Episode # 93, "Lessons Learned From Hurricanes"
For more information on being prepared for hurricanes, you might consider listening to these previous podcast episodes:
- Episode # 62, "Prepping For Hurricanes And Other Weather Related SHTF."
- Episode # 34, "Preparing For Hurricanes"
- Episode #53, "Dealing With Heat Related Illnesses"
In a news briefing just ahead of hurricane Ida, a government official said, "the first 72 hours are on you"
Another said, "If you call 911, we can't help you"
That's why we've say stay prepped for a minimum of a week on your own, but a month is even better.
Lessons:
Help Isn't coming
- No EMS
- No Firefighters
- No Law enforcement
- The time comes when it is just too dangerous to put personnel in harms way
If you ignore an evacuation order, do you really have a right to ask someone else to risk their life to come to you when you should have evacuated?
When help does come, it will be delayed.
- They must triage & prioritize
- Why proficiently in first aid is so important
- Why having a well stocked first aid kit is so important
- Why storing medications is so important
People get displaced
- Have an evac plan
- Motels get filled to the north
- May be better to go east or west by 100 miles
- Take a weeks worth of clothes when evacuating, extra shoes, at least one of which is sturdy work or walking shoes/books
Some people lose everything
- Preps should be split to store in several areas, even if it is two areas inside the same house, or in the house and the garage
The power goes out
- Generator
- Have enough fuel stored for generator to last several weeks.
- Run generators outdoors only
- Carbon monoxide KILLS !
- Cannot be used indoors, in the garage, or below open windows.
- Safest to have a battery operated CO detector nearby
- Batteries & inverter for CPAP and life sustaining equipment
Keep a Lights out kit
- Flash lights
- LED lanterns
- Headlamps
- Glow sticks
Plan for aux heat & cool
- Propane heater for cold weather
- Window unit A/C w/ generator for hot weather
Food delivery stops for a while
- No pizza delivery, no Steak Out, no Grub Hub
- Be prepared to either cook food with a non-electric method, or have plenty of no prep needed foods.
Food may not be available
- Grocery stores are closed due to damage
- There are power outages
Cash becomes king
- Credit/debit cards may not work
- ATMs can go down due to power outage, Internet outage, or being empty.
Plan for mosquitoes
- There is a lot of standing water after hurricanes. Be prepared with insect repellant.
Communications are interrupted
- Cable TV gets interrupted
- Cellular network are quickly overloaded
- Text msg uses less bandwidth and may work when voice doesn't
- Have a battery operated AM/FM for local information, with extra batteries.
- It's a good time to have ham radio, if you have the license.
- Check out episodes #16 & #25
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