- 5. Have a plan.
Americans have been encouraged to have a plan in place in case of a national emergency. It is important to make decisions and plans now to protect your family.
Some of the most heartbreaking stories reported after Hurricane Katrina have been those who have become separated from their loved ones. Be sure everyone in the family knows the name and phone number of an out-of-area relative or friend. This person will be your common contact in case you get separated.
It is a good idea to carry identification on your person. It is a must if you are to get back into your neighborhood after evacuating. In a worse case scenario it provides rescuers information about you if you are found incapacitated, or in an even worse case scenario... dead. Also, consider registering with the National Next of Kin Registry which is an emergency contact system that will help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased.
Make sure you include your pets in your planning. Many communities are now designating at least one shelter that will take pets. This is a direct result of what was learned from last year's hurricanes. People are often hesitant to leave their homes when ordered to evacuate because they don't want to leave their pets behind. Check with the emergency planning office in your community to see what shelter will allow pets. Also, plan on getting there early. These shelters will fill up quickly.
6. Evacuate if necessary.
If your area is under an evacuation order, get out! It is tempting to stay behind to protect your property, but things can be replaced... you can't. It is equally tempting to think you'll be more comfortable in your own home than in a shelter. You probably will be... until the power goes out and water forces you abandon your home and climb onto your roof to await rescue.
Some have never been in a hurricane and have no reference as to how quickly the weather can turn ugly. If you are evacuating, do so early enough not to get caught on the highway.
Also, many along Katrina's path made a fatal error in judgement when they stayed because their houses survived Hurricane Camille years earlier. This time they weren't as fortunate. Never compare one storm to another. Remember, hurricanes are unpredictable.
If you are elderly or disabled and live in an evacuation zone, it is important to register with your county emergency management office who can make arrangements for transportation to an appropriate shelter. This should be done in advance of the hurricane season.
If you live in Florida, Hurricane Katrina should be a wake up call. There are no do-overs if you make the wrong decision.
7. After-the-storm safety.
Don't be in a hurry to go outside or travel after the storm is over. Remain indoors until the "all clear" is given. This is no time to sightseeing. Give officials time to clear roadways of debris and fallen power lines.
It is amazing to me that after every hurricane in Florida come tragic deaths from generators. This hurricane was no different and at least two deaths in South Florida were attributed to carbon dioxide poisoning from running generators inside a house. Generators cannot be run inside because they put out carbon dioxide. Always, ALWAYS place a generator outside. Until there are no after-storm deaths from generators, this can't be repeated enough.
It will be the lessons learned though from Katrina that will help officials plan for future storms. Those plans need to include better pre-hurricane season education and planning, better sheltering and better disaster relief.
If we've learned anything though, it has to be that it is ultimately up to each one of us to be responsible for our own family. It is each one of us that must make disaster plans, gather supplies for kits and research whether we should stay in our homes or evacuate... our lives depend on it.
