How to Prepare for Natural Catastrophes

For the first time, the National Hurricane Center has issued a tropical storm watch for California, EVER. Many people are worried about what this means for their lives, the people they love, and their property as Hurricane Hilary is projected to be a significant rain event for Southern California. Here are some recommendations related to #health : 1. **Medications and Prescriptions:** - Stock up on a minimum of a two-week supply. - Keep a list of all your medications, dosages, and any allergies. 2. **Clean Water:** - Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. - Use bottled water for drinking and cleaning wounds. 3. **Non-perishable Food:** - Stock up on items like canned goods, protein bars, and dried fruits. - Ensure you have a manual can opener. 4. **First Aid Kit:** - Include bandages, antiseptics, tweezers, scissors, pain relievers, and any special medical equipment or supplies. 5. **Hygiene Supplies:** - Stock up on hand sanitizers, wet wipes, feminine hygiene products, and other personal hygiene items. 6. **Chronic Health Conditions:** - Plan for power outages if you rely on electric-powered health devices. - Have backup supplies for diabetes, respiratory problems, etc. 7. **Protect Against Contaminants:** - Have a supply of face masks and latex or nitrile gloves to protect against flood water contaminants. 8. **Special Needs and Elderly:** - Plan for mobility and healthcare needs, like wheelchairs or oxygen tanks. 9. **Communication:** - Have a battery-operated radio or NOAA Weather Radio. - Inform loved ones of your plan and whereabouts. 10. **Evacuation Plan:** - Know the local evacuation routes. - Ensure your car has a full tank of gas. 11. **Mental Health:** - Pack comforting items or activities to reduce stress. - Stay connected with loved ones or neighbors for support. 12. **Important Documents:** - Keep copies of health insurance, identification, medical records, and bank account records in a waterproof container. 13. **Mosquito Protection:** - Standing water from a hurricane can breed mosquitoes. Have repellents and nets if necessary. 14. **Pets:** - Stock up on their medications, food, and water. - Plan for their evacuation and sheltering. 15. **Stay Informed:** - Follow updates from local authorities and the National Hurricane Center. - Adhere to warnings and advisories. Remember, these are general recommendations. Tailor your preparations to your unique health needs and local guidelines. Safety is paramount. If local authorities advise evacuation, do so promptly. #bestadvice #california #hurricanepreparedness

HURRICANE PSA: Turns out all those years of working in media through hurricanes gave me a pretty unique extra skill set. Yesterday, while helping a client with disaster preparedness, I realized how much info I take for granted. Here is my personal storm prep cheat sheet I share with friends. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Hope your find it helpful. See you on the other side. Fingers crossed it was all for naught my friends. Francine looks like she may at least do a drive by. Power outages/boil water advisories/street flooding/closures may be a thing. My friendly annual hurricane reminder to do list. Don’t forget to: Pay your bills in advance Wash all your laundry. Run your dishwasher right before storm comes. Charge your devices and external batteries. (Old devices with usb ports can serve as backup batteries too) Make sure you have food, water, batteries, cash. Get gas (and stabilizer) for your generator if you have one. Fill your car. Fill prescriptions. Get propane for your grill. Fill a cooler with some ice. Cut your grass and clear your yard (easier to clean up leaves after). Trim limbs away from your gutters if you can. Secure lawn stuff, Clear your catch basins and around your downspouts Move your car to higher ground. Walk the dog - like a lot before it starts raining - wear them out. Gather arts and crafts, puzzles, board games - for kids. Things that occupy your kid and don’t need power. (Candy is also your friend during a storm.) If you can’t find ice, freeze some bottles of water - the bigger the better. It stays frozen longer in a cooler or a non-powered freezer. Pack your freezer with them. If evacuating put water in a cup and freeze it, place a quarter on the top, when you come home how deep the quarter is in the cup is a good gauge for how thawed your food got while you were gone. Once charged unplug computers and other sensitive equipment in case of power surges right before. If you can’t cover windows from the outside, move anything important away from them to an interior area. Put blankets and pillows in your safe shelter spot inside the house and gather your flashlights and storm radios backup batteries, etc to one easy to find spot. Cook a good lunch or dinner today - you might be eating sandwiches tomorrow or the next several days. Bonus points cook the most expensive thing in your freezer instead of risking it spoiling. Take Pictures of your house inside and out before and after the storm because you will need to document when damage occurred in order to fight hurricane deductibles with insurance. Take a shower, then fill your tubs and whatever you have on hand (buckets or pots) with water, water in pots/pans can be used for cooking/drinking. Water in buckets and trashcans can be used to flush toilets. If you lose power, outdoor solar lights are a great way to illuminate inside. #DisasterPreparedness #Hurricane #Francine

