What to Do During a Disaster
In these dog days of the summer, disasters, natural or otherwise, happen every day. Though only 1,000 tornadoes occur annually, and a significantly smaller number of hurricanes, the chances of one hitting your town are higher than you might think. But that doesn’t mean you have to be left in the dust when they do. Here are three simple, but extremely helpful, tips that can spare you some stress and trouble if a disaster ever comes your way. Stock Up If the power gets knocked out in your neighborhood, which happens very often, it means that along with your light and electricity, your means for cooking and heating are gone. So prior to the disaster - not during and certainly not after - it’s best to stock up on non-perishable and canned foods that can be easily accessed if need be. Check out this list of 7 Survivalist Foods Every Family Should Stock Up On. Along with those foods, like crackers and granola bars, emergency supplies should be designated as well. A backup can opener or two for the food will suffice, but you can never have too many flashlights, candles, or spare batteries around for navigating around the house. Band With Neighbors If anybody understands all the emotions you’re going through during a time like this - fear, frustration - it’s those who are dealing with the same thing. If you haven’t already formed a relationship with your neighbors, now is the time to do it. Not only can banding together provide emotional support, it provides the opportunity to get more help and more information. Have an uncharged cell phone and no electricity to do anything about it? Borrow a phone from a neighbor and see how they’re doing while you’re at it. Things not progressing quickly enough in your part of town? Exchange important contacts and allow everyone to have a contributing hand in making that difference. Stay Cool Staying cool in both mind and body is an essential aspect of safely surviving a natural disaster. When tornadoes or hurricanes hit, they also tend to bring with them severe bouts of heat. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), to avoid fainting and heat stroke, two very real possibilities, there are a few things to do at all times. Along with drinking a glass of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, you should stay in light colors and loose clothing, and try to engage in strenuous activity or work only during cooler hours of the day. And though this might seem the most allowable time to be panicked, it is in fact the least healthy time. The more panicked you allow yourself to be, the more you put yourself at risk. According to a recent article from the New Orleans Mental Health Examiner, a clear head is the most important thing to have during a natural disaster. “If a person practices how to keep him or herself mentally calm during a disaster, the evacuation or reaction will go smoother than if a person is panicked.” The article continues, “A person can prepare him or herself mentally by reminding him or herself that natural disasters can be frightening and dangerous, but disasters are survivable given that a person is prepared to act.” If you’re interested in the worldwide relief efforts for destructive natural disasters, check out Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that provides “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.” Having never experienced a natural disaster before, Faithlynn Morris was shocked when a tornado unexpectedly hit her Connecticut town. She soon found, though, that it doesn’t always take much to make it through a disaster of that caliber - in her case, simple preparation and calm thinking made quite the difference.
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