Posted: 8/30/2023
Key to survival is having a plan, practicing it
While the dog days of summer left most of us barking about the heat and humidity these past few months, the thought of cooler temperatures is a welcome relief. But while the drop in degrees can be refreshing it can also mean weeks of unsettled weather.
Each year about a thousand tornadoes touch down in the United States, far more than any other country. Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas make up “tornado alley” where destructive storms strike regularly in the spring and fall. Since January, there have been 1,028 confirmed tornadoes in the United States. Worldwide, 97 tornado-related deaths have been confirmed to date, 74 of them in the US.
And while severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are the primary cause for concern for North Texans, those who travel to the coast are reminded that hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted the country could see between 12 and 17 named storms in 2023. Of those, five to nine could become hurricanes, of which one to four could become major hurricanes. Already this season there have been two hurricanes to hit the U.S. – Hilary, which slammed the Southern California coast on Aug. 21, and Idalia, which made landfall in Florida this morning.
Planning is key to staying safe, said Chris Noah, MS, CHSP, Parkland Health’s Director of Disaster Management, who made note of Hurricane Nicholas, that struck the eastern part of Matagorda Peninsula in September 2021. At landfall the winds were 75 mph, making it a minimal hurricane, but Noah said the impacts from hurricanes such as Harvey, Rita and Katrina were felt as far north as the Metroplex.
“People plan for vacation, they plan what they’re going to have for dinner, they plan who they’re going out with on Saturday night, but they don’t plan for negative things like tornadoes, floods, fires or even car crashes,” Noah said. “The majority of people don’t plan for something that they don’t think will ever happen.”
But planning ahead, Noah said, could mean the difference between life and death. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognize September as National Preparedness Month, which serves as a reminder that everyone should take action to prepare, now and throughout the year, for the types of emergencies that could affect people where they live, work and visit. The theme this year is “Prepared, Not Scared. Be Ready for Disasters.”
It begins with creating a family communication plan starting with one simple question, “What if?”
“What if I’m separated from my family when something happens? Does everyone know what they’re supposed to do? If I’m at work, will I be able to take my usual route home or is there a backup plan for these types of emergencies,” Noah said. “These are the things you have to plan for because you don’t know when roads will be flooded or trees and power lines will be blocking the road. And what if communication towers are down and mobile phones or computers won’t work, what will you do then?”
Planning in advance will help ensure that all the members of your household, including children and people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, as well as outside caregivers, know how to reach each other and where to meet in an emergency.
Officials with DHS say planning starts with three easy steps:
- Collect – create a paper copy of the contact information for your family and other important people/offices, such as medical facilities, doctors, schools or service providers. It is also important to identify someone outside of your community who can act as a central point of contact to help those in your family reconnect. In a disaster it may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town because local phone lines can be jammed.
- Share – Make sure everyone carries a copy in his or her backpack, purse or wallet. You should also post a copy in a central location in your home, such as your refrigerator or family bulletin board.
- Practice – Have regular household meetings, especially during hazardous weather season, to review and practice your plan.
“The bottom line is no one thinks something bad is going to happen to them, and in most cases it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t. It’s not a matter of if something is going to happen, it’s when,” Noah said. “That’s why having answers to the ‘ifs’ is critically important. Planning today could mean a safer tomorrow.”
For information about services at Parkland, please visit www.parklandhealth.org