I moved my family to the beach after 26 years of living in metro Atlanta where we typically didn't plan for hurricanes. As I was preparing for #hurricanehelene, here are some key steps I've been taking that are similar to a business preparing for a natural disaster. Is your business ready for #hurricanehelene? Preparing for a #hurricane is crucial to ensuring safety and minimizing damage. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Stay Informed/Keep employees and clients informed 2. Monitor Weather Alerts: Follow the National Hurricane Center or local weather channels for updates, while communicating to clients and loved ones 3. Sign Up for Alerts: Enable emergency notifications on your phone or radio. 4. Create an Emergency Plan/DR plan - where and when to failover, #RPO and #RTO requirements defined and tested 5. Evacuation Routes/ #DR plan: Know your area’s evacuation routes and shelter locations. 6. Family/Company Communication Plan: Agree on a meeting place and ensure everyone knows how to contact each other. 7. Employee Pet Safety: Include plans for your pets, identifying pet-friendly shelters if needed for our furry friends 8. Prepare an Emergency Kit Essentials: Pack enough food, water, and supplies to last at least 3 days. Supplies: Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day) Non-perishable food Flashlights and extra batteries First aid kit Medications and prescriptions Personal hygiene items Important documents (IDs, insurance papers) in waterproof containers Portable phone chargers Cash (in case ATMs or card services are down) Tools and basic repair supplies Whistle (to signal for help) Face masks and hand sanitizer 9. Protect Your Home Windows and Doors: Board up windows with plywood or install hurricane shutters. Outdoor Items: Secure loose outdoor items (e.g., lawn furniture, grills, etc.) or bring them indoors. Roof and Gutters: Check for loose tiles or shingles and clear gutters to prevent flooding. Emergency Generator: If you have one, ensure it’s operational and has enough fuel. Flood Proofing: Elevate electrical appliances and utilities. Use sandbags to protect your property if in a flood zone. 11. Follow Evacuation Orders If local authorities advise evacuation, leave early to avoid being trapped by flooding or road closures. Secure your home before leaving—turn off water, gas, and electricity if advised. 12. Stay Indoors During the Storm Stay in a safe room or an interior space away from windows. Use flashlights instead of candles to avoid fire hazards. Keep listening to updates and stay informed about the storm's progress. 13. After the Storm Wait for official confirmation that it's safe to go outside. Be cautious of hazards such as downed power lines or flooded areas. Avoid driving in flooded streets and be cautious of weakened structures. #apnproud #apnpartners #naturaldisaster #dot #aws #cloud

We’re always preparing for storms no matter the season. During #NationalPreparednessMonth, it’s also important for you to be ready by having a plan that works best for you and your family. A good place to start is to build a storm kit. Not sure what to include? Below are some staples, along with other important tips to keep in mind when bad weather is on the way. Storm kit checklist: ✔️ Water ✔️ First-aid kit ✔️ Non-perishable food and manual can opener ✔️ Batteries/ Battery operated radio ✔️ Flashlight ✔️ Prescription medicine ✔️ Food for your animals Before a storm hits: - Check on elderly neighbors - Charge your devices - Save Eversource’s phone number (800-286-2000) - Know how to install and operate a generator safely - Download our mobile app - Sign up for our text message alerts - Follow us on social media for updates During a storm: - Report your outage on Eversource.com - Visit our Outage Map for more information - Assume all downed wires are live and stay away - Never try to power your house by plugging a portable generator into a household outlet After a storm: - If you have to drive, watch out for trees and wires in the road - Do not drive across a downed power line - When your power returns, turn on your appliances one at a time to avoid a power surge - Never enter a flooded basement or home until the electricity and natural gas service are turned off

