Title:
Hurricane Season 2006: Four Steps To An Efficient Evacuation.

Word Count:
887

Summary:
It’s hard to believe it’s already hurricane season, and it’s also hard to believe that this season is projected to be as bad as or worse than last year’s season that saw hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. We’re here to help you prepare, but rather than repeat the usual “flashlight and first aid kit” disaster preparedness checklist, we’re going to give you a few details that will help your family plan an efficient evacuation should a severe hurricane threaten your area.

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Keywords:
disaster preparedness,hurricane,hurricane preparedness,family disaster plan,evacuation

Article Body:
It’s hard to believe it’s already hurricane season, and it’s also hard to believe that this season is projected to be as bad as or worse than last year’s season that saw hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. We’re here to help you prepare, but rather than repeat the usual “flashlight and first aid kit” disaster preparedness checklist, we’re going to give you a few details that will help your family plan an efficient evacuation should a severe hurricane threaten your area.

One of the most crucial assets in any emergency situation is time, and nowhere is time more important than in an evacuation. When the evacuation order is given, all you want to have to do is go. A safe and speedy evacuation does two things. First, it gets you and yours out of the way before the massive traffic gridlock takes place, and two, if enough people evacuated earlier, this gridlock won’t be as bad for the people who did not prepare as they should have.

Let’s look at a few ideas that will save you considerable time in an evacuation scenario and help keep your family safe. Going with that theme, let’s use the word S.A.F.E. to cover these hurricane preparedness topics, namely Shutters, Accessories, Fuel, and Evacuation.

1. Shutters. Get your shutter materials today. If you plan to protect your windows and doors before you evacuate, get the materials you need now, and prep so you can put these shutters up by yourself. For example, if plywood is your choice material, you should already have it on your property somewhere and cut (for fit and manageability) and labeled as to which opening it covers. Have small hooks over each window and corresponding holes in the plywood so you can hang the shutter in place by yourself while you drill in the screws. During an emergency, you shouldn’t waste time and money gathering materials you should already have, and you don’t want to tie up other people performing chores that could be done by one person.

2. “Accessories” covers both your household supplies and your evacuation gear. One common time waster is standing in line at the grocery store for consumables you should already have, so get your food and water now. You should always have between 2 and 4 weeks worth of food in your home (including pet supplies), and you should continually rotate your stock so you don’t have a separate stash that reaches its expiration dates and is lost. Besides, if you’re stocked ahead of time, you’re helping others by being out of their way when they make last-minute shopping trips. Also, you want to have adequate supplies of food and water on hand after the storm when stores will be closed or empty, and you won’t have the time, money, or gasoline to shop.

Next, keep a “Bugout Kit” packed 24/7 with a “last-minute list” on top. In an evacuation, you should grab your kit, your few last minute items that could not be prepacked (such as perishable medications, etc.), and be out the door. Your kits should be inexpensive, second-hand backpacks or wheeled suitcases, and they should be packed as if you were going on a two-week trip with only “carry-on luggage.” Pack what you need, but pack lightly. Also, you must have copies of important documents (hardcopies and computer disks) including insurance papers, household inventories (with photos), child ID kits, etc. Having your paperwork with you is the only way to make sure you get your life back in order as quickly as possible. (For the very basics, see http://turkiyespot.com/turkiyespot.com/redcross.org</a>, or http://turkiyespot.com/turkiyespot.com/ready.gov</a>. For a “Last-Minute List,” write us at info@disasterprep101.com.)info@disasterprep101.com.)