Hurricane Season: Preparation prevents hurricane devastation Published Aug. 7, 2009 By Ed Dickens 43rd Airlift Wing Installation Emergency Manager POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Hurricane season officially began June 1 and lasts to the end of November. Pope's location can be precarious during hurricane season. Fortunately, the personnel at Pope is knowledgeable about weather conditions that affect our region and alerts people before the hurricane ever gets close to land. It's important for people to check local officials to find out if they reside in a flood plain or flood prone area. Those who elect to evacuate the area should not wait until the storm hits. The roads may be saturated with people evacuating from the coast and moving westward toward Fayetteville. With the rain, winds and traffic snarls, some people could find themselves riding the storm out on a country road in their car. My personal experience of a post-hurricane near-fatality came while I was assigned at Keesler AFB, Miss., during Hurricane George in 1998. I was in charge of recovery actions after the storm passed. The roads were flooded, power lines down, trees blown over, etc., and my team and I were standing in the middle of a road surveying damage to the homes. Some children were playing in the standing water, which was about 2-3 feet deep in areas. We noticed they were gathering around a whirlpool and even the parents came over and were watching and throwing sticks in the middle of it. We ran over and got them away from it. They were dumbfounded about how this whirlpool developed in the middle of the road. One of my troops was standing on the lid of a manhole, which weighed about 80 pounds. The water had come back up through the manhole and blew the lid off. Once the water started receding, it began sucking all the floodwater back into the storm drain. Those children and their parents were mere inches from being pulled into a storm drain and certain death. My point is that the dangers associated with a hurricane are not over until days or weeks after a storm. Stay vigilant and teach your family and friends how to survive a natural disaster like a hurricane. Those who develop a family disaster plan will be calm, cool and collected when disaster hits because they have done their homework, prepared, practiced and trained their family members for what should happen when a disaster hits. Here are the basic components of a comprehensive plan: - Discuss the types of hazards that could affect your family. Know the vulnerability of storm surge, flooding and wind. - Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home from floodwaters and wind, especially tornadoes. If the home is not the safest place to be, identify shelters, either on base or in the community to evacuate to. - Determine the escape routes in your home and neighborhood as well as primary and alternate places to meet if separated during an evacuation. If leaving by vehicle, measure in tens of miles, not hundreds of miles. - Have an out-of-state friend or family as a contact, so everyone in the family can have the same contact. - Make a plan for your pets. Many shelters do not allow pets, so you need to have a place to go that accepts pets. Leaving them home or letting them run wild is not the answer. - Post emergency numbers by the phone and teach your children to dial 911 to report their location. - Make sure to review your homeowners or renters insurance for coverage. Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Build a disaster supply kit with the following items: - Water - one gallon of water daily per person for three to seven days - Food enough for three to seven days, including non-perishable packaged or canned food, juices, foods for infants and the elderly, snack foods, non-electric can opener, cooking tools, fuel, paper plates and plastic utensils - Blankets / pillows, etc. - Clothing - seasonal - First Aid kit / medicines / prescription drugs - Toiletries / hygiene items / moisture wipes - Flashlight / batteries - Battery-operated radio - Telephones - Fully - charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone. - Cash (with some small bills) and credit cards- banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods - Keys - Toys, books and games - Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight plastic bag - Tools - keep a set with you during the storm - Vehicle fuel tanks filled - Pet care items - Use a National Oceanic Atmosphere Administration weather radio. They run on batteries, so keep extra batteries on hand. - Enroll your family in First Aid, CPR or disaster preparedness classes According to the NOAA, knowing what to do in the wake of a severe storm or disaster may be just as important as taking proper actions ahead of the storm. A study of injuries after a tornado in Marion, Ill., showed that 50 percent of the tornado-related injuries were suffered during rescue attempts, cleanup and other post-tornado activities. Nearly a third of the injuries resulted from stepping on nails. Any storm that damages power lines, gas lines, or electrical systems, poses risks like fire, electrocution or explosions. o Be aware of hazards from exposed nails and broken glass. o Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines. Report electrical hazards to the police and the utility company. o If it is dark when you are inspecting your home, use a flashlight rather than a candle or torch to avoid the risk of fire or explosion in a damaged home. o If you see frayed wiring or sparks, or if there is an odor of something burning, immediately shut off the electrical system at the main circuit breaker. o If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open all windows and leave the house immediately. Notify the gas company, the police or fire departments or State Fire Marshal's office, and do not turn on the lights, light matches, smoke or do anything that could cause a spark. Do not return to your house until instructed.