In Oklahoma, everyone should have a preparedness plan in place and ready to go. The things you need to prepare for are: powerful winds, large hail and heavy rains. Effects of these things are flash flooding, power outages and property damage. Make a plan and execute it when a weather emergency is declared. Make sure you share your plan with your spouse and children. Practice it in advance of severe weather so everyone knows what to do.
Waiting until severe weather strikes isn’t a good plan. Preparing in advance is the best option. Here’s a few tips for planning and getting through severe weather emergencies.
- Evacuating before the storms
If severe weather is forecast for your area, you can always drive to another area that isn’t affected, staying there until the storms pass and it’s safe for you to return home. Grab your “good bags” (I’ll explain is a bit), pack up the car and drive to safety. Not a bad idea as long as you do it hours in advance. Jumping in the car when you hear the tornado sirens is just stupid. Don’t even attempt it. If you’ve waited, your only choice is to shelter in place.
- Shelter-in-place area
If you are at your home, pick an shelter area on the lowest level of your home. The more walls between you and the outside is best. Windows and doors are an access point for wind and should be minimized. In my house, I have a walk-in closet in the middle of the house. This is the best place for me. For you, a bathroom or laundry room might be better. You have to assess your situation and pick the best place.
Most weather emergencies are short in duration and can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. You don’t need to keep everything you own in your shelter. Have just the essentials you’ll need for an hour or two and the items you’ll need if you have to evacuate your home after the storms pass.
If you’re not at home during the emergency, follow the directions of the person in charge where you’re at. Most schools and businesses have a plan for sheltering during a weather emergency.
- Don’t scare the kids
My advice to parents with small children: don’t scare the shit out of them! You have to stay calm and collected before, during and after the storm. If you show them you’ve got things under control, they’ll be calmer. Make it an adventure! “Let’s camp in the closet and have a snack until the storms pass.” Have them grab their favorite toy, their pillow or blanket. The more prepared you are for these events, the calmer you and the kids will be.
- Communications
You’ll need to know what’s going on. Have a battery operated weather radio and a fm/am radio that will provide you with local updates from radio stations. In Tulsa, KRMG is the best station during severe weather.
Charge your cell phone and only use it when it’s necessary. Voice calls use more power, text messages less. Conserve your power before and during an event. Talking to Grandma on the phone might help pass the time, but a dead battery when you’re calling for help will make you regret those calls.
- Light
There’s nothing worse than being plunged into darkness during a storm. Have flashlights and lanterns in your shelter. DO NOT use candles or gas lanterns.
- Batteries
This is a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people grab a flashlight or radio only to find it doesn’t work. Always keep fresh batteries in your devices and have extras on hand. A power pack for charging cell phones is a good idea too!
- Food and Water
It’s recommended that everyone have a 72 hour supply of food and drinking water on hand. That’s a minimum. We’ve all had times in Oklahoma where we were without power for a week after a storm. Do what’s best for your family and don’t forget your pets. They need food and water too! Food should be non-perishable and things you don’t have to cook. Having a freezer full of meat doesn’t do much if you can’t cook it! Canned meats, beans, peanut butter, fruit, etc. are best. A few snack items for the kids are a good idea, too. Granola bars, cookies and such. Stay away from heavily salted foods.
Your entire food store doesn’t need to be in your shelter area. Take only a few items and a little water into the shelter to hold you until the storms have passed.
- Medications and Important Papers
If you take maintenance medications, make sure you have enough to last a few days. Those should be in your shelter with you.
House and car titles, insurance papers, birth certificates, etc. should all be kept in one box in your shelter. If your home becomes a disaster area, you will need them. If the address on your driver’s license is different than you current home address, then have a recent utility bill on hand. You’ll need something to verify that you’re a resident if you’re evacuated and then need to return home.
- “GOOD” bag
Each family member and pet should have a bug-out bag, also known as a GOOD (get out of Dodge) bag. You’ll need your medicines, some clothing (undies, socks, a shirt or two), and toiletries in them. Just in case you have to leave your home after the storm. Don’t over-pack. Pack just enough to get you through a day or two in an alternate shelter like a hotel room or a friend’s house. If you do have to evacuate, make sure you grab the box with your important papers and your phone chargers. And, when evacuating, if you have to walk out of the damage area, make sure you grab a few food items and plenty of water. A first aid kit isn’t a bad idea either.
- Evacuating AFTER the storm
If your home has been damaged from the storm and you feel you need to leave, grab your papers, GOOD bags and your food and water secure your home as best as you can. You may not be able to drive out of the area, so plan to walk out. Always assume downed power lines are LIVE and assume gas lines are ruptured. It takes time for emergency crews to cut power and turn off the gas and the larger the emergency area is, the longer it will take.
Once you’re safely out of the area, re-group. Call family or friends for assistance and wait for help to arrive. Don’t depend on law enforcement and other emergency services immediately following a storm. There’s more of “you” out there than there are “them” and services are spread thin during an emergency. If you’re able to take care of immediate needs yourself, then do it and let first responders help those who aren’t as fortunate as you. Calling 9-1-1 for help – when you don’t need really need it – prevents them from helping someone who does.
I hope you’ll never need to put your plan into action, but in Oklahoma severe weather is a reality we live with. Hopefully what I’ve listed for you will help you weathering the storms. But, these are just a few things you need to consider when preparing a weather emergency. Each family situation is different. You need to do what is best for your family. However, there’s a common thread for ALL families. That thread is the “plan”. Have a plan, get your shelter ready and share the plan with your family.
Be safe and take care of each other!
Tim