frankly that sounds much more productive than waiting in a long line in a disaster littered parking lot with a bunch of grumpy anxious people.

Have we learned anything from hurricane Ike or Hurricane Katrina? As General Russell Honore says “don’t get stuck on stupid”! We can sit for hours watching CNN and the Weather Channel and say “tisk - tisk it looks like rain” or we can get off our duffs individually and collectively and get our disaster kits and emergency preparedness plans all in order. AFTER we have done all of that, then we can go back to our previously interrupted disaster viewing since the disaster will still be there knowing that a if a disaster hits us we’re prepared.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Hurricane warning--Don’t play with Hurricane Ike – be hurricane prepared!

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:17:00 +0000

Hurricane safety a MUST when facing down Hurricane Ike

As Hurricane Ike makes its forceful march towards the Gulf Coast I hope all residents of the Southern Texas area have taken heed and prepared for their own hurricane survival. From what I have seen on TV that does not look like that is the situation.

There are youth and young people playing in 3 feet of storm surge waves and thinking it’s a joke. It’s no joke! It takes a lot less than what they are playing in to get caught in a thunderous storm wave and be swept you to sea in a rip-tide.

Don’t Play with Ike!

Many can not comprehend what a catastrophic storm Hurricane Ike is. Many of us have sheltered-in-place through category 2 hurricanes in the past which result in broken windows a couple days of power outages and typical hurricane damage to roods etc.. This is not your garden variety category 2 hurricane.

The size of this hurricane storm is what makes it so treacherous. The window of opportunity is quickly shutting and within the next few hours at the very most the option to emergency evacuate will not be viable for most people who have not left already.

Authorities estimate that 37,000 people will need to be evacuated from flooded and wind damage homes – that is if they are lucky to be alive. Emergency response teams are going to risk their lives to try to save the lives of those that could have safety evacuated before the Hurricane Ike hits.

Please don’t risk the lives of brave emergency response teams because you think this is a joke or you want to the thrill of being a John Wayne sort of tough guy or gal. No one laughing ad you’re not tough. Get out while you can!

By having a hurricane preparedness plan that includes disaster supplies for at least 7 days of emergency food, water and medications for all members of the household including pets, the chances of hurricane survival increases significantly. The national and regional emergency management disaster authorities are saying that 5.2 MILLION people will be without electric. Many water supply plants and sanitation operations will not be online for days, even weeks. Hospitals, fire stations and police barracks will be severely damaged or completely destroyed. The infrastructure of the community is going to be under siege from the furry of Hurricane Ike for some time to come.

My grave concern as hurricane Ike marches quickly towards the Gulf coast, even with all that we have seen in the way of the damage from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Gustav as examples, there is still approximately 10% of the population that elects to endanger themselves and their families by not heeding the call for emergency evacuation.

Hurricane force winds and storm surge is a deadly combination. Human life is much more important than even the most valuable of property items. I sincerely hope that those within the potential path of Hurricane Ike listen to hurricane warnings and take responsible actions to get out of harms way.

As Hurricane Ike makes its forceful march towards the Gulf Coast I hope residents of the Southern Texas area will take heed and prepare for their own hurricane survival. This hurricane preparation is not only for the physical issues but also for the emotional issues as well.

In the days, weeks and months perhaps for years, people will grief the affects of this storm. Life as they knew it for much of the Galveston region will not be the same as it was even a couple of weeks ago. The magnitude of destruction this hurricane storm will have on individuals, families and communities will be for many beyond their wildest nightmares. In the days head I’ll be discussion the issues that face individuals who live through Hurricane Ike.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

37,000 may need to be rescued after Hurricane Ike

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/12/ike.rescues/index.html

HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft were sent Friday afternoon to try to rescue 22 people on board a massive freighter adrift in the Gulf of Mexico, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Coast Guard has active-duty military on standby if people need to be rescued because of Ike.

Petty Officer Jaclyn Young said the five aircraft, including two Air Force Ospreys, were sent to the ship around noon. She said their arrival time would depend on wind and rain.

The decision to rescue the freighter comes after a U.S. military official told CNN that 37,000 people may need to be rescued after Hurricane Ike strikes.

Texas has asked for help, and the active-duty military has 42 search-and-rescue helicopters on standby, the official said.

Coast Guard officials had said earlier they thought the best way to help the 584-foot freighter might be to let the storm push it to shallow water where it can drop anchor.

The freighter had been headed south from Port Arthur, Texas, and is loaded with petroleum coke -- a petroleum byproduct.

The Coast Guard said in a news release it received a distress call around 4 a.m. from the Antalina, a Cypriot-flagged freighter. It said the vessel had "lost main propulsion 90 miles southeast of Galveston" and was unable to steer.

Coast Guard Capt. Bill Diehl said the freighter had been "in the direct line of the path of the storm and lost its engines."

He said the Coast Guard is keeping radio communications with the freighter, and its news release said the Coast Guard is in hourly contact with the crew.

The Coast Guard also worked to airlift people and their pets from their cars and homes on the Bolivar Peninsula, a narrow stretch of land that separates the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston Bay, as the wind and rain from Hurricane Ike slapped the Texas coast.

The guard issued a statement saying "Coast Guard Air Station Houston launched a HH-65C rescue helicopter and crew to airlift and transport approximately 22 to 50 people" who had called authorities for help.

There had been warnings for residents to evacuate beforehand, and Chief Petty Officer Michael O'Berry, interviewed by CNN, was asked why they didn't get out in time.

He said he thinks the residents "didn't understand, I guess, the strength of the storm. As it came about, they realized it's a lot stronger than they may have anticipated."

11 disaster preparedness ways to get ready for Hurricane Ike

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:08:00 +0000

No one wants Hurricane Ike – Finish emergency preparedness & activate your disaster plan NOW!

There are a whole lot of things that many on the southern portions of Texas would rather be doing than preparing for Hurricane Ike. If you are possibly facing the wrath of Ike or live with the threat of an atlantic hurricane NOW is the time to be reading this article and getting ready. Crisis management is a must if you could be in harms way of a disaster. In many ways disaster survival depends on how ready you are to face a disaster.

The MOST important thing during hurricane season you can have when facing a hurricane watch or full blown hurricane warning is an emergency plan. In a hurricane situation a well planed disaster response can mean the difference between life and death, comfortable situation when the wind howls and hurricane anxiety as the flooding rises around you.

Get your home’s hurricane safety plan started quickly. This includes putting up hurricane shutters, and doing a hurricane protection inspection to make sure all items that could blow away are inside the building so they do not become flying projectiles. Also stock your safe room with survival supplies.

Take time for frequent hurricane tracking so you will have a good idea of when to decide if you need to do a voluntary or be required to comply with a mandatory hurricane evacuation. Know of at least 3 reliable and high quality hurricane news resources who can offer a reasonable hurricane prediction of the timing and strength of the hurricane and any other important hurricane information. Take their hurricane warnings seriously.

Finish getting your emergency supplies ready. This means that you will have enough food, water, medical supplies; baby care items like diapers for at last 3-7 days should monster hurricane or tropical storm come knocking on your door. Being pro-active in your emergency planning is vital, so make sure each and every one in the family including the family pets from birds and snakes to cats and dogs are thought of in your hurricane preparedness.

