Preparing for Hurricane Florence or for Any Serious Natural Emergency

DEAR READERS, it's a day to take a break from our regular discussion and concentrate on Hurricane Florence. • • • TRACKING FLORENCE'S LANDFALL. We still don't know exactly when or exactly where Hurricane Florence will make landfall. But, we are hearing a lot about the kind of damage it could do. • At 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Fox News said the Category 4 storm shows catastrophic devastation is possible. Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean reported from New York on a recent simulation of a Cat 4 hurricane made by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Argonne National Laboratory. The fictional simulation showed that : "A 15-foot storm surge, up to nine inches of rainfall in some areas, downed powerlines and widespread power loss would be among the devastating results of a Category 4 hurricane striking the Mid-Atlantic region head on." • And, with that simulation as background, we find that as of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, Florence was about 485 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Experts are concerned the hurricane could produce a disaster comparable to 2005’s Hurricane Katrina in a part of the country that is famously difficult to evacuate. The Hurricane National Center (HNC) said Florence could bring storm surges upwards of nine feet in most areas across the shoreline and up to 13 feet in areas between Cape Fear and Cape Lookout, North Carolina. They also forecast up to 40 inches of rainfall in some isolated areas of the Carolinas. FEMA says the biggest concern is this : "What I fear is that saturation, combined with a storm that kind of stalls out." • At noon ET on Wednesday, Fox News reported that Hurricane Florence, still a Category 4 storm, was driving toward the Carolinas on the US East Coast, packing winds of 130mph and moving at about 17mph. Governors and lawmakers from three states in the “monster” storm’s path have ordered mass evacuations for more than a million people. The governor of North Carolina, whose state -- alongside South Carolina and Virginia -- is forecast to see “life-threatening storm surge” and “damaging winds,” warned residents of the potential extreme conditions. The National Hurricane Center issued a warning on Tuesday : "@NHC_Atlantic #Florence is likely to cause damaging hurricane-force winds along parts of the coasts of South & North Carolina, & a Hurricane Watch is in effect for some of this area. Damaging winds could also spread well inland into portions of the Carolinas & Virginia http://hurricanes.gov." North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tweeted : "This storm is a monster. It's big and it's vicious. It is an extremely, dangerous, life-threatening, historic hurricane. The waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you've ever seen. Even if you've ridden out storms before, this one is different. Don't bet your life on riding out a monster.” • On Tuesday, President Trump received a personal update on Florence by FEMA administrator Brock Long and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.and the President vowed that the government was prepared to respond to the impending hurricane, adding that the public’s safety was his “absolute highest priority.” FEMA administrator Brock Long warned in a presentation in the Oval Office that the hurricane will be a "devastating event" and urged people to evacuate if they've been asked to leave their homes. He said electric power could be out for weeks. President Trump tweeted : "@realDonaldTrump. The safety of American people is my absolute highest priority. Heed the directions of your State and Local Officials. Please be prepared, be careful and be SAFE! https://www.ready.gov/" President Trump has declared states of emergency for the Carolinas, as well as Virginia, and canceled campaign events Thursday and Friday in anticipation of the storm. • • • PREPARE FOR HURRICANE FLORENCE. We are in the last 24 hours or so of time to prepare for Hurricane Florence's landfall. Many shops are shuttered. A lot of the grocery stores still open are either low on or already out of needed suplies like bottled water, canned foods and batteries. But, FEMA and Ready.gov have offered advice online about how to prepare for Florence. And, the list of items for an emergency kit are not limited to Hurricane Florence, but can be assembled and ready for other natural disasters like floods. • When a hurricane, other severe storm or flood is 36 hours away : “Restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include food and water sufficient for at least three days, medications, a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.” Ready.gov also encourages going over evacuation routes and locations -- as well as being sure to have a system in place for connecting with loved ones when there are power outages. Vehicles also should be ready to go. “Keep your car in good working condition, and keep the gas tank full; stock your vehicle with emergency supplies and a change of clothes,” the preparedness site advises. • When a hurricane, other severe storm or flood is 18 to 36 hours away : Take in and store securely “loose, lightweight objects” like trash bins and trimming trees which could hit buildings. Conceal windows with shutters or boards. • When a hurricane, other severe storm or flood is 6 to 18 hours away : Charge cell phones, PCs and tablets. Fill your clean bathtub with fresh water. If you don't have a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert now, remember to but one online before the next emergency. They run constantly with the latest informlation for your area pinpointed. • When a hurricane, other severe storm or flood is just 6 hours away : If you’re not in an area that is recommended for evacuation, plan to stay at home or where you are and let friends and family know where you are. Put refrigerators and freezers on the coldest-possible option, and avoid windows. People who are not in evacuation areas should check for “the latest weather updates and emergency instructions” in half-hour intervals. • • • THE FEMA / Ready.gov RECOMMENDED CONTENTS FOR AN EMERGENCY KIT. A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items : Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation // Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food // Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert // Flashlight // First aid kit // Extra batteries // Whistle to signal for help // Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place // Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation // Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities // Manual can opener for food // Local maps // Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery. • FEMA / Ready.gov also provides a list of Additional Emergency Supplies that you can add your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs : Prescription medications // Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antihistamines, antacids or laxatives // Glasses and contact lense solution // Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream // Pet food and extra water for your pet // Cash or traveler's checks // Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved lectronically on a thumb drive, all put in a waterproof, portable container // Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person // Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes stored in a plastic bag // Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water // Fire extinguisher // Matches in a waterproof container // Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items // Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils // Paper and pencil // Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children. Such an Emergency Kit makes sense for every household. As expiration dates arrive, simply use what's getting old and replace it. • • • LAST BITS OF ADVICE. On Wednesday morning, President Trump urged caution to residents refusing to evacuate coastal towns, tweeting : "@realDonaldTrump. Hurricane Florence is looking even bigger than anticipated. It will be arriving soon. FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement are supplied and ready. Be safe!" The President then released a video urging residents in affected areas to “get out of its way. Don’t play games with it – it’s a big one, may be as big as they’ve seen." You can watch the video at < https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1039831904109948928 >. • As Hurricane Florence, a Category 4 storm, drives toward the Carolinas, everyone is sending good thoughts, praying for everyone's safety, and promising help when Florence has passed into history. I have been in regular contact with a dear friend who lives on the South Carolina coast. My friend sent me an email this morning that rang so true. She and a friend were sitting on the friend's porch having coffee on a warm sunny blue-skied Wednesday morning when one of them said to the other, "Imagine what it must have been like 200 years ago when there were no warnings and a hurricanne just appeared on the horizon and came swooping in with its devastation, probably killing many." There are a lot of warnings, advice, shelters, evacuation routes, and other help available today. Don't fail to take advantage of them. And, above all, listen to the professionals. If they tell you there will be 4-6-12 foot storm surges, or 130mph winds that can rip off roofs -- believe them. If they err on the side of caution, you will still be safe. But, if you err on the side of "riding it out," you may not live to see another sunny morning. BE SAFE. GOD BLESS EVERYONE.