Buzz
The rainy and stormy season is often a stressful time for everyone living in regions frequently affected by storms. These violent winds not only instill fear in those along the storm's path, but also create concern for family and friends of those residing in storm-prone areas. Preparation is essential to cope with the challenges of the storm season, offering peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
Steps
Prepare an emergency disaster kit
Purchase enough food and water to last for several days. Canned food is the most suitable option during events like floods and storms. Remember to check expiration dates to ensure freshness. Always keep these supplies on hand so you can act quickly in case of an emergency.
- Consider buying canned foods that don’t require water or milk.
- Fill your bathtub with water if you plan to stay at home. A medium-sized bathtub can hold enough water for three days. You can also use this water for flushing toilets.
- A hot water tank can store a significant amount of water. A 150-liter tank can provide water for one person for a month.
- The average person needs around liters of water daily. Pets (dogs) need about 1.7 liters per day, and cats need less water.
Prepare your freezer and refrigerator. Do this when a storm is approaching and you need to prepare for a prolonged period. Consume perishable foods first in case of a power outage. Fill your freezer and fridge with bottled water and non-perishable items. The more full your freezer is, the better it will retain cold and maintain low temperatures. The same goes for your refrigerator.
- The more water and liquids you store in your fridge, the longer it will stay cold during a power outage, hopefully until electricity is restored.
- Place ice in plastic bags. Fill the freezer with ice bags. You should also freeze water bottles.
- Read articles on how to preserve frozen food during a power outage for more details.
Prepare your prescription medications. Ensure that you or your family members have enough of the prescription medications you normally take. Some insurance companies may not authorize additional medication until you're close to running out. If necessary, you'll need to buy medications outside of insurance, which can take up to a week to obtain, putting your health at risk. During storm season, you should stock up on medications in case pharmacies are closed due to the storm.
Ensure you have all necessary supplies. You need to stock up on essentials to survive a storm if you're stuck indoors for a week without power, running water, and access to stores. These supplies include light sources (battery-operated or hand-cranked), a can opener, a first aid kit, and hygiene products.
- Print out a first aid guide like this to know what to do in emergencies: http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m55540601_FA-CPR-AED-Part-Manual.pdf.
Always carry emergency supplies with you. Many emergency kit items can be taken with you if you decide to evacuate by car. You won’t have much space for food and water, so you will have to pack only the essentials. However, there are other items you should bring when evacuating to avoid the storm, such as:
- Flares
- Topographic maps
- Battery jumper cables
- Spare fuel tank
Check your disaster supply kit every few months. This ensures that your supplies are fresh and fully stocked. You don’t want to find out in an emergency that you're not prepared. Regularly reviewing and updating your supply list will help with this.
- Inflate air mattresses to ensure they don’t need patching or replacement.
- Use a battery tester to make sure your backup batteries are fully charged.
Reinforce your home
Ensure your home insurance policy is up to date. The storm season is not the ideal time to buy flood insurance, either because it’s unavailable or prohibitively expensive. Most standard home insurance policies do not cover flooding, so you need to purchase additional coverage. If your home is severely damaged by a storm, having this insurance will help you be ready to repair and rebuild after the storm passes.
Reinforce your windows. Close all doors and windows. If you don’t have storm shutters, board up your doors and windows with plywood. This will make it more difficult for the wind and rain to damage your property. You should also reinforce the garage door to protect everything inside. Do this as soon as you hear about an approaching storm to avoid being caught outside when the storm intensifies.
Learn how to turn off gas and electricity in your home. Ensure that all tools required for this task are easily accessible. If you’re unsure of how to do this, contact your utility providers for guidance. When the storm hits, you must be able to take appropriate safety measures. Always listen to the authorities for instructions on when to turn off or on these services.
Trim trees and branches near your home and vehicle parking area. If a large tree falls on your house, it could create a massive hole in the roof. If a tree falls on your car, it might crush it. Cut down dead trees and hire tree services to remove dead branches and trees, while also assessing the health of trees that could potentially fall on your house (or a neighbor's house). This should be done before the storm season, ideally before June.
Purchase a generator. If you have someone in your household with special medical needs or if you rely on air conditioning, investing in a generator can be a lifesaver. Use online calculators to determine the appropriate generator size to avoid purchasing one that’s too powerful for your needs.
- Buy several 20-liter gas cans. Fuel will likely be scarce after the storm, and many gas stations may limit how much fuel they sell when you line up.
- If a generator is not an option, consider buying a DC to AC power inverter for your car. This device allows your car to act as a small generator. Prices range from 500,000 to 2 million VND and can be found in automotive accessory stores. You will also need heavy-duty extension cords to run electricity inside your home.
- Never run the car or gasoline generator inside an enclosed space like a garage due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is deadly.
Design a "safe room." This is to protect you in case your home is damaged. A "safe room" should not have any windows or outside doors, with the best option being a room that only has an interior door. This will be the place where you and your family can take shelter if the storm intensifies. Be sure to stock it with supplies in case you’re forced to retreat there with no other option.
Develop a family hurricane preparedness plan
Stay updated with news. How much you follow the weather channel is up to you, but if you start feeling overwhelmed or panicked, it’s okay to turn it off. Keep in mind that many storms move slowly. When news of a storm breaks, you likely still have days to finalize your plans. However, don't let your guard down or underestimate the situation, as storms can quickly pick up speed or change course unexpectedly. Staying on top of weather forecasts will help you and your family prepare for the worst-case scenario and stay ready to act.
