Preparations for a hurricane should be in the mind of all of us each time we enter the Summer months. A relatively inactive year says nothing about a lessened risk for a strike in New England. In 1991, it took all the way through the middle of August before the first hurricane of the season showed up...but that didn't stop Hurricane Bob from plowing through the area. Hurricane safety and preparedness-- before, during, and after the storm, should not require an actual event (or anniversary of one) to generate discussion. As such, CBS 3 Springfield has always maintained a comprehensive set of hurricane safety tips, and it is available along side safety guides for other major weather events that threaten New England, simply by clicking here.

When You Prepare For One Disaster...You Prepare For Them All

Brenda Brouillette is the Director of Disaster Services for the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, and she says, with few variations, preparing for a hurricane can be broken down into three easy steps: Making a plan, building a kit, and staying informed. "Making a plan is making sure you have an evacuation route, where you're going to meet." she says. "It's important to have a communications plan as well, including a 'point person' located out-of-state (in an un-affected area) with whom family members could check in and everyone could safely be accounted for." Brenda also stresses the importance of having a plan for pets as well.

"You want to make sure you have a 'disaster supply kit'." Brouillette continues. "In it should contain what you need for 3-5 days worth of supplies. Make sure it has water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, a radio, and especially medications."  This is the sort of thing that make take a little while to accumulate, but it's essential to have things like these on hand to last that long, because of the realities of disaster assistance. "The American public has become so used to instant gratification and instant response that forget (or get annoyed by) how long it really takes. Mobilizing large scale relief efforts takes a lot of time, and firefighters, police, and emergency responders would concentrate on the most critical needs first." In fact, immediately following a hurricane, or an event with widespread devastation, if you know you can go a few days without heading to the hospital ER, you are actually helping when you stay away for a short time.

Staying informed means more than simply having your proverbial antennae up during a storm, though this is certainly a significant bit of it. As Brenda Brouillette explains, "I really encourage people to make sure they talk with their family about being prepared...about what hazards can affect their neighborhood or community..." Part of staying informed is reviewing possible scenarios for disaster events for your area...evacuation routes may change, even your family needs may change. It's always good to update yourself on these matters.

Heed the Call

When a hurricane strikes, and/or when rivers rise, mandatory evacuation orders may be issued (or other mandatory notifications). It is very important that these orders be followed, even if it means leaving your possessions behind (obviously another reason why you should ensure some key items are safely stored at perhaps an alternative secure location). Mandatory calls-to-action are only put in place if there's an imminent threat, so failure to respond appropriately-- or ignoring it altogether, could exact serious additional risk on the part of emergency workers, should you then need rescue hours later at the height of the storm. In some cases, the greater good for emergency personnel is for them to not attempt a rescue, especially for someone who could have simply walked out of their house earlier. A further note from Bob Hassett, Director of Emergency Services for Springfield, Massachusetts, says to always keep your disaster kit with you, even when evacuating to shelter. "If the kit you've created isn't portable...it's too big." Optimally, each kit would go well beyond a generic First-Aid supply, and be personalized to meet the specific needs of those intended. That's why you have to take it with you...and make sure it's possible.

Volunteers Accepted

"We're always welcoming volunteers," says Brouillette, "and we have plans for 'spontaneous volunteers' too" (people who flock to an area after a storm unannounced to help however they can). The best way to volunteer to help for the Red Cross is to identify yourself with them ahead of time. "If you want to be a volunteer, we take applications everyday. We can give you an orientation, and also offer many ongoing training sessions, to keep skills sharp." It's been a long time since a massive volunteer-based disaster relief effort was required on the part of ordinary citizens. One example of this sort of thing would take the form of a huge sand-bagging mission to shore up the levees, dikes, and local flood protection devices that may not be sufficient in a strong storm. "Fortunately, these tasks are relatively simple," Hassett says. "And can be undertaken effectively with minimal advanced training." All that's needed are the volunteers, which make-or-break the effort. However, for volunteers and actual public servants alike, the family unit should be of first concern. "This means that you should have all your individual, family, and property needs taken care of before a storm." It's actually hurtful to the cause if an emergency worker is always thinking of what is left undone for their own family welfare, even as they tend to the needs of others. "You don't want to wait until the last minute (as an emergency responder) to get crucial copies of important documents (for example)." Bob Hassett stresses, "because then you could end up being in line all day with 600 other people when you're needed elsewhere."