Emergency Preparedness – Summer Storms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes

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Emergency preparedness isn’t something that should only be left to professionals. The more basic preparedness needs that each family or individual can prepare for themselves, the less stress there will be placed on emergency management services. Summer storms, tornadoes and hurricanes often come with damaging winds and rain, and have similar preps even though they occur in different areas of the country. (Side note – the United States has more tornadoes each year than any other country, averaging over 1000 per year, but the United Kingdom has the highest number of tornadoes per unit of land area, per foreignpolicy.com). Everyone should take the time to make these basic emergency preparedness preps, no matter what region you live in. They may just save your life and the lives of those you care about.

Step One: Have am Emergency Preparedness plan

If you’ve lived in an area for a while, you’re probably aware of what types of severe weather you should expect. If not, there are online tools to help you determine the risk in your area.

• FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) offers a website that maps historical flooding.
• NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) offers a site that provides images of historical hurricane tracks and one for hurricane preparedness.
• The National Weather Service offers the StormReady site, which covers thunderstorms/tornadoes, hurricanes, floods/flash floods, fire weather and tsunamis.
• The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) offers tornado emergency planning.

Once you’ve identified the threats, you can then plan appropriately.

For instance, in areas that face high winds, you’ll want to have a “safe room” or sheltered area in your home where the family can gather. The preferred safe room location is an interior or basement room with strong overhead support. ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) or concrete safe rooms can be retrofitted into existing homes in basements or at ground level. Avoid windows and open areas. Mobile homes and vehicles are not safe. Low ground that will not flood offers better protection.

For flood prone areas, know your evacuation routes and be wary of driving through open water. Flood waters often have very strong currents that can sweep even large vehicles off the road. Also, murky waters may conceal a washed out or otherwise damaged road.

DO NOT TRY TO SWIM THROUGH FLOOD WATERS UNLESS YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. A quick online search shows how quickly a person can be swept away. Should you choose to remain in your home, decide in advance how you will cope with potential water damage. Flood insurance is highly recommended. See 20 Things I Wish I Had Before a Flash Flood Emergency for more flood information.

Step Two: Prep Your Emergency Preparedness Essentials

A BOB (Bug Out Bag), EEK (Emergency Evacuation Kit), ALICE (Advanced Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment), and GOODY (Get Out Of Dodge, Y’all) – call it whatever you want, it’s the basics your family would need to survive for 72 hours. Even if you’re sheltering in your home, it’s good to have everything you need in one spot.

The simplest options are probably lidded buckets and backpacks, but you’ll need to decide what’s the most practical for your family. Each family member should have basics for themselves in case you get separated, some family members will likely need to carry additional group supplies.

Each family is different, so every kit will be different, but there are some things we all need.

FOOD

Pack foods that are durable, nourishing and calorie dense. In disaster situations, you’ll want all the calories you can get. Foods that do not require cooking are preferred. Make sure to seal the food in water-proof packaging. Jerky and granola bars are personal favorites. Premade foods such as stews or soups, canned and dehydrated fruits, chocolate, nuts, coconut oil (I can personally eat the stuff straight), drink mixes – plan for foods you know your family will eat. (Make sure to feed them ahead of time just to check. You don’t want a tired, hungry toddler refusing everything in your stash.)

WATER

You can be surrounded by flood waters and not have a drop that’s safe to drink. Plan for 1-2 gallons of water storage per person per day to start. Include purification tablets or other portable filtration methods in your kit. If you need to evacuate, be sure to include potable water in your evacuation supplies. If you have animals, they will need safe water, too. 3 Emergency Water Filtration Options to Get the Funky Chunks Out features improvised methods that may be suitable for cleaning larger amounts of water for stock use, such as cloth filtration. (Some fabrics work much better than others, some don’t work well at all.)

See Emergency Water Storage and Filtration – What You Need to Know for more detailed information on water storage and filtration.

CLOTHING

One set of warm, dry, durable clothes for everyone, plus extra underwear and socks is a must. Include appropriate outerwear and footwear, or have them readily accessible in your home. See Emergency Underwear and Socks for more info on the best skivvies for prepping.

BEDDING

Thermal blankets use the least space, but you may wish to include all weather sleeping bags and/or wool blankets, primarily for comfort.

SHELTER

A heavy duty tarp with heavy grommets (remember, we’re dealing with strong winds) can be used to block out wind and rain. Depending on space, a tent may also be an option. Don’t forget rope to secure the tarp. A 50′ length of sturdy nylon cord is probably the minimum you want to include.

SANITATION

In severely damaged areas, disease outbreaks following the event can sicken and even kill more people than the initial tragedy (think Haiti). You need to deal with waste. A five gallon bucket is probably the simplest option, but a camping toilet is compact and potentially more sanitary. See DIY Portable Toilet, Plus Tips to Get Rid of Smells for instructions to make a basic bucket toilet.

I’m thinking of investing in one of those gadgets that makes it convenient for females to pee standing up. Diapers and feminine hygiene items should also be included as needed, and wet wipes will be a plus when there’s no running water.

Don’t forget the toilet paper! I remember my father-in-law telling me about how when American troops first invaded Europe in WWII, they brought extra ammo. Later, they packed extra toilet paper. It’s something you don’t want to do without.

FIRST AID KIT

Buy or prepare a basic first aid kit. Band-aids, large bandages, gauze, ace bandages, an eye wash glass, a first aid manual, pain killers, antibiotic ointment, and liquid bandage (my favorite brand is 3-M, New-Skin stings like crazy) should all be included. Don’t forget any prescriptions medications. See Preparedness – First Aid Kit and Medical Supplies for a detailed list of first aid preps.

LIGHT/EMERGENCY RADIO

We received an emergency radio as a gift last Christmas, that includes an LED light. It can be charged using a hand crank or a built in solar panel. There are a number of options for LED emergency lights, or you can use a propane lantern, which also provides some heat. (Make sure you have fuel and adequate ventilation.)

HEAT/COOKING

Small camp stoves or sterno containers can be used to heat food and provide some warmth to the shelter. Don’t forget to check out the post “Emergency Cooking – 10 Ways to Have a Hot Meal When the Power Goes Out“.

PERSONAL

Toothbrush, hairbrush/comb, glasses, cash, purse/wallet, and whatever else makes you feel a little more human and helps you to get by. It’s a good idea to keep important documents (like your insurance policies and bank records) in a secure container that can be easily carried along.

These guidelines are adapted from the the Crisis Preparedness Handbook, which I highly recommend.

Step Three: Prepare Your Home for Summer Storms and High Winds

If you are looking modify an existing home, roofs and windows are the areas most susceptible to damage. Properly installed heavy duty shutters are much more secure than plywood, which is likely to fly off under high winds. Hurricane ties can be added in the attic to stabilize the roof and support structure of the home. Contact a trusted local home contractor that is experienced in hurricane or tornado preparedness (ask around, or contact you local emergency management department).

We live in an ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) house. It was a little more expensive, but I feel that it was well worth the investment. ICF homes have excellent resistance to damage from tornadoes, hurricanes, high winds and other impacts. The images in this document from the Insulated Concrete Form Association provide vivid examples. ICF safe rooms can be retrofitted into existing homes. They typically cost several thousand dollars, but if you are in a high risk area, it could literally save your life.

May you and your loved ones stay safe and protected.

View other Preparedness posts, including:

• Emergency Power Options for Your Home
• Top 10 Real Foods to Store Without Electricity
• How to Build a Safe Room in Your Home

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Originally posted April 2011, updated May 2016.

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