If an emergency evacuation is called quickly in your area due to secondary emergencies in your area as a result of a hurricane like a levy breaking or a tornado threat, know the first 10 things that are important for you to take with you in hasty departure and where you need to go. Write them down and keep them in your wallet and posted on your refrigerator. If there is a possibility of an evacuation then put these most important items close to the door that you will most likely need to use to leave. Try to get the items numbered so you can count them off and know that you have all ten securely in your vehicle or safe room should you need to leave quickly. In a hurricane evacuation every minute counts in emergency preparation. These items may be :

Emergency survival kits with food, water, flash lights, and a change of clothing and any and all medications for each member of the family including pets.
Identification like a passport, driver’s permit, birth certificates, vaccination shots for children and pets. Include a copy of each employable person’s resume at the back of your disaster plan since you may need to look for another job if your company or business is destroyed or will be a while before reopening.
Personal address and telephone book. Often there are so many numbers that will be hard to replace if the address book is lost.
Emergency communication items like cell phone& charger, battery powered radio, CB radio ( one of the best items to have in your car in an emergency – cell phones can go out but CB radios may still be able to get you help) as well as GPS (Global Positioning Systems).
Photos of loved ones and non-replaceable pictures.
Highly valued items like jewelry, sterling silver (if you are so lucky to have it), computer external computer backs, and collectibles.
Comfort items like pillows, blankets, air mattresses, folding chairs
Important papers like home and vehicle insurance documents
Emergency cash – ATMs run out fast in a emergency situation – sometimes in less than 30 minutes. Also if electricity goes out so do ATMs,
Extra fuel for vehicles since there may be no emergency response services like AAA if you should run out f gas for the car.

Contact a loved one out of the disaster region and let them know what are your hurricane safety plans for evacuating the disaster area. Ask them to be your emergency management team to contact everyone else that needs to be notified. They can be a great communication resource to the outside area before, during and after a hurricane storm hits. They may be able to give you more in-depth and updated hurricane information quickly to free you up to get out of harms way. They may be able to help get you reservations for a hotel / motel room or an emergency shelter to ride out the storm. This loved one who is out of the hurricane cone of uncertainty can be an essential help in crisis management in a disaster situation.

Review your emergency preparedness checklist often to ensure that you have everything that you were able to think of when life was calmer with no hurricane threat to your area. Hurricane survival depends on you and your loved ones being well trained in hurricane preparedness. It is never too early to start teaching children in emergency response training skills. Some families worry about possibly frightening children unnecessarily with such emergency training. This is a falsehood and a form of disaster avoidance. Family preparedness is a must to safeguard your loved ones in a natural disaster situation. The better trained for a hurricane that every member of the family is -- the better the chances that they will know what to do as a cohesive family emergency response team to better avoid hurricane damage or loss of life.

Shut off all utilities to your home like water, gas, electricity at their main source leading into your home before you leave in a hurricane evacuation. This will help ensure that you will not have additional threats to the home such as an electrical fire or gas explosion, drain water tank in house and turn off if you are leaving the home. Make sure you have a copy of the utilities emergency services telephone number so you can call after the danger has passed to re-establish service especially for gas service. DO NOT turn your gas back on after a emergency shut-down of the gas service. ONLY a professional and certified gas specialist authorized by your utility company should turn it back on. They will need to inspect the gas supply system to insure that no damage was done to the equipment that could result in an explosion at your home hurricane danger has passed.

If you are sheltering-in-place, then make sure you have as much emergency supply of water by filling you your bah tubs and large containers such as leak-proof trash cans / dumpsters that have lids. These hold a lot of water that can be used for the toilets should electricity fail.

If time allows take as many pictures of your home as possible inside and out with a current newspaper that will document that you had these items and their condition prior to the hurricane. If at all possible download and email them t a loved one so they will be able to hold onto the pictures for hurricane recovery purposes if you need to made a claim due to flood damage or other forms of storm damage.

Make sure you have survival equipment like a can opener, matches in a water-proof container like a plastic zipper bag. It also means having comfort items like toys for the kids, games and playing cards, books to read and stuffed toys. Rubber sandals that can be used for in the shower if at a public emergency evacuation center and as alternative shoes for tired hurting feet.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Hurricane Preparedness and the peppered potato salad guy

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:54:00 +0000

Disaster preparedness and evaluating emergency evacuation shelters

My peppered Potato salad guy wrote again on another forum saying that we need to see the evacuationshelters and head of time so as to be able to make a wise selection based on the amenities offered. While waiting for my initial comments to download onto the forum that I just sent, a ‘V-8 light bulb’ moment of inspiration went off in my head. I think. His principal position is correct! The peppered potato salad and perked coffee with fresh donuts well seem a bit far from the basic truth but he basic truth is still there concerning hurricane preparedness.

We really DO need opportunities to become more acquainted with the RREAL situation and NEEDS at disaster centers and emergency evacuation shelters. For some people the only way to get them to come to check out an evacuation center ahead of time and get some solid hurricane preparedness information and disaster planning advice is to have a ‘show and tell’ hurricane evacuation situation fully displayed in 3-D and hands on.

I am not suggesting that it be done to discern what is the most entertaining of disaster response and hurricane evacuation shelters --for that is not what is important in such disaster situations. Life is more important than entertainment, food or creature comforts.

What I am saying is that many individuals in our communities don’t have a clue as to what to expect at an emergency evacuation center. This is obvious every year by what people bring to emergency evacuation shelters. Sometimes what people bring into an emergency shelter can make one stop and scratch their heads wondering "what were these people thinking?". Few know what REALLY is important to bring especially if it is their first time at an emergency evacuation shelter. Different populations have different needs. So yes my potato salad guy is onto something. Perhaps there should be a rotating hands on exhibit during non - hurricane season to inform the community with an entire set up disaster shelter looks like in a full mock-up setting. Perhaps the day’s schedule to educate the community could look something like this

7am-9am Senior Citizens -- Yes with coffee and donuts – hopefully fresh to my potato salad guy's likening!:)

10am-12noon Day Care Centers and Pre-School offer cookies and punch

1pm-3pm Middle and High School grade students some sort of snacks teen acceptable

4pm-6pm Special Needs Populations cookies and punch

7pm-9pm General Public cookies and punch

When I was in congregational pastoral ministry, a very wise, successful and very retired senior pastor told me on more than one occasions ‘if you want people to come to a meeting feed them. If they’re in distress or upset at something – food not necessary”. I had forgotten that wise counsel until Mr. Potato Salad guy brought it back to mind.

Testimonials and peer ranking is very interesting and insightful to most people in the pubic. By teaming up with day care providers, youth and even some children to get their opinions as well for the other sections of the guide this information might be more quickly received than from officials on high. When going in together with these other groups and writing disaster information guide on evacuation shelters, it would be helpful to the community for next year’s hurricane season. It could offer some important insights that have not been looked at before.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

No fun and games when facing Hurricane Ike emergency preparedness

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Hurricane Ike no cartoon Hurricane Preparedness a MUST gets disaster supplies & emergency preparedness kits ready

OK when I was growing up I loved the cartoon Popeye so on a whim I figure I’d offer the Top 4 Ways Hurricane Ike and Popeye are similar.

Both appear weaker than their potential

Both know where to go for energy ( Popeye + spinach -- Hurricane Ike + warm waters)
Both tear thing up ( Popeye and Brutus destroy things while fighting Hurricane Ike destroys community in Cuba, Turk and Caicos Islands
Both have people crying for help ( Popeye its Olive Oil that is yelling for help Hurricane Ike it is the people devastated by severity of storm

Ok the fun stuff is over. Yes not only for this blog entry but also in getting hurricane survival ready. We have seen what can happen as a result of HurricaneIke. It looks currently like Texas might be the principal area of Hurricane Ike to strike later this week. Hurricane Ike projected landfall is still up in the air. No matter it is important for everyone to have their hurricane supplies at the ready. Have your gone over your emergency preparedness checklist recently? Do you have all your disaster preparedness necessities at hand? Where are you going if you are told to emergency evacuate? Where is the local emergency shelter? What are you doing to safeguard your pets? Do you have a good disaster guide?

