Why Prepare – To survive, simple.
Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more intense worldwide. The news is terrifying and one reason I am so passionate about helping people prepare and survive. A worldwide review of evacuation procedures covering over 50 independent studies found having an evacuation plan that is 1. consistently used, 2. monitoring conditions, 3. leave early and 4. get far enough way have a higher survival rate.
One study rated the deaths as 83% lower in countries with a more comprehensive alert system for individuals. The statistics are different for people in institutions such as elderly or sick or disabled. A 2024 Noto Peninsula tsunami study show people began leaving witting 2-6 minutes after the earthquake (tracked cell phone signals) hit the area had remarkably few tsunami deaths. Same patterns for hurricane evacuations. You may or may not get that instant warning for many reasons so again, it is on you stay aware of conditions for wild fire, flooding and flash flooding, blizzard conditions, severe storms or hurricanes and be ready.
Being prepared, monitor and then act is what saves lives. Not property but what matters and that is Saving Lives.
It is on you to be prepared, have a plan with transportation and a place to go and use your plan.
As people, we want to be sure, not waste time leaving, see what is happening, stay with my things and that attitude has to be overcome with commitment to staying alive and safe as first priority. Flooding has increased in overflow, more than predicted due to more run off after fire or drought developing “not normal” patterns. Flash floods are unpredictable. In the case of flash flooding, hurricane, forest fire, blizzard – almost all natural disasters – we must leave BEFORE it is upon us or it is TOO LATE.
IF you are wrong and the winds turn, the river flows different or the snow piles go away quickly and no damage to where you live, guess what? You are still alive and was good practice. I have so many stories of people not leaving for Hurricane Katrina, some did not make it out alive. The local saying is “Hurricane Camille (1969) killed people not Hurricane Katrina (2005) because people said “My house survived Camille, it will make it through Katrina” and they didn’t leave. A colleague offered to let me evacuate to their home as a hurricane approached in 2024. I was looking at a storm surge flood map and I said “your house is in a flood zone, 2nd level but still could flood so where would we go if had to evacuate?”. “My neighbor has lived here 20 years and never flooded so I’m not worried” was their reply. I declined the generous offer, stayed in a hotel and their house did flood, sadly. The other sad reality is storms are becoming less predictable because they are becoming stronger and we don’t ever know for sure where landfall will exactly be (see 108 deaths in 2024 in NORTH CAROLINA from flash flood due to a Hurricane in the Gulf making landfall in FLORIDA).
If you leave an area before the conditions become life threatening and Exits aren’t blocked with traffic, you can approach zero chances of death. Remember evacuation times are going to be extended. With hurricane Ian, evacuations took 96 hours that only supposed to take 16. Stands to be logical, again, if everyone leaves at the same time you’re gonna have issues.
I know that’s easy for me to say to evacuate and evacuate early when you may have children, pets, elderly or be working and your boss doesn’t see it the same way. I hope you have some PTO and are able to get off with short notice. I’ve done both. Stayed and sheltered in place and evacuated. My boss wasn’t very understanding, but with all the storm damage businesses were closed for a week anyway so employees were credited the time off. Add that to part of your preparation plan, talk to you boss and explain why you feel so strongly about and will be evacuating whether it’s just for yourself or because of children, pets or elderly. What is best for keeping everyone safe. Talk to your supervisor early, now ,before any risk arrives and see if you have to use your plan of: to go 50 miles away; is there something you can be doing online so that you’re totally not working for those days. Can you work in a different location or branch? Think outside the box and have a honest talk with your boss about “This is my plan, This is what my family and I will be doing. How can we make that work within our organization?”
No worries, Let’s Prepare !!
PLEASE, Always consider to evacuate if public officials recommend to leave, you can replace items, but not yourself or loved ones !
Specifically for a Gas Leak:
if you are inside and smell a strong Gas odor: 1. Grab your GO bag and Leave Immediately,
if no GO Bag, DO NOT PACK at this time, Get children/elderly, pets and LEAVE.
2. Do NOT flip on switches or use anything that could cause a spark that may ignite the gas 3. Leave and move away to a safe distance 4. Call emergency services or gas company from outside to report smell
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