Kelly McKinney asked Chat GPT to provide a Crisis Management Algorithm. I added the exact prompts into MS COPILOT. Here are the results. Blue Sky Phase (Pre-Crisis) 1. Crisis Envisioning and Planning   - Identify Potential Crises: Natural disasters, cyber-attacks, health emergencies, etc.   - Assess Resource and Consequence Challenges: Information flow, available resources, possible impacts.   - Draft Possible Scenarios: Create a library of realistic crisis scenarios. 2. Team Identification and Convening   - Identify Key Individuals and Groups: Roles such as communication, logistics, medical, security.   - Recruit Additional Members: Based on specific crisis needs.   - Schedule Training Sessions: Immersive crisis scenario simulations. 3. Development of Crisis Response Plan   - Establish Tactical Operations: Identify parallel and simultaneous operations.   - Assign Leads for Each Operation: Designate responsible individuals and groups.   - Create Flexible Response Guidelines: Document detailed yet adaptable procedures.    4. Team Readiness and Monitoring   - Establish 24/7 Monitoring: Set up systems to keep watch for any crisis signals.   - Information Gathering Systems: Develop methods to collect and assess initial signals.   - Crisis Simulations and Drills: Regularly conduct practice scenarios. Gray Sky Phase (During Crisis) 1. Signal Detection and Assessment   - Monitor Signals: Continuous observation of potential threats.   - Immediate Response: Gather detailed information upon detection of a signal.   - Initial Assessment: Evaluate if the signal could lead to a crisis. 2. Incident Management Team Notification and Activation   - Notify Incident Management Team: Use all available means (email, text, etc.).   - Convene Incident Management Team: Ensure team is quickly assembled.    3. Emergency Operations Facilitation   - Operations Meetings:     - Initial Briefing: Share situational awareness.    - Status Updates: Regular reports from individuals and groups on their operations.    - Address Issues and Needs: Identify obstacles and unmet needs, propose solutions.   - Tactical Execution: Oversee and support the execution of emergency operations. 4. Continuous Review and Adaptation   - Continuous Monitoring: Keep assessing the situation and adjusting the plan.   - Coordination and Communication: Ensure seamless coordination among team members.   - Resource Management: Efficiently allocate resources as per needs.   - Documentation: Maintain detailed records of decisions and actions taken. 5. Crisis Resolution and Debriefing   - Crisis Resolution: Keep operating until the crisis is resolved.   - Post-Crisis Review: Conduct a thorough review to identify lessons learned.   - Update Crisis Management Plan: Incorporate improvements based on the review. By following this algorithm, your crisis management team can efficiently manage crises, ensuring preparedness before they occur and effective action during their occurrence.

📢 Hurricane Francine: Potential Impact in Louisiana At Everbridge, we are here to help emergency officials and businesses ensure the safety of communities during extreme weather events. Follow these essential steps in preparation for a storm: 1️⃣ Confirm System Access: Ensure all users can log into their critical communication systems to send or receive important alerts. 2️⃣ Review Message Guidelines: Keep emergency messages clear and concise. Use the 3-3-30 rule: 3 main points, 3 sentences, 30 words. 3️⃣ Update Contact Information: For residents, make sure your contact details are current to receive alerts via phone, SMS, or email. Encourage others to opt in to local alerts. 4️⃣ Track Vulnerable Residents: For local authorities, prioritize the safety of care-dependent individuals who may need additional assistance during evacuations. 5️⃣ Prepare for Power Loss: Ensure you have access to FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) to reach citizens in the event of infrastructure failure. Be proactive, stay safe, and follow all official guidance. For more tips on hurricane preparedness, review our full Hurricane Preparedness Checklist here: https://ow.ly/XAyj30sGnHp

