Disaster Preparedness

A Mediaplanet Guide to Natural Disasters and Emergencies

Disaster Preparedness

Stephanie Abrams Read the star meteorologist’s warnings about climate change and staying safe Learn why this year’s hurricane season is going to be especially dangerous Find one expert’s five-step plan to prepare for disaster

SEPTEMBER 2021 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM

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Ginger Zee — meteorologist, mom, and wife — knows the importance of keeping families and homes safe.

Now, she’s encouraging everyone to prepare for severe weather. “I have seen the power of water, fire, wind and you do not want to mess with it,” Zee said. “It never hurts to over prepare and then have less happen. Preparation is key to having some control in the panic of a natural disaster.”

Wildfıre and hurricanes Zee, who has forecasted and covered most major severe @MEDIAPLANETUSA

weather conditions including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires, is committed to connecting her passion for science with humanity and compassion. This year, she expects the focus to be on wildfires.

“Wildfires have grown exponentially in the past few years in many states,” she said. “Let me be clear, wildfires are a natural part of our planet. The rate and spread of the wildfires today though are not normal.”

Several factors, including drought and increased heat, are going to bring similar fire conditions in the years to come. She calls the drought in the Ameri@MPMODERNWELLNESSGUIDE

can west, including in Arizona, California, and Oregon, “stunning,” noting it’s causing water shortages and ecological disasters. She’s also concerned about the “interface between humans and wildfires.” Over 80 percent of wildfires in the United States are started by humans, ranging from arson to accidents to faulty power lines and other reasons.

The certified broadcast meteorologist is also tracking hurricanes.

“Twenty-twenty showed us unprecedented named storms, incredible numbers of landfalling storms, and the truth of our vulnerability to these storms,”

PHOTO: COURTESY KAREN MORNEAU PHOTOGRAPHY

Essential Disaster Preparedness Tips from ABC News’ Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee Zee said, explaining this year’s hurricane season is again projected to be above average.

Three factors will drive hurricanes in 2021: warmer than average sea surface temperatures; active West African monsoon where the storms start; and lack of wind shear that would break down hurricanes before they get to land.

Family preparedness Zee said that parents need to think beyond traditional emergency essentials. That means figuring out how to sanitize so you can safely feed and care for a baby.

Zee, who’s married to Ben Aaron and the mother of their two boys, keeps her family prepared too. They practice for severe storms, the most likely in their area, by going to their safe space and putting on their helmets. They also talk about making a meet-up place like the corner of x and x street.

“Just like a fire drill at school, when you practice it in a calmer moment, it is embedded as habit and when adrenaline and fear rush in, you will know what to do,” she said.

Kristen Castillo

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PLEASE RECYCLE

Publisher Ellie Gouvia, Joanna Tronina Business Developer Gretchen Pancak Managing Director Luciana Olson Lead Designer Tiffany Pryor Designer Celia Hazard Lead Editor Mina Fanous Copy Editor Kathleen Walsh Director of Content and Production Jordan Hernandez Cover Photo Mike Emerick All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specifıed. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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Power Outage Safety: Before, During, and After Preparing for the worst-case scenario in a power outage.

Apower outage can happen any time. Planned or unexpected, it can last for days and may impact needs such as heating, cooling, refrigeration, and cooking and medical equipment. Power outages can also leave you without communication or transportation. Fortunately, we can take actions to get ready and take time to learn what your household should do if the power goes out.

Using generators safely Safety is your first priority.

Never use a generator, outdoor stove, or heater indoors. If you are using a generator, be sure you understand the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to use generators safely. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home.

Although CO can’t be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO.

If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately. Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.

What to do about food Keep your food safe by keeping your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about four hours. A full freezer will

keep the temperature for about 48 hours and 24 hours if it is half full if the door remains closed. Use your non-perishable foods and staples after using food from the refrigerator and freezer.

If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and always keep it covered.

Deciding to evacuate At some point you may have to decide if you should stay or go. Your local officials provide

the most important information during emergencies. Sign up to receive free emergency alerts and understand your community’s plan to notify individuals of resources that may be available. Evacuate if your home is too hot or too cold, or if you have medical devices that need power.

Communities often provide shelters, warming or cooling centers, and power charging stations.

Denise Everhart, Pacifıc Division Disaster Executive, American Red Cross

MEDIAPLANET

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5 Steps to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

In order to stay prepared for extreme weather brought on by climate change, you should take these fıve steps.

Storms like last year’s Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change and many communities face a prolonged recovery from back-to-back disasters. On the heels of last year’s record-breaking hurricane season, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association are predicting yet another above-average season with 15 to 21 named storms, including three to five major hurricanes.