Theses are just a few of the questions you need to be asking your self to prepare for a killer hurricane.

Cartoons are just that cartoons someone draws up on paper a hurricane is not fictional -- it is real and kills hundreds and disrupts the lives of thousands so please get hurricane prepared NOW.

So please get your hurricane preparedness done now.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Staying close to home and emergency evacuation centers

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Consider local when thinking emergency disaster shelters

I agree with many who say there is no place like home -- except in a hurricane emergency and you live in a low-lying area in the cone of uncertainty with a hurricane knocking at your door. If you are in possible danger then do all you can to get out of the dangerous area or circumstance as fast as you can! This is why a disaster plan and well thought-out evacuation plan is so important for every person.

When thinking of emergency evacuations often one of the first images that comes mind is the l-o-n-g congested interstates filled with over-heating cars and hot tempered people desperate to get out of harms way.

When a disaster event occurs, requiring an emergency evacuation, take the danger seriously and get out. Your life and that of loved ones is more important than any property etc. Many people try to outrun the disaster such as a hurricane and think that 300 miles away is better than something closer to home in a safe and secured area. If you have loved ones to stay with or desire need for privacy etc, then staying with loved ones or a motel/hotel provided you can get reservations is a good choice. This can be a very good choice PROVIDED that you leave early and stay late to avoid the crush of congested travel. If you need or want to get to use a community disaster evacuation shelter than if possible first think local. Here are some good reasons to think locally if there is space and services available that meet your needs. To get registered in a closer to home emergency evacuation shelter, you will need to act early to get in and get comfortable. Emergency shelters can fill up fast. Know of several emergency evacuation shelters n your area so if one or more are already filled then you have a better chance of getting into one still close by.I hope you will consider these suggestions when developing your disaster plan and planning your emergency shelter choices. Which ever type of emergency evacuation you choose - PREPARE AHEAD and make sure you have a well stocked disaster kit for each member of your householdThe following list suggests a few reasons to consider a local emergency evacuation shelter.

The faster you can get to an emergency shelter, register and get settled, most often the better you are in comfort and conveniences. So the closer the emergency shelter the quicker you can get there.
It will cost much less to travel to a local emergency evacuation shelter than to drive across state or hundreds of miles somewhere else.
You don’t need to pack as much to take with you to an emergency shelter closer to home. The more miles you drive to evacuate the more supplies and resources you will need to sustain yourself in the emergency evacuation process. Many stores and restaurants will be closing early or will run out of supplies quickly with the crush of people traveling the roads. This will mean there will be less food and beverages available and yes less restrooms and even less toilet paper and possible water supplies since many facilities will shut down their utilities long before a disaster hits! So if you’re preparing to travel a long distance to get out of harms way make sure you include additional supplies of water, food, hand cleaners and toilet paper. Many vehicles run out of fuel while attempting to evacuate. Make sure you bring extra fuel as well.
You are more likely to learn sooner and more accurately the emergency situation and disaster recovery status of your local area and neighborhood than if you are sheltered farther away. The farther away from your home, the more likely you will receive less specific the information and disaster status of your particular area.
Staying at a local, nearby emergency shelter you will have more probability of knowing some of the people there at the shelter either as quests or as volunteers since many may be your neighbors and family. This can help provide more reassurance and comfort. It can also be a great way to work on developing personal and community disaster recovery plans.
You will most likely be allowed back into your home faster the closer your emergency evacuation housing is to your residence due to less travel time congestion, etc.
It may be possible to have disaster response staff that will know your area and help you with disaster recovery resources than those who seek assistance in other jurisdictions and states.
Natural disasters like a hurricane can result in a great deal of disorientation when returning home with road signs down and familiar locations severely damaged. The more familiar you are with the area the easier it will be to reorient yourself and begin the disaster recovery process.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

ww.trainforahurricane.com

Staying close to home and emergency evacuation centers

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:03:00 +0000

Consider local when thinking emergency disaster shelters

I agree with many others there is no place like home except in a hurricane emergency and you live in a low-lying area of the cone of uncertainty and a hurricane is knocking at your door. If you are in possible danger then do all you can to get out of the dangerous area as fast as you can! This is why a disaster plan and well thought-out evacuation plan is so important for every person.

When thinking of emergency evacuations often one of the first images that come to my mind is the l-o-n-g congested interstates filled with over-heating cars and people desperate to get out of the area.

When a disaster event occurs, requiring emergency evacuation take it seriously and get out. Your life and that of loved ones is more important than any property etc.

Many people try to outrun the disaster such as a hurricane and think that 300 miles away is better than something closer in a safe and secured area. If you have loved ones to stay with then that is a good choice PROVIDED that you leave early and stay late to avoid the crush of congested t ravel.

If you need to get to use a community disaster evacuation shelter than if possible first think local. Here are some good reasons to think locally if there is room available. To get registered in a closer to home emergency evacuation shelter you will need to act early to get in. Emergency shelters can fill up fast.

I hope you will consider these suggestions when developing your disaster plan and planning your emergency shelter choices.

The following list suggests a few reasons to consider a local emergency evacuation shelter.

The faster you can get to an emergency shelter, register and get settled, most often the better you are in comfort and conveniences. So the closer the emergency shelter the quicker you can get there.
You are more likely to learn sooner and more accurately the emergency situation and disaster recovery status of your local area and neighborhood than if you are sheltered farther away. The farther away from your home, the more likely you will receive less specific the information and disaster status of your particular area.
Staying at a local, nearby emergency shelter you will have more probability of knowing some of the people there at the shelter either as quests or as volunteers since many may be your neighbors and family. This can help provide more reassurance and comfort. It can also be a great way to work on developing personal and community disaster recovery plans.
You will most likely be allowed back into your home faster the closer your emergency evacuation housing is to your residence due to less travel time congestion, etc.
It may be possible to have disaster response staff that will know your area and help you with disaster recovery resources than those who seek assistance in other jurisdictions and states

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Emergency preparedness checklists, disaster evacuations and peppered potato salad

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Personalizing disaster kits for comfort and taste

Yesterday I told you about an individual on a forum that wants to know where the best food is in an emergency shelter. He was upset at the amount of pepper in the potato salad it seems.

At first reading I was ready to say “get real it is an emergency response situation” then I realized that pepper in the potato salad was important to this person because could symbolize his need for nurturing and comfort during an emergency evacuation.

I could not tell him specifically where to find the best dinners at the emergency shelters but here is my reply to him. I hope it helps to understand the differences in the types of responses that occurs in a disaster situation as well as the issues surrounding emergency shelter food.

Next blog will talk more about he reasons to select an emergency shelter close to home.

I can certainly appreciate your desire to know the menu especially if you have a very selective taste in foods and pepper in your potato salad is a bit offensive for you. There is a great diversity of taste and preparation even in the most simple of food items.

In disaster experiences and upsetting emotional events, people often look to food for comfort and a sense of stability. That is often why people will want to drink hot chocolate or milk supplied or base of a beverage like coffee with cream – it is nurturing for many individuals.

In a small local disasters such as a tornado, the menu is often much more reflect of a ‘home-cooking style’. This is most likely a group from the nearby local community with similar taste and cooking experience that are preparing it for a relatively small number of people ( say 150 +/-). Often the food is based on an experience of a community supper or church / faith center dinner event.

