Step into NSWP Week
Severe weather can strike anywhere at any time. Thunderstorms and lightning , flash floods , tornadoes and even winter storms can devastate your community – in some cases with little notice. Do you know how to protect yourself, family and pets from severe weather?
This year's theme for National Severe Weather Preparedness (NSWP) Week (March 2-8) is Be a Force of Nature: Take the Next Step. Being a force of nature means taking the proactive steps of knowing your risk, being prepared and taking appropriate actions before, during and after extreme weather. Even more than that, being a force of nature means saving lives by inspiring others to do the same through social media and face-to-face conversations with your friends, family and neighbors. According to the latest Preparedness in America report , less than half of respondents reported talking about preparedness with others. Talking about preparedness has a highly positive relationship with preparedness behaviors. We each have a role in ensuring the resilience of our communities, our nation and our way of life; therefore, it is imperative we share the preparedness message with our community. This supports a “ Weather-Ready Nation .”
In recognition of NSWP week and in the spirit of America's PrepareAthon! , challenge yourself to perform one action each day that will increase your level of preparedness. Share this action with us and others by using #PrepareAthon and/or #BeaForce and we will retweet the best ones. And if you have a personal story of how being prepared and practicing the appropriate actions to face severe weather saved your life and/or property share it with us at #severeWXstory! Learn more about what you can do this week by downloading the NSWP week toolkit now!
Need a little inspiration from others on deciding what actions you may want to consider, read on!
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Hot Actions for Winter Weather
In the past few months and weeks many across the United States have felt frozen from the impact of severe winter storms and extreme cold. Just a few weeks ago, we heard many stories of those in the southern United States who had to deal with being stuck for hours in their car or without power due to extreme snow and icy conditions.
The importance of planning for severe weather is invaluable. In December 2013, we learned about James Glanton and Christine McIntee on cnn.com , as they tackled winter weather conditions. This family survived in sub-zero temperatures for two day in the Nevada wilderness after their car rolled off the side of the road. How did the family survive? Here are 5 things that they did to survive the harsh conditions:
- They told relatives where they were going. Build or update your family communication plan with several contacts you can notify in an emergency;
- They did not leave to go find help. It's better to stick with your vehicle than going out on your own;
- They were planning to play in the snow, so they were prepared for the elements. Include adequate clothing and blankets in your car to stay warm , especially if you will be traveling;
- T hey improvised to stay warm by starting a fire outside the car, heating rocks and placing them inside the spare tire to keep everyone warm at night; and
- They had food and water. As part of an emergency supplies kit , Ready.gov recommends having a quantity of food and water to last at least 72 hours.
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Whirl Wind of Apps for Tornado
With most Americans having smartphones, it is easy to have preparedness information right in your pocket. Ashley Sylvester, a prepared mother of two children and survivor of the 2013 Oklahoma tornado, shares in the America's PrepareAthon! disaster survivor video she had emergency preparedness mobile applications (apps) that were vital to her. When she received the alert about an impending tornado via a tornado mobile app, she knew it was serious and was able to quickly move her family to their safe room.
Download the FEMA app to access disaster preparedness tips, get emergency meeting location information and more. Take your preparedness measures to the next level with FEMA text messages . Subscribe to receive regular safety tips for specific disaster types and search for open shelters. In addition, the American Red Cross has a host of weather-specific apps that will get you better prepared.
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Blow through Hurricane Tips
Hurricanes have the potential to not only cause damage from severe winds, but they also can spur tornadoes as well as floods. Along with all hazards, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan , but you should take time to:
- Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted;
- Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate; and
- I dentify levees and dams in your area and determine whether or not they pose a hazard to you.
Mr. E. Don Harpe survived Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. Throughout his story, we see how he and his family learned that being prepared means, taking the following actions :
- Listen and monitor the threats of severe weather;
- Pack clothes, food and water ahead of time if you need to evacuate;
- Evacuate as soon as necessary, pending the storm; and
- Make sure the gas tank is full.
Remember, NSWP Week puts the focus on awareness of hazards and actions you can take to be prepared. However, there is nothing like actually practicing a specific preparedness action which will help you retain that knowledge. Learn more about taking specific actions through America's PrepareAthon! the nationwide, community-based campaign for action to increase emergency preparedness and resilience and stay safe in the face of all kinds of severe weather.
For more information on what to do before, during and after severe weather conditions, visit www.ready.gov/severe-weather .
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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