At the same time, severe drought and extreme heat are fueling wildfires throughout the west, sending families fleeing and leaving communities in piles of charred ruins. And intense flooding on the scale we have seen in Germany and China is increasingly becoming more common. With global warming, we are likely to see more intense and frequent heatwaves and more moisture in the atmosphere, leading to flash floods and severe weather events.

As we see more unprecedented weather events affecting disaster-prone regions and beyond, here are five steps you can take to be ready before disaster strikes.

1. Make a plan Every family should have an emergency plan that includes a meet-up location to reconnect should you become separated. Keep a contact list of important phone numbers in your phone as well as in your wallet in case you cannot charge your phone.

2. Build a kit Pack an emergency kit with enough food and water for at least three days (one gallon per person per day); first aid supplies; a change of clothes for each person; and COVID-19 protective supplies. Be sure to include the needs of pets and those with special diets.

3. Keep medication on hand Always have at least a seven-day supply of medications on hand and keep it in a go-bag or emergency kit. Pharmacies and doctors’ offices may be closed in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and running out of critically needed medicines can lead to a health crisis during an already difficult and stressful time.

4. Make copies of important documents Keep digital copies of your insurance policies, health insurance cards, vaccination cards, and prescriptions on your phone, in the cloud or a USB memory stick.

5. Stay informed and connected to your community Many counties, municipalities, and police departments have local alert systems you can sign up for in advance. Get to know the community organizations that can provide food, water, medical care, and other assistance should your family need help in a crisis.

Kate Dischino, Vice President of Emergency Programs, Americares

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The Difference Disaster Preparedness Makes Natural disasters are becoming increasingly frequent, but proper preparation can help prevent fınancial and physical loss.

Extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires are deadly, expensive, and becoming more common.

“There are weather risks in every part of the country, you can’t escape it,” said Stephanie Abrams, on-camera meteorologist and co-host of AMHQ for The Weather Channel.

“According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there have been 285 billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. since 1980. Twenty-twenty had a record-setting 22 billion-dollar disasters. Unfortunately, with a changing climate these events have the potential to get more extreme!”

Those 22 weather events in 2020 cost a combined $95 billion in damages, and the average cost of evacuating due to a weather emergency is $5,000 — there’s also the risk of injury or even death as a result of natural disasters. Abrams stressed that the key to surviving both

the financial and physical dangers of extreme weather is being prepared.

Disaster preparedness “Disaster preparedness is essential for everyone because it can save your life,” Abrams noted. “When a storm is about to hit or you’re faced with an emergency situation, having your next steps in place can get you out of harm’s way and be the calm during chaos.”

Abrams said there are simple steps you can take to protect your family. “You should always have a comprehensive survival kit ready to go year-round.”

These kits should generally contain enough food and water for your family for several days, flashlights and batteries, first aid supplies, whistles, dust masks, phone chargers, can openers, and basic tools like pliers and wrenches. Abrams suggests checking to make sure nothing has expired if you haven’t used your emergency kit in a while. While this might seem obvious, it’s estimated that only about 25 percent of Americans have an emergency go-bag.

Abrams suggests being thoughtful about what’s in that bag, too. “It’s good

to pack your kids’ favorite toy or/stuffed animal,” she said. “And get waterproof and /fireproof bags for important documents. Back up your computer and have enough supplies for your pets,” she added, noting that Ready.gov and The Red Cross has comprehensive lists that cover a wide range of needs.

Local knowledge Abrams said that being properly prepared requires knowing what to expect in your area of the country and having the right tools. The only universal is that everyone will see weather that’s more extreme more frequently.

“Hurricane season got off to an early start and this year’s forecast calls for yet another above-average season,” Abrams warned. “It’s always good to remember that these storms don’t just damage coastal cities, but many times travel well inland and can cause not only wind damage but also flooding.”

In addition to weather broadcasts that can keep you apprised of approaching storms, checking with the National Hurricane Center can ensure you’re not taken by surprise

when one of these dangerous weather events approaches.

If hurricanes don’t worry you, chances are the opposite should. “With a worsening drought for the western half of the country there will be an increased risk for wildfires,” Abrams continued. “The temperature trend continues to look above-average for much of the country.

This is not just the case for the summer, but it’s been the overall climate trend for the last several decades and if changes aren’t made the temperatures will continue to rise in this same direction.” Abrams suggests using a drought monitor to keep track of local conditions. What connects all of these scenarios is the potential for serious injury or even death — and the need for proper preparation. Abrams adds that being prepared has benefits that extend beyond the actual emergency. “Good preparations also lead to a quicker recovery,” she notes. “It’s much easier to execute a plan in the aftermath rather than starting from scratch, which can be overwhelming.”