When one gets into mass evacuations and disaster response of larger numbers of individuals, the focus become very institutionalized and unfortunately often impersonal since vast amounts of cold sandwiches, and coffee have to be made and the ingredients are stretched to the maximum to serve the most people in need. In mass emergency situations, there is a possibility that the food needs to be as simple and easy to prepare as possible to meet the needs of the many.

Often emergency shelters have to deal with intermittent supply of power resources that influence the selection of foods that can be prepare and store locally. As a result there is less probability that the meals will be as personal as one would like.

When faced with the possibility of an emergency situation, as always it is best to be personally prepared for you individual taste and needs as much as possible – this includes comfort foods. I suggest you select some enjoyable foods you can take with you in your disaster kit for your personal enjoyment to an emergency shelter. This can help make your stay a bit more comfortable for you. Having a disaster preparedness plan that includes special treats can help a great deal when faced with a challenging situation of an emergency evacuation.

Should you have medical / dietary needs, you may want to contact the health department for information as how to address your physical nutrition needs in an emergency. If you have special medical needs it is vital that you make disaster plans and have your health care provider look them over to ensure you have addressed all your health concerns. Get your doctor or health care provider to write a note explaining exactly WHAT YOU NEED not what you want in the way of nutrition that will directly address your medical condition. Collaborating with the local health department and emergency management center is also important in such a situation.

As for a list of emergency shelters, check with your library and they most likely will have an emergency preparedness checklist that will include this information. Also check the local newspapers, fire department / rescue squads, community recreation and senior centers information boards for current emergency shelter information for emergency preparedness tips.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Hurricane Preparedness and Victimitis

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:28:00 +0000

Emergency preparedness and our thoughts, words and actions

Hurricane victimitis is the condition of not taking control of one self and circumstance even in the face of a disaster such as a hurricane. It can be a serious and chronic condition that can be fatal if not properly addressed.

I have been reading a particular blog from a newspaper in Florida. One of the commenter’s has repeated asked where is the bet place to go for shelter that has hot meals. According to their entries they don’t like cold sandwiches or too peppered potato salad at the shelter they have used in the past. This individual is very concerned about finding out what the menus will be at the various shelters so thy can select the one they want to utilize if Hurricane Ike or Josephine or Tropical Storm Hanna comes their way and the must evacuate.

Now it is true that food is a comfort item (see my next blog entry as my replay to the gentleman’s inquiry about emergency shelters and menus) and it important to have when faced with a troubling situation. That is not the issue of this particular blog entry.

My concern is that many in our hurricane prone areas are deep in the throws of ‘Hurricane Victimitis’. They feel helpless and are looking for the government and emergency resource organizations to help rescue them and provide for all their needs including hot meals in a life threatening emergency. That is not what these disaster organizations are there for! They are there to provide limited disaster support until the person can restore their own wellbeing and get on with their life.

There is no other way to put it. YOU are responsible for your well being and care – no one else. The emergency response staff is there to provide the most basic of basic of support care to keep the body alive in the midst of terrible and life-threatening conditions.

During the early part of our history as humans, little care was give to the common folk and this included the events of disasters. Yet in most recent times many have developed the idea that the officials of government and philanthropic organizations will arrange for the entire well being and comfort of everyone. That is so far from the truth. WE as individuals are responsible for our well being when faced with a disaster.

Only the very few that are so disabled as to not be able to help themselves such as the cognitively challenged or seriously handicapped should depend entirely on their support in times of disaster. That is a completely different situation and a limited population. Everyone else needs to get out of disaster victimitis and start to prepare for their won needs. Every attempt should be made each person to help themselves first. Then after they have done their bet to help themselves if a person still needs additional limited support then such services be available.

Not everyone has family or loved ones that can take them in during a disaster. Not everyone has the economic resources to find and stay at a motel or hotel during a disaster emergency. That is understood. That is why there are emergency shelters. Yet even in those circumstances EVERYONE needs to be disaster prepared to the best of there ability and supply as much of their emergency preparedness necessities as possible.

It is vital that we each take emergency preparedness seriously. WE are very fortunate to have the technology that will tell us when a disaster is pending.

Each person needs get as much necessary disaster preparedness information as possible and develop their own emergency preparedness checklist. This is particularly important when you know you live in a hurricane area. This means that you read hurricane reference guides and learn all the emergency preparedness tips possibly for your particular circumstance. You are the best person to know your current situation and what your particular emergency preparedness necessities are.

These disaster kits don’t have to be fancy and involved, many highly effective disaster kits are low cost emergency survival kits made from the discount dollar stores, the reduce racks at the back of the grocery store, thrift stores bargains and yard sales! To establish your emergency preparedness kit all it takes is a bit of creativity, a willingness to help oneself and their loved ones, and the necessary actions it takes ahead of time to establish the disaster kits. It also takes an agreement to sacrifice a few moments of creature comforts before and during a disaster situation for the bigger benefit of keep body, mind and soul together.

What a person experiences in an emergency shelter is just that an emergency situation location. There are no frills or menus like some sort of resort, that is not what emergency shelters are designed for or what should be expected to be.

I just read a wonderful article called “Curing Victimitis” sent to me by Bob Proctor from his website Insight of the Day, I’m enclosing it for you to read. The article comes from his outstanding website and I strongly suggest that everyone sign up – it’s free and inspiring (www.insightoftheday.com). I would not start off my day without reading Bob’s message to me each morning!

I hope that you will take serious attention to victimitis that is around each of us and often IN us and vow to do our part to correct our thinking so we can eliminate this cancerous plight especially when it comes to pro actively addressing frightening and difficult events like disasters.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

Curing Victimitis

http://www.insightoftheday.com/quote.asp

Watch your thoughts; they lead to attitudes.
Watch your attitudes; they lead to words.
Watch your words; they lead to actions.
Watch your actions; they lead to habits.
Watch your habits; they form your character.
Watch your character; it determines your destiny.

These words of unknown origin tell us that our silent and often subconscious choices shape our future. Every aspect of our lives, at home and at work, can be improved if we use our power to think, reflect, and make conscious choices about our thoughts, attitudes, words, actions, and habits.

Instead, many of us think of ourselves as victims. We complain about our circumstances and what others did to us. Whatever psychological comfort there is in feeling powerless and blameless when things aren't going right, in the end, victims lead unsatisfied lives.

We're most vulnerable to victimitis when we're under the influence of powerful emotions like fear, insecurity, anger, frustration, grief, or depression. These feelings are so powerful, we believe our state of mind is inevitable. Our only hope is they will go away on their own. Yet it's during times of emotional tumult that using our power to choose our thoughts and attitudes is most important. We can't make pain go away, but we can refuse to suffer.

Even when we don't like any of our choices, we do have some -- once we realize we can take control. It isn't easy, but what we do and how we choose to feel about ourselves has a profound impact on the quality of our lives. Victims may get sympathy for a while, but that isn't enough.

Taking personal responsibility for our happiness and success can be scary, but the payoff is enormous. Although we can't make our lives perfect, we can make them better -- usually a lot better.

Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org

After the hurricane preparedness and the disaster is over

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Hurricane preparedness includes when the disaster is over with

In French there is a word called “denouement” when translated means “unknotting” or “unwinding”. It can also mean ‘falling action” when it is at the end of a novel or in a disaster situation. It refers to the results of an intense reaction that has built up over time in a complex situation or multiple sequences of events. In a novel it is generally the aftermath or resolution found in the final stages of a story.

In critical incident / disaster thanatology (the study of death, dying, grief, loss and disasters) there is a ‘disaster denouement’ that occurs for all those who are in someway involved in a disaster or potentially disastrous event. This is true for disaster victims, emergency responders and media reporters as well as the general public who are concerned and to some extend emotionally attached to the outcome of the disaster situation.

