How Can You Be A Force Of Nature?

by Carmen Wright, volunteer contributor

As we have all experienced in the last few weeks, weather patterns in Texas can be unpredictable. Prepare yourself for all the severe weather we see here in North Texas—tornadoes, droughts, flooding, and even snowstorms—by joining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) campaign to  “Be a Force of Nature” by taking the following steps:

STAY INFORMED:

•    Visit www.weather.gov
This site has it all: an interactive map of the U.S. that provides forecast for the entire country or just your little corner of Texas; active alerts so you know what is going on right now; maps showing air quality and rainfall; maps of weather history; radar of current weather systems and other data.

•    Check out STATE OF THE CLIMATE
I admit I did not know this site existed, but now that I know I’ve turned into a complete weather nerd. It provides helpful summaries, maps, and graphs of weather trends in the U.S. You can read the report for January 2015 and see how we started the year or go back and see national monthly percent area for drought since 1900!

•    Follow weather on Social Media
Let’s be honest; if you can have time to follow tweets for #foodiebandnames (one of my favorites is Nine Inch Kales), then you have time in your life for helpful tweets from the National Weather Service and NOAA.

•    Get the Red Cross Tornado App
Get real-time tornado alerts and warnings on your phone, take a quiz to see how prepared you are, get access to 63 years of tornado history, and learn what to do before, during and after a tornado.

PREPARE YOURSELF:

•    Make a disaster supply kit
At the very least this should include one gallon of water per person per day for three days, flashlight, three-day supply of non-perishable food, whistle, first aid kit, battery powered or hand-cranked radio, a NOAA radio, extra batteries, wrench or pliers, local map, moist toilettes, manual can opener, and cell phone with charger.

Have a Family Emergency Plan
 Being prepared is great, but make sure you have communicated plans to family members on where to go for safety, how you will contact each other, how you will find each other, and what you will do in different situations.  Also consider your bigger family: your community. If your work, school, or place of worship does not have an emergency plan, volunteer to help create one. Finally, don’t forget to include your pets in your plans!

LIVE LONG and BE PREPARED! 

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Earl Reminds Us to Always be Prepared

Hurricane Earl has battered the northeastern Caribbean with heavy rain and sustained winds of 135 mph causing flooding and power outages. This category 4 storm is on a path projected to hit the East Coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Center warns residents from North Carolina to Maine to monitor the storm. These types of storms are a great reminder that it is important to be prepared.

The American Red Cross offers a training program "Disaster Volunteer Reserve," where individual volunteers can attend a short boot-camp training and will only be called upon when a catastrophic disaster strikes. Taking this proactive step ensures that you are in a position to help. The Dallas Area Chapter is offering several classes in September at various times and days.

The news of this current storm brings back the horrific imagines generated by Hurricane Katrina just five years ago. While many people have taken action, it is never too late to be "Ready When The Time Comes." This is a corporate volunteer program that will train shelter workers in advance of a storm.

Hurricanes are strong storms with the potential to create hazards such as flooding, storm surge, high winds and tornadoes. Preparation is the best protection against these dangers. For more information you can review the Hurricane Safety Checklist.

Whether you take action as an individual or as a company, please consider being prepared before disaster strikes.

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Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

By now, I hope you know how to be prepared. (If not, click here. Then, read this blog.)

But, do you know your animal disaster preparedness?

Yes, there is such a thing.

FEMA declared Saturday, May 8 as the first National Animal Disaster Preparedness day.

It makes sense, doesn't it?

You are a master of preparedness. So, your pets should be your personal preparedness understudies.

I have included a couple pet preparedness tips to put into practice. Say THAT five times fast.

If you have to evacuate, take your pets with you. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your dog, cat, rabbit, bird, rodent, llama, etc.

Create a animal disaster kit with seven days worth of supplies. It should include food, water, medication, treats, litter, litter box, etc. Make sure you include a photo of your pet and an out of state emergency contact. You can put your animal emergency kit in your pet's carrier - two birds, one stone... so to speak.

As you know, your pet needs a plan - just like you. Enlist a trusted neighbor or nearby family member to get your pets and their emergency kits to safety. Make sure they know your animals favorite hiding spot (under the bed... in a potted plant... hanging from the fan) and how to get them to you.

Now your pets can be... Preparedness Dog!

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Preparedness tip of the week: Practice, Practice, Practice!

At least twice a year, conduct fire drills and tornado drills. Try evacuating your home and drive your planned escape route. Also, check your back-up route in case an emergency blocks you main choice.

While you are doing all this practicing, you should also update you phone numbers, supplies and review your plan with everyone.

Now go and practice, practice, practice!

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