Jeff Somers

MEDIAPLANET

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Everyone has likely experienced loss of power during an extreme weather event. But especially prolonged outages caused by a natural disaster can be hazardous and even life-threatening. Experts agree that the best way to stay safe in the event of an emergency is to prepare ahead of time, including by keeping a backup power source in the household. Gas generators are powerful, but can be tricky to use and unsafe for indoors. But a simple backup battery can keep everyone’s phones charged and power a few essentials like lamps, fans, maybe even a coffee maker, according to EcoFlow, a manufacturer of portable power solutions.

There are also backup batteries that can be safely used indoors and still pack enough of a punch to power even larger appliances for extended periods, either by using extension cords or integrating them into the wiring already in your home. But EcoFlow also cautions against attempting to DIY home wiring integration without help from a professional, can be dangerous for both you and workers restoring power after a blackout.

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It is also important to keep in mind how much energy you actually use before hooking up your backup power station, and remember that you can’t accurately judge how much power an appliance uses based on size alone.

EcoFlow notes, for example, 1 kilowatt-hour can run a refrigerator for 24 hours, but a blow dryer will go through that in 45 minutes. Triage ahead of time by checking how long your particular devices draw from a battery. Keep in mind that it’s not as simple as saying a 3000 watt-hour battery can run a 300-watt device for 10 hours; energy gets used from DC to AC inversion and from the portable power station’s own consumption. EcoFlow’s portable power stations calculate all of this automatically and display an estimate in days, hours, or minutes.

Another helpful tip — remember that batteries store power in DC while wall outlets store in AC, and going from DC to AC uses up power unnecessarily for devices like laptops and phones. Instead of using a wall outlet, you can charge your electronics more effıciently by plugging them directly into a backup battery USB, which uses DC power.

Lynne Daggett

This article has been paid for by EcoFlow.

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We’re Looking at a Busy Hurricane Season In 2021 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year, and the American Red Cross is urging people in hurricane prone areas to get ready now after back-to-back years of record-breaking hurricane seasons.

T

he 2020 hurricane season set records with 30 named storms and the greatest number of billion-dollar disasters to strike the United States in a single year.

While experts do not anticipate the same level of historic storms as last year, NOAA reports this year there could be 13-20 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher, and 6-10 of these could become hurricanes.

Last year was a tragic year for millions of people impacted by disaster and when compounded by the pandemic, took an enormous toll on families.

With the Atlantic hurricane season currently underway (June 1 to November 30), it’s critical for people who live in hurricane prone areas to make their preparedness plans now.

It only takes one storm to devastate a community. With climate change, what was until very recently an episodic series of acute events has become a chronic condition of devastating impacts — leaving families and communities scrambling to prepare. Additionally, so much of our daily lives has changed and evolved with the impacts of COVID-19 and our preparedness plan must continue to evolve as well.

But, preparing for hurricane season doesn’t have to be difficult. Just follow a few steps to help make sure your family is

ready to evacuate or shelter at home if a storm threatens your neighborhood.

Create an evacuation plan Know where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay. Plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency if you have to evacuate. If you already have an emergency plan, update it, review it, and practice it with family members so everyone knows what to do if an emergency occurs.

and how you will get important information, such as evacuation orders. Identify and become familiar with both formal communication sources such as your local news outlets as well as community-based networks through social media and local organizations and community groups. These networks can prove invaluable in navigating recovery from a major disaster.

Build an emergency kit Compile items like a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, supplies for infants or pets, a multi-purpose tool, personal hygiene items, copies of important papers, cell phone chargers, extra cash, blankets, maps of the area, and emergency contact information. If you already have a disaster kit, now is the time to make sure the food and water is not expired and that copies of important documents are up to date. If you’re not evacuated, be prepared for power outages. Have fresh batteries in your flashlights and learn how to use a generator safely.

Be ready Download the free Red Cross Emergency app to help keep you and your loved ones safe with real-time alerts, the location of open Red Cross shelters, and safety advice on hurricanes and other emergencies.

If you do have to evacuate and go to a shelter, we will continue to ensure people have a safe place to stay. Red Cross support of sheltering efforts may be different in each community, depending on local emergency plans and the scale of the disaster. This year, the priority will be to open safe group shelters in most cases for people evacuating in the face of emergencies. Appropriate precautions will stay in place that help to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures, and encouraging social distancing.

Be informed Find out how local officials will contact you during a disaster

Trevor Riggen, Senior Vice President of Disaster Cycles Services, American Red Cross