For a period of time from before the disaster occurs to days, weeks an months after the disaster, individuals and groups will experience the thanostic denouement experience of the unwinding of the emotional surge that the potential or actual event causes. Ask any fire fighter or EMT about the emotional stand-down that they may experience after stressful and high adrenalin rush event.

Meteorologist, weather forecasters and reporters are no different; they are human and have the same emotional experiences as others in critical incident situations. So sure when you are watching a disaster report or a potential disaster situation and there seems to be some ‘let down’ or as some have viewed it as disappointment there is going to be critical incident denouement both on-air as well as behind the camera or microphone.

This is not to also say there is a void in all disasters of what is know as critical incident economics (death, dying, bereavement. Loss and disaster related economic issues). Television, radio, newspaper, websites are in someway or another influenced or involved in thanostic economics. That is how services are offered to the public and salaries are paid and the lights are kept on at the various reporting offices.

The issue is not so much that there is critical incident thanostic economics but the ethics involved and how that is played out. Often there is a balance like a wind chime that must be balanced intentionally so that the chimes ring pure and harmoniously giving a pleasant tune when the winds blow. In a disaster the winds blow intensely and the balance can be hard to keep! The better the quality of the wind chimes and the medial reports the more likely the chimes reports will stay in ethical tune even when they ring the loudest due to the strong winds of disaster.

Weather reporting in a disaster needs to strongly encourage views, listeners and readers to take shelter and be safe in a potential or actual natural disaster situation. It would be irresponsible of them not to do so. There is also a responsibility to be as accurate in the scientific art of meteorology as well.

All involved from weather forecasting industry to the audiences themselves need to learn more about critical incident thanatology and the emotional affects it has on individuals before, during and after a disaster event and to act accordingly. The better educated all are the better the response to disasters will be.

There is a great deal of weight on the shoulders of those who represent the meteorological sciences. If they are scientifically in error in their scientific predictions and a mass evacuation is called or even schools are closed for the day(s) the impact is significant and compounding.

Hostility by the public is most often not the best instrument to find the maximum balance so the most members of the community can be served the best.

Eyes turn to Ike

By Charles Elmore | Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 12:23 PM

Hanna is softening, but Ike is on pace to get a lot meaner.

Wind shear is slowing Hanna’s momentum and pushing its projected path to the north, away from Florida. Ike, right behind it, is expected to become at least a Category 3 hurricane.

Ike should be packing 115 mph winds and parked on the doorstep of the Bahamas by Monday at 8 a.m., according to Wednesday’s latest projections.

“Ike is on the cusp of being a hurricane and should be one later today,” National Hurricane Center senior hurricane specialist Richard Knabb wrote in the 11 a.m. discussion. Ike’s winds were clocked at 70 mph, just below hurricane status.

“The underlying ocean temperatures will only get warmer along the forecast track,” Knabb wrote. A ridge of high pressure building in the western Atlantic could push Ike to the west and southwest in a couple of days — which probably means no quick right turn to steer it northward, away from Florida.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/stormblog/

Emergency preparedness - place for everything

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:25:00 +0000

Hurricane preparedness and false sense of security

As my favorite first grade teacher use to say “There is a time and place for everything.” You might be wise to gamble on the price of that new camera when involved in an eBay auction and save $30.00. That is one thing, but gambling on your life and that of loved ones is something altogether different.

We have been lulled into a false sense of security over the past two years since we have not had active and / or intense hurricane seasons. This year is different. Even a 1% risk is too much when it is simple enough with a bit of effort to prepare low cost emergency survival kits for each member of your family as well as emergency preparedness plans for family an pets.

False security is just that FALSE! So tonight after you have helped with homework and bedtime stories take an hour and go over your emergency preparedness checklist and review your emergency preparedness kits. Get solid disaster preparedness information with a hurricane reference guide. Know of at least 3 places outside your potential hurricane impact zone where you can ride out the wind and rain in safety. Don’t gamble on your loved ones safety. Your actions tonight is the best gift of love and care you can give your family during any season of the year. Remember they are counting on YOU – please don’t let them down!

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

Don’t obsess over the skinny black line

By Bob King | Monday, September 1, 2008, 06:34 PM

Floridians still need to keep a wary eye on Hanna, despite those hurricane center track forecasts that are predicting a landfall in Georgia or South Carolina sometime Friday. As the NHC meteorologists have said again and again and again, they produce that error cone for a reason. And in this case, it wouldn’t take much to make this storm veer from the predicted path.

Tonight’s 5 p.m. discussion amplifies those points: For now, Hanna appears to be moving south-southwest, and after that its “motion during the next couple of days is expected to be slow and possibly erratic” before it’s expected to zoom off to the northwest.

The upshot: “UNTIL HANNA TAKES A MORE DEFINITIVE MOTION … IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE POTENTIAL THREAT AREA.”

Meanwhile, this lesser-known wind probabilities’ map from the hurricane center shows that much of South Florida has some chance of getting hurricane-force winds from Hanna regardless of where the eye goes (click on it to enlarge):

How much of a chance? According to the hurricane center, West Palm Beach has a 6 percent chance of feeling hurricane-force winds by Saturday, and a 40 percent chance of getting tropical storm-force winds. (In Fort Pierce, those odds are 7 percent and 43 percent, respectively.)

Is 6 percent enough to worry about? I posed that question at the National Hurricane Conference a few years ago when this wind-probability map was unveiled. The meteorologists’ answer: Even a small chance of something that could change your life is worth paying attention to.

Emergency preparedness should never erode!

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:57:00 +0000

Hurricane preparedness is important no matter the case and effect

North County Eroding away is a very interesting article. It is amazing how everything is so connected including the weather.

It is important to understand the cause and effect of how our weather occurs. It is also vitally important to not just understand how the weather operates but also how we need to be prepared for all kinds of weather. I agree with May when he says: “Nothing is for sure with the ocean and weather. Some years, we have just as heavy rain and damage in south county as north county. But north county gets the worst,” he said. “Usually.”

We all know that not every year we will get significant storm events but every year we need to be prepared for mild to horrific storms. So often we get lazy and do not prepare.

There are those like May who have risked their lives to help save others for more years than any one can count. Yet we can not just depend on them (life guards, emergency response specialists. the National Guard or FEMA etc) to rescue us. We need to be responsible for our own well being and do several things.

First — Stay out of harms way if at all possible. That means don’t go swimming in a rip tide. Your life is important as well as that of the life guard or other emergency response specialist that is trying to protect you.

Second —Be disaster prepared all the time. This means that your have a sound and well thought-out emergency preparedness checklist and at disaster kits for each of your family / household members including infants and children and pets. These emergency preparedness kits need to be established with specific needs in mind for each person and pet.

Third — Have a well thought out evacuation plan. I am always amazed when an evacuation is called that people throw some of their important belongs into the car load of the kids and hopefully the pets and head off down the highway. When interview many say they will find a hotel or motel to stop off at like they are the only ones on the highway! 1.9 million evacuated Louisiana when facing down Hurricane Gustav last week. Many were significantly unprepared with no idea of where to go for emergency shelter if they could not find a hotel or motel. That is so dangerous. Cars and SUVs are no place to be in the midst and any Category hurricane! Know at three different places you can arrange to be at in the face of any type of emergency from wildfires to hurricanes.

Fourth — Get as much disaster preparedness information as possible and keep those helpful emergency preparedness tips available in your vehicle at all times. Emergency preparedness is something that should be a 24-7 – 365 process to keep everyone safe and sound and out of harms way.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

North County eroding away?