We are in the midst of hurricane season, and Hurricane Beryl recently caused significant damage and disruption across the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States, particularly Texas. It had significant impacts on logistics operations in Houston with multiple ports closing, including The Port of Houston, a critical hub for US gasoline and imports. Although we cannot plan around Mother Nature, we can prepare for future weather disruptions. Running from June 1st through November 30th, Hurricane Season coincides with peak shipping volumes for back-to-school, fall harvest, and holiday preparations. The convergence of increased demand and extreme weather creates unique challenges for the logistics industry. Be prepared and ensure minimal disruption by following these steps: 🦺 First and foremost - Prioritize Driver Safety: Encourage carriers to avoid driving through hazardous conditions and to seek shelter if needed. 🗂️ Review Insurance Coverage: Ensure your cargo insurance covers potential hurricane-related damages and delays. ☎️ Develop Emergency Communication Plan: Establish protocols for communicating with drivers and carriers in case of evacuation or operational changes. 🌧️ Monitor Weather Alerts: Stay informed about hurricane forecasts and potential impact zones to adjust shipment schedules. 🗺️ Implement Contingency Plans: Develop alternative routing plans and secure backup carriers to handle rerouted shipments. ⛓️ Check Equipment Readiness: Ensure all trucks and trailers are in good condition and have necessary supplies (chains, tarps, etc.) for secure transport of loads. 📍 Monitor Load Status: Continuously track shipments using real-time visibility tools to anticipate delays. 💬 Stay in Communication: Keep open lines of communication with drivers, carriers, and customers to provide updates on changing weather conditions and schedules. 🚧 Prepare for Post-Storm Recovery: Have a plan to quickly resume operations, including assessing damages, arranging repairs, and prioritizing critical shipments. What did I miss? How have you stayed nimble throughout hurricane season?

Are you prepared for #Debby? Hurricane activity typically ramps up in August, and this month is already off to a busy start as Tropical Storm Debby moves northward and is expected to bring heavy rain to our region later this week. Now is the time to prepare. Preparedness actions you can take now: 1. Stay informed: Every inch of the mid-Atlantic is susceptible to flooding and other hurricane hazards, not just coastal areas. Sign up for community alerts in your area. To ensure you can receive life-saving alerts on your smartphone, make sure the “Government Alerts” or “Emergency Alert Messages” option is turned-on in your phone settings. 2. Know your evacuation route: Follow the directions from local officials for community evacuation. Plan to leave early to avoid major traffic delays. 3. Gather supplies: Have enough food, water and other supplies for every member of your family to last several days. Consider the unique needs of your family, such as formula for infants, medication for seniors or supplies for pets.  4. Prepare your home. Clear away debris outside of your home and secure outdoor items or store them indoors. Keep drains, gutters, and downspouts clear of debris. Trim large trees and shrubs away from the house. Move outdoor furniture and other movable items indoors. 5. Help others: Check with neighbors, senior adults, or those who may need additional help securing hurricane plans to see how you can be of assistance to others. Take a look at the news release we published with more information on how to prepare and help us spread the word: https://lnkd.in/erC7ubFA

The Rule of Threes (in survival): Shelter — Three hours Water — Three days Food — Three weeks In other words, you should assume you can survive without shelter for three hours, without water for three days, and without food for three weeks. In an urban environment, the Rule of Threes still applies. The solutions are just easier to find, probably as close as your nearest Costco. At the very least, go out and purchase the following: Emergency blankets and sleeping bags. Make sure they’re rated for the lowest recorded temperature in your area. In a home robbed of power, “shelter” equals warmth. If you have a chimney, get seasoned wood; if not, get a vent-free gas stove. Don’t forget the fuel. Two weeks’ worth of water. Budget at least one gallon per person per day, and backup water purification tablets are a good idea. If you live close to the ocean, you could also buy a desalinator for turning salt water into potable water. Two weeks’ worth of food with a long shelf life. Lentils, rice, beans, canned vegetables, etc. Protein bars are a good supplement and provide some variety, as do military MREs. Emergency lighting, including a few headlamps, and a ton of batteries. First-aid kit and (for the ambitious) extra antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and Azithromycin (Z-Paks), while imperfect, are good broad-spectrum antibiotics. This basic prep might seem crazy if you’ve never been caught in a disaster. No one in SF expected the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, either, but it left thousands without running water for 10 days, and without power for four days.