Parkland officials offer tips for stormy weather
Prepare for the worst when Mother Nature strikes
September is National Preparedness Month, a time to encourage individuals and families to prepare for emergencies before they happen. While no one can predict when disaster will strike, having a plan and emergency supplies in place can help protect lives when every second counts.
“Disasters rarely happen when it’s convenient,” said Chris Noah, MS, cABCF, Director of Disaster Management and Business Continuity at Parkland Health. “The best time to prepare is before severe weather is in the forecast. Taking a few simple steps today can help protect you and your loved ones when an emergency occurs.”
North Texans face a variety of weather-related hazards throughout the year, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, extreme heat and winter storms. Because conditions can change quickly, Parkland encourages residents to stay informed through trusted weather alerts and understand what actions to take before an emergency develops.
Parkland recommends taking a few simple steps before severe weather strikes:
- Sign up for emergency weather alerts on your mobile phone.
- Know the difference between a weather watch and a warning. A watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather, while a warning means dangerous weather is occurring or imminent and immediate action should be taken.
- Identify the safest place in your home, workplace or school to shelter during severe weather.
- Assemble an emergency kit with water, nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, phone chargers and important documents.
- Develop a family communication plan so everyone knows where to meet and how to contact one another if separated.
- Check on older adults, neighbors and others who may need assistance during or after a storm.
Noah also reminds residents to avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather and never drive through flooded roadways.
“Flash flooding can occur quickly, and it’s impossible to know how deep moving water may be,” Noah said. “Turn around, don't drown. It’s simply not worth risking your life.”
Preparedness is equally important in healthcare settings. Parkland regularly conducts emergency preparedness exercises and disaster drills to ensure physicians, nurses and staff are ready to respond to a wide range of emergencies while continuing to provide safe patient care.
“If severe weather threatens our campus, we have established plans to protect our patients, visitors and employees,” Noah said. “We train year-round because preparation builds confidence, improves coordination and helps us respond quickly when emergencies occur.”
Parkland’s commitment to emergency preparedness has deep roots. In 1957, a tornado narrowly missed the hospital, and Parkland cared for 175 emergency patients within two hours of the storm. Today, that same commitment to preparedness continues through ongoing training, planning and collaboration with community partners to ensure the health system is ready to respond when disasters occur.
For additional emergency preparedness resources, visit Ready.gov and the National Weather Service. To learn more about services available at Parkland Health, visit www.parklandhealth.org.
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