By Bill DiPaolo | Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 03:38 PM

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/stormblog/

Why does north Palm Beach County get stronger winds and more powerful waves and tides?

Blame the Bahamas, says Don May, the chief of Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue.

May has been a lifeguard in the county for 20 years, so he knows of what he speaks.

If you drew a straight west from the northern end of the Bahamas, the line will hit at about Donald Ross Road. When there is a storm churning big waves and winds in the Atlantic east of the Bahamas, the islands — usually, said May — act as a breakwater for Palm Beach County south of about Donald Ross Road.

“That’s why we get bigger waves, stronger winds and more erosion,” said May. “We don’t have the protection the Bahamas give to the south part of the county.”

Right now, the main erosion in north county is at Coral Cove Park, just south of the Martin County line, and Loggerhead Park, just north of Donald Ross Road. Rip tides have been reported around Juno Beach Pier, but the erosion on both sides of the 990-foot-long concrete and wood fishing platform has been minor. Ocean Rescue officials are considering moving a lifeguard stand back from the ocean if the waves and wind continue to strengthen, said May.

Overall, said May, there is one thing he has learned in his 20 years with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue and 40 years as a lifeguard. The 57-year-old started as a lifeguard on the Jersey Shore when he was a teenager.

“Nothing is for sure with the ocean and weather. Some years, we have just as heavy heavy rain and damage in south county as north county. But north county gets the worst,” he said. “Usually.”

Disaster Preparedness Hosts Need Emergency Preparedness Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Emergency preparedness tips for those who help disaster victims

Disaster planning is not just for those who are in potential harms way. It is vital that those who will most likely be the ‘private rescue station’ for family and friends have a disaster plan as well as a disaster recovery plan when an emergency is pressing down for both the disaster victims but also for the disaster care providers. Those who agree to be ‘private rescue stations’ for loved ones need to several resources available at a moment’s notice including an emergency preparedness checklist with phone numbers of those who can be of help and support, emergency preparedness necessities and enough low cost emergency survival kits.

Emergency preparedness is not just for those who are fleeing from harms way but also for those who are receiving. Remember it can quickly become a major disaster when your personal life routine is disrupted by disaster response situations. Know where and what are your physical, emotional and financial limits are long term and short term. Have a personal sanctuary that is all yours, perhaps your bedroom or a place in the basement that is off limits to everyone but you. Disaster stress affects not only the hurricane victims but also the emergency care providers. It is not being rude, stingy or unloving to have a place for you. To be able to cope with the multitude of needs a place of peace and calm is vital for the care giver.

In a potential disaster situation, EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE PREPARED!

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

ll I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

Local Family Bracing for Gustav

By Eliot Kleinberg | Monday, September 1, 2008, 03:49 PM

Three years ago, Shelia Ross took in 32 relatives driven from the New Orleans area by Hurricane Katrina. Only last month, her mother returned to Louisiana, leaving just her dad and brother of the original refugees.

Now, the teacher is bracing for another round of hurricane exiles, this time from Gustav.

“If it’s flooded out, they’ll be coming,” Ross said Monday.

Most relatives were waiting out Gustav in Pensacola and in Lecompte, La., Ross said.

Ross said the relatives who fled Katrina had trickled back over the last three years, many to keep jobs that cranked after things settled down.

“All of them lost their homes,” she said. She said half her relatives still are living in FEMA trailers.

Ross, who’s lived in South Florida for two decades, teaches at Citrus Cove Elementary School and her husband, Edwin, at Discovery Key Elementary.

After Katrina, she originally took in everyone at her suburban Lantana home. Later, a woman at Ross’ church offered a three-bedroom Delray Beach home with a trailer in the back yard and several organizations, including a South Florida furniture chain, donated items. Other relatives lived rent-free at apartments in Riviera Beach.

What does hurricane preparedness blog and the movie ‘Hello Dolly’ have in common?

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:07:00 +0000

Hurricane preparedness a MUST this active hurricane season!

Remember the Hello Dolly song's refrain: Hello, Dolly! Well, hello, Dolly! It's so nice to have you back where you belong!” Well I’m not Dolly but I’m back on the blog again. It’s been awhile since my last post I know but for good reasons. With 3 potential hurricane making their way to the United States and some already threatening much of the islands of the Bahamas, Cuba etc, it seems Train For A Hurricane ( www.trainforahurricane.com) and Hurricane Preparedness blog ( http://hurricane-prepared-ness.blogspot.com/ ) are back just in the nick of time!

While away the Train For A Hurricane team and I have been reviewing, revising and greatly improving my book Train For A Hurricane and the website www.trainforahurricane.com. The new release of Train For A Hurricane has just been released this week and it is updated with expanded sections on emergency preparedness and disaster preparedness information.

After two tranquil years with little hurricane threat for the United States, many people did not keep up their disaster preparedness and was / are caught short with facing so many hurricane threats in this active hurricane season little prepared.

I found it interesting to hear individuals interviewed on TV and radio these last ten days in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas saying that they had no emergency preparedness plans for emergency hurricane evacuation. We have experienced the third largest hurricane evacuation in US history last week. Yet many were unsure where to head once they packed up the car and headed north. It is not wise to be wondering the interstate highways when a hurricane is fast approaching.

It’s not enough to just throw some things that you can quickly think of into a box, grab the kids and pets and head off down the clogged highways. Many who did this found themselves stuck in traffic for hours in the Gulf Coast humid heat with little water or food as they inched along the interstate with thousands of others in the same circumstance. Many ran out of gas, and food and water was limited or nonexistent at rest stops and restaurants just off the interstate exits. Many of the fast food chains and local restaurants were closed or on marginal staffing since the employees and business owners needed to get out of town as well. This is the reality of a hurricane evacuation.

Many individuals and families in an emergency hurricane evacuation don’t consider the full ramifications of a mandatory evacuation. Many have not experienced an emergency evacuation at all. It is vital that each person in your household, no matter their age or circumstance have their own emergency disaster kit that is appropriate for their age and situation. And don’t forget your pets; each pet needs their own emergency preparedness kit as well.

Hurricane evacuation is a tough time for everyone. Having an emergency preparedness checklist is an essential item for safely and as a resource for as much as comfortably when one must evacuate from harms way. Don’t rely on your memory to recall everything. Under stress, most people will remember less than half of what they will need to have and do to survive a hurricane emergency. Having a written emergency preparedness checklist will ensure that you remember everything you will need for you and your family’s well being.

In the emergency preparedness checklist there should be an extensive list of all emergency preparedness necessities for when you must evacuate as well as shelter-in-place at home. If you don’t have this, you are attempting to negotiate the many difficulties and perils of a hurricane blindfolded depending on luck and others for help. Luck and help from others is nice but don’t depend on it! Rely on your self to safeguard yourself and those that you love.

Along with the emergency preparedness checklist you should have disaster preparedness information that includes at least 3 if not 5 alternative resources of where to go and how to get there should your most accessible hurricane evacuation resources be unavailable or impossible to get to during a hurricane emergency.

My hurricane reference guide offers extensive information on hurricane evacuation, emergency preparedness, low cost emergency survival kits and plenty of disaster preparedness information. This book is full of emergency preparedness tips as well as plans on how to recover from a hurricane.