Identify evacuation routes. Check your local government website for information on recommended evacuation routes in case residents need to leave the storm zone. Be sure to consider all the recommended options to know which routes are safest. Have a few backup plans in case you can't leave the house in time due to a fast-approaching storm.
Direct Relief
Humanitarian aid organization
Humanitarian aid organization
Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, advises you to "fill your gas tank before evacuating, as supply shortages and increased demand may limit your ability to fuel up when the storm hits."
Discuss and practice disaster preparedness plans. Make sure everyone in your household knows who to contact and how to stay in touch if you need to leave the area. In case of separation, ensure that all family members know where to go to be safe.
Inform your children. Ensure that children are well-informed so an adult can contact them if evacuation is necessary and you are not nearby. For younger children, write down important contact information or place it on a card for them to hold in case they get separated from you.
- If older children have mobile phones, make sure emergency contacts and phone numbers are saved in their contacts.
Plan your evacuation location in advance. This could be a friend’s or family member’s house where you plan to stay. Discuss this with them ahead of time to ensure they will be at home during the storm. Also, identify the nearest shelter in case you need emergency refuge.
- You should evacuate in the following situations:
- If you live in a mobile home or “garage house,” as these are unsafe even in a Category 1 storm.
- If you live in a high-rise building, where the winds can be extremely strong at higher elevations and may cause the building to sway.
- If you live in a flood-prone area and/or near the coast.
Create copies of your emergency response plan. It’s easy to forget important details, especially when they’re not part of your daily routine. When creating a family storm response plan, it’s best to write it down. Document each step, location, and supplies so that everyone can review it periodically and keep it fresh in their minds. That way, when the storm arrives, everyone can follow the plan instead of scrambling to remember the details.
Save some cash. It’s wise to set aside a small amount of cash for emergencies during a storm. After the storm passes, you can use this money for repairs that aren't covered by insurance. You may also be able to help friends, family, or neighbors who lack coverage, and they’ll surely appreciate your assistance.
Advice
- Communication and cooperation are key. Stick together, work as a team, and pay attention to safety instructions from authorities.
- Avoid windows during the storm.
- A 20-liter bucket lined with a trash bag can serve as an emergency toilet. Alternatively, you could dig a hole in the yard to use as an impromptu toilet. You can also sprinkle cat litter in the bucket between uses. The litter will absorb liquids and allow you to reuse it before disposing of it outside.
- Consider buying a hand-crank flashlight to avoid using batteries, but don’t forget to purchase extra batteries for other battery-powered devices.
- Another option is to buy a car fridge for under 1 million VND. Powered by your car’s battery, this small fridge can store enough food for at least one day and is useful for stocking up on more food as needed.
- If you choose to stay, fill up your bathtub with water before the storm hits to ensure you have enough water for flushing toilets, drinking, cooking, etc.
- Avoid using a standard toilet if there’s no water to flush. Waste will begin to smell inside your home. Each flush consumes about 4 liters of water. Instead, you can line a bucket with a trash bag and use it as a toilet, then take it outside after use.
- Stay away from sharp objects, especially when there are strong winds.
- In many cases, you may not need to follow all the steps or advice in this guide if you're not in the storm's direct path or eye. Just be prepared for heavy rain and strong winds.
- Take valuables with you. For valuables left in the house, pack them in plastic bags and keep them off the ground. Even if you’re evacuating, consider storing photos, insurance documents, and other important papers in a sealed bag.
- If you have pets, make sure they have their license and rabies vaccination tags. Also, don’t forget to attach an ID tag with your pet’s name and your contact number. If your pet isn’t microchipped, it’s a good idea to have it done in case they get lost and need to be reunited with you.
Warning
- Don't be misled when the eye of the storm passes by. It can make you think the storm has passed.
- Always follow the guidance from the Red Cross and local authorities.
- Consider evacuation seriously if: (a) an evacuation order is mandatory; (b) the storm is expected to reach levels 3-5 and you're within 160 km of the coast; (c) you live in a mobile home or tent and the storm, regardless of its intensity, is headed towards your area; or (d) you're unable to secure or reinforce your home.
- Remember that hurricanes can strike anywhere from the Caribbean to the eastern coast of Canada.
- The slower the storm moves, the higher the risk of heavy rain causing flooding. If the storm seems to be moving slowly and you live in a valley, move to higher ground. If the storm is moving rapidly, most damage will be related to wind.
Essential Items You Need
- "Self-powered lights" and "self-powered radios." These devices have built-in generators powered by solar energy and/or manual cranking. They help you save on battery costs, and some can even charge your phone.
- Glow sticks. Safer than candles in the event of gas leaks or flammable chemicals in your area.
- Solar-powered garden lights. You can charge them during the day under sunlight and bring them indoors at night for lighting.
- Canned foods and can openers, fruits, vegetables, and other foods that don't need refrigeration.
- Mobile phones and backup batteries. Solar-powered charging batteries will be helpful in case of prolonged power outages.
- DC to AC power inverter.
- Wet wipes.
- Battery-operated fans are very useful if there's a power outage.
- Extra batteries in various sizes (even if not used during the storm, they'll be useful later). Consider purchasing a car battery for running battery-powered devices indoors.
- Large trash bags for human waste and other garbage.
- Toilet paper and other essential sanitation items.
- Prepare at least one 20-liter bucket and biodegradable cat litter for emergency toilet use.