According to the news 1.9 million people will be allowed to return to their homes and communities after Hurricane Gustav crashed into their communities. Many will not have hurricane preparedness disaster recovery plans. Many of the local restaurants and grocery stores will not be completely restocked after the hordes of hurricane evacuation customers cleaned out the shelves. Many restaurants will not be open or open only with a skeleton crew since many of the staff will be elsewhere due to mandatory hurricane evacuation. Many gas stations ran out of fuel due to the surge of customers during the hurricane evacuation process. Now fuel trucks are sitting in clogged roads long with cars running near empty with long delays to get to the gas stations to refuel the tanks.

So if you are in the process of planning to return home - be hurricane prepared for the disaster recovery process. Take time today to read my book and be prepared.

Since you have at least a day before evacuation orders are lifted, read my book on emergency preparedness tips for disaster recovery. It could save you loads of time, money and exhaustion. And when you reach home you may just hear Louis Armstrong singing in your heart “ … its good to have you back where you belong!”.

Hurricane Preparedness - Ensure you're prepared in the event of a hurricane with our hurricane preparedness websites, books and free advice. Learn emergency preparedness tips & disaster preparedness information.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

Dr. Terrie Modesto, Disaster Preparation and Response Specialist

www.trainforahurricane.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, PhD, author of Train For A Hurricane is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response with 20+ year’s experience. She has over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit and is available for consulting, lectures and interviews. Website: www.trainforahurricane.com Blog: http://hurricane-prepared-ness.blogspot.com/

Which hurricane preparedness category is your business in?

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:09:00 +0000

Are you in the 25% or the 75% Business Continuity Disaster Preparedness list?

According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, one in four businesses that must close due to a hurricane NEVER reopen. That is a terrible hardship not only on the business owner but also on the community in which the business served. If there were employees then the devastation for the business employees’ families will be hard felt as well.

Study after study state that if you have even the most basic of emergency preparedness plans then the chances grow tremendously that your business will not only survive but that you will have both loyal employees AND loyal customers for years to come. Most people think that disaster preparedness is extremely expensive.

The most expensive thing about emergency preparedness

is NOT being disaster prepared.

Emergency preparedness kits don’t have to be fancy or expensive. Much of the emergency preparedness necessities can be found around the house or at the local grocery store and dollar stores can establish low cost emergency survival kits for you and your staff. Going to yard sales and flea markets can drastically reduce the cost of emergency preparedness kits.

Have a contest within the business to see who can create the least expensive, best use of resources low cost emergency preparedness kit for the office and home. Then give a gift certificate for lunch at a nearby sandwich shop as a prize.

Write up a press release and send it to the local news paper describing the company’s emergency preparedness kit contest and describing all the winners (everyone who has a disaster kit is a winner when an emergency situation occurs!). Make sure that all have the emergency preparedness necessities. Have a picture taken that can be submitted to the newspaper with all your staff displaying their disaster kits.

Many of the staff will enjoy getting their picture taken and will have extra pride in showing off their accomplishment of their emergency preparedness kits. Post the pictures in both the lobby of your business for your customers to see. This will encourage and inspire customers to develop their own disaster kits.

Also have a copy of the pictures in the employee lounge etc. Celebrate all employees that take disaster preparedness seriously. Remember the more your employees are disaster prepared not only at work but at home, school and play, the more likely these well trained employees will be able to quickly return to work at your business and help ensure business continuity and reduce new employee costs!

You can even send out a fact sheet in with your billing statements telling of the employee accomplishments and how reasonable they aware able to develop their own low cost emergency survival kits. Each month send out another employee’s account of what they stocked their emergency preparedness kits with and how they reduced the costs. Then just before hurricane season say in March – April - May have a customer hurricane preparedness contest and then put it on your website.

Host a reception with light refreshments and invite the local emergency service community to come and share their information with all the customers who have developed their own emergency preparedness checklists, disaster plans etc. Pass out disaster preparedness information to the local community. Often with amble notice the emergency response agencies and organizations will arrange to bring some of their supplies and equipment. Many in the community will enjoy seeing the emergency equipment (especially kids and the ‘kids –at-heart).

By having the reception and emergency preparedness awareness program, many in your community will be better educated on emergency preparedness as well as you and your company’s efforts. Good will is the best gift the business owner can give. Over time with effort on your part and sincere dedication to making your community safer, you and your company will be well identified as an emergency preparedness community expert and disaster preparedness information resource. Being such a leader in the community is a great honor, responsibility and opportunity.

Tell the local community upfront that should there ever be a disaster YOU and YOUR COMPANY are dedicated to recovering quickly and helping the local community in times of need. The goodwill this will establish for your company will be enormous.

Oh don’t forget to invite the media. Remember to not only include the local media but be bold and invite all the national news networks as well. Also get a news release sent out on PR Wire (www.prwire.com). This can be a great way to help promote your company’s efforts for emergency preparedness of the local community and businesses as well. You also might want to contact the Small Business Development center in your area to see if they would be interested in helping to promote your efforts.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Chamber's officials urge local businesses to set disaster plans
http://www.rockportpilot.com/articles/2008/06/18/business/business00.txt

One out of every four businesses which close because of a disaster never reopen, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), but with a disaster protection and recovery plan in place, business owners stand a much better chance of having business continuity.

The Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a contest to encourage area business owners to be prepared during the current hurricane season. The first business to turn in its completed “Open for Business Tool Kit” will receive a prize at the Chamber board of directors' Tuesday, July 15 meeting.

The deadline to turn in a completed plan is Monday, July 7.

One can download a copy of the 76-page Open for Business Tool Kit at www.disastersafety.org or call 1-866-657-4247 to request your free copy.

The tool kit provides the framework to help prioritize critical business functions and organize information needed to continue operating from a remote location.

According to IBHS documentation, contingency planning is a core part of running any successful business. Failing to plan is placing an unnecessary bet on the survival of your business.

Disasters don't have to be caused by catastrophic events. Widespread power outages, water main breaks, and fires also can effectively shut down a company for a long period, sometimes months, costing thousands of dollars in lost business. Some or all of that business may never return.

That is why business owners are encouraged to resolve to be better prepared for the 2008 hurricane season by putting together a disaster plan.

The top five business continuity planning steps are:

€ Make two copies of important documents and store them in separate locations. These should include lease papers, photographs of property and lists of inventory.

€ Update contact information for employees, key suppliers and customers, and local utility companies.

€ Consider an alternate location from which to do business if a disaster were to force you to relocate.

€ Review plans with employees and make sure they know how to reach their immediate supervisor in an emergency.

€ Assess current insurance needs with your agent and update their contact information, including emergency hotlines.

IBHS, a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry, works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.

Hurricane preparedness, floods and three little pigs

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:19:00 +0000

When pigs are on the roof, it is time for disaster preparedness!

A neighbor of mine, a long time go had a favorite saying: “yea when pigs fly!” He would say this as his absolute and definitive cynical statement of disbelief on any given topic. Today on the news, we actually see 3 fat pigs barely able to stand on a slippery barn roof eating what ever has floated down the riptide waters that is licking at their hooves in the farmlands of America. Who would have thought such a situation would ever occur.

Most people in the mid-west were told that they were miles away for the river and there was no need to worry about flood protection insurance. They were reassured many times by so called experts that catastrophic flooding from swollen rivers cresting over their banks would never happen to them in the pristine farmlands in the good old US of A. I guess it was as unlikely in the eyes of many as it was as pigs flying or pigs grazing on a metal roof of a barn.

Unfortunately, 3 pigs are on a barn roof and we need to reconsider our disaster preparedness information. We need to re-examine what we have been told from disaster organizations, insurance companies and the local, state and national government emergency service agencies. Often we have been told simplistic disaster preparedness information in 30-60 second sound bits Pubic Service Announcements on TV and radio as well as quick how to brochures that are flimsy and filled with generalized disaster information as if it was being issued from God’s own mouth.

We are living in a very different time that what was the scene even 15 years ago. We always thought that the government would provide all the emergency preparedness necessities any one or any community could ever want. People thought it was crazy to think that they should have emergency preparedness kits for car, home, work and school. Many a PTA had hotly, passionate discussions of how come families were asked to supply students with a school emergency preparedness kits. The mantra was we don't want o frighten the children. The reality / was is we didn't want to feel our own fright. Denial is a wonderful opiate to reality and common sense.

Yet now we see the wisdom of having an emergency preparedness checklist attached to a well thought out emergency preparedness plan. Even after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita not to mention the Alamos wildfires we still hear the sentiment that we don’t want to alarm anyone unnecessarily about disasters that may or my not occur. Yea I agree we don’t need to be Chicken Little, but then again, go ask the farmer with the 3 pigs on the roof if he or his neighbors are alarmed now at what has happened. I’ve got a good idea what the answer might be

If you have not started your own disaster kits and a long term emergency supply of food and other emergency preparedness necessities such as medications, water, cleaning supplies, then you need to start yesterday. Food costs and all other supplies will be rising as fast as the waters have over the corn fields of the mid-west. Inflation is already rising more swiftly than what was ever considered most likely to occur likely. Disaster kits and emergency pantries will cost much more today, tomorrow and next week unfortunately than they did even a year ago or even last month. They will cost more next month.

The terrible thought is we are not even at the summer point of when things start to really pick up with wildfires and hurricanes. We have had more devastating tornadoes than many can easily remember in the recent past. Wildfires are already happening in Florida and California made worse in multi-year drought conditions. People in Florida tell me that they really want the rain but fear that such rain will cause lightening and result in dangerous uncontrolled wildfires. The list goes on and on.

The best place to start with hurricane preparedness is to get sound disaster preparedness information. This is not the sort of information that says: place tinfoil over windows and wear metal cone caps on your head to keep others from reading and hearing your thoughts!

The thought of of a disaster can seem very crazy, especially when they have not happened and may never happen. Yet it is much more crazy and dangerous not to be disaster prepared. We are not talking outlandish stuff or downright insane stuff. We are talking about practical, basic emergency preparedness necessities.

Instead of mental cone caps, put on your thinking cap and get well researched and thought out disaster preparedness information. Get materials that are comprehensive and not a 2 page brochure that leaves you out on a limb trying to figure out for yourself what all is really needed and how much. Disaster preparedness takes more time and thought than going out and buying a couple cans of tuna fish and a can of squirt soft cheese spread with crackers.

After getting solid disaster information, then start to develop a sound emergency preparedness checklist for each member of your household including the pets that addresses as many of the possibilities of a potential disaster as possible. Then become creative in developing low cost emergency survival kits for EACH member of the household.

Think about it, many will spend more time making summer barbecue plans including how many bags of Kingsford Charcoal BBQ briquets it will take to grill hamburgers for 25 of your closest friends than they will in how to evacuate safely from a disaster situation.

Now I love a juicy hamburger off the grill just as much as anyone else but I sure would feel better if all my guests had their disaster preparedness plans, emergency evacuation routes mapped out and emergency preparedness necessities all complete and stored safely in well labeled water-proof boxes that are easy to get to at a moment’s notice. Part of me wants to say, hey don’t come for the burger unless you have your emergency preparedness plans fully complete. Stay home and get your house in order before you come to my house for dinner.

Can all of us respond positively to these emergency preparedness tips? Sure we can.

Will all the citizens and guests of this great country take this advice? I fear they won’t. I sure wish they would.

Then again my old neighbor would most likely reply by saying “Yea when pigs fly!”

Unfortunately, even with pigs on the barn roof it will not be enough for this country to have an emergency wake up call!!!

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Part of vacation planning includes Emergency preparedness plans!

noreply@blogger.com (Terrie Modesto, PhD) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:29:00 +0000

Hurricane preparedness doesn’t stop jut because you are on vacation.

Just got finished reading Robert’s Caribbean Travel Blog ( see below). Yes there are great deals on travel and fantastic vacations to experience during Hurricane season. If you are going to enjoy a vacation in the Caribbean or even in the US hurricane zones like shore vacations along the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico then be hurricane prepared.

Make sure you have set aside some of your pre-vacation time to get disaster preparedness information on where evacuation shelters are, alternative routes for evacuation planning, what are the guidelines the airlines have for emergency flight changes to get out of a Caribbean dream destination before a hurricane nightmare.

Pack low cost emergency survival kits one for each member of the family with a flashlight, some shelf safe food, bottled water and extra medication. Bring alone a portable radio with fresh batteries.. Get a hurricane reference guide for the local area you are going to be vacationing at. Review emergency preparedness tips as well. Oh yes by all means make sure you have an emergency preparedness checklist to you can quickly see what you have and what is necessary to do if a hurricane is making its way to your vacation spot.

Remember to be flexible during a hurricane zone vacation. IF a hurricane is even a mild possibility then change your plans. Go somewhere else. Don’t risk getting stranded in a dream location in an evacuation. That is not the best kind of vacation in fact it can be the worst of vacations.

If you are going to go to a hurricane prone location then spend the extra money to get travel insurance. There is also vacation insurance that will offset the costs of an emergency evacuation. Yes it might cost a bit more (and insurance premiums will often be higher) to have the insurance but well worth it if a hurricane is joining you on vacation.

Enjoy your vacation but also keep a close ear on the news and weather forecasts so you can be some of the first out of a potential hurricane storm.

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com

Dr. Terrie Modesto, PhD, author of Train For A Hurricane is an international expert in dying, death, loss and critical incident individual and community disaster preparation and response with 20+ year’s experience. She has over 60 courses, books and training manuals to her credit and is available for consulting, lectures and interviews. Website: www.trainforahurricane.com Blog: http://hurricane-prepared-ness.blogspot.com/

Robert's Caribbean Travel Blog

By Robert Curley, About.com Guide to Caribbean Travel

http://gocaribbean.about.com/b/2008/06/16/hurricane-shmuricane-poll-finds-many-travelers-unconcerned-about-storm-threat.htm

Hurricane, Shmuricane: Poll Finds Many Travelers Unconcerned About Storm Threat

Monday June 16, 2008

A recent survey of TripAdvisor members finds that 30 percent of travelers -- and 36 percent of U.S. travelers -- say they plan to visit a destination in the hurricane zone this summer even though it is hurricane season. Moreover, 43 percent of those traveling to hurricane-prone areas like Florida and the Caribbean say they are not concerned about a storm interrupting their trip, and 15 percent said they are taking advantage of low, hurricane-season prices on hotels, airfares, etc.

The survey found that while the Caribbean is the "most feared" hurricane-season destination, 64 percent of travelers said they would be willing to visit a destination in the hurricane zone if it meant significant savings: 26 percent said it would take a half-off deal to lure them, while about a quarter of travelers would take the risk for a 41-50 percent discount (only 17 percent of those surveyed said they wouldn't travel to a hurricane area for any price). Lucky for travelers, those are exactly the kind of discounts you can find in the Caribbean for summer stays.

If that's not enough evidence that travelers are hardier souls than they usually get credit for, the poll also found that fewer than half say they would immediately cancel their vacation plans if a hurricane was due to hit their destination, and 10 percent said they would ride out the storm. Only about one in five travelers say that predictions of an active hurricane season would alter their travel plans.

"Travelers consistently appear to have a healthy respect for hurricanes, but generally won't let weather get in the way of their vacation plans," said Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for Trip Advisor.