Remembering the history of Galveston City will prompt every person living in areas susceptible to natural disasters the need to make preparations. But in this situation, you may not know the exact area to start with. If you are in this situation, rest assured this article will walk you through the necessary preparation you need to make before any natural disaster, whether you will be required to leave home or stay indoors.
Remembering the History of Galveston
In 1900, Galveston experienced a devastating hurricane that left a lot of families devastated. This storm was the deadliest natural disaster the United States has ever experienced. As described by Paradise Exteriors, the detailed history of this devastating event left between 6,000 and 12,000 fatalities in the United States. As of 2024, this disaster has remained the fourth deadliest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. According to Paradise Exteriors, the storm destroyed over 3,600 homes in Galveston, aside from the number of lives that were lost.
Start With a Plan
The most essential step in the event of a hurricane is to know what your family will do when it happens. Write down the plan steps and share them with everyone.
The basic preparedness tips include:
- Know where to go: If you are ordered to evacuate, include the local hurricane evacuation routes you will take and have a plan of where to stay. Speak with the local emergency management agency for more information.
- Prepare a go-bag disaster supply kit that will include a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies, medications, and copies of credentials and information that you may need.
- If you are ordered to stay at home, ensure you have enough supplies in case you go out of power or water for several days and can’t leave the house due to flooding or blocked roads. Always make family emergency communication plans in case the network goes off, too.
Many communities usually have a text or email alerting system for emergency notifications. To find out the alerts available around your area, check the Internet with the name of your town, city, or county and the word alerts. If you have pets, you will be required to make plans for them as well.
Visit https://medium.com/@preppermaniac/protecting-pets-and-animals-during-a-hurricane-7d4386ba98d6 to gain more insight into pet preparedness in hurricanes.
Think whether you will be required to evaluate or remain indoors. If you are living in a hurricane evacuation zone, check out your zone and local evacuation route. Some roads might be blocked or lanes reversed to reduce traffic.
You can contact the local emergency management office or American Red Cross to ask for hurricane preparation plans. They will provide you with information on the safest evacuation routes and nearby places to use as shelter.
Some of the questions that will bug your mind in case you are asked to move to somewhere else are where will you stay with a family member, relative, friend, or in an evacuation zone. Are there hotels or shelters in locations that are not affected by the hurricane?
What will happen if you are at work, school, or a place far from your home and family, and then the storm arises? How are you going to find each other? Sometimes, communication works better through text than calling, especially since the gadgets will be overloaded due to an emergency.
The best solution in these situations is to first ask a family or friend outside the hurricane-affected zone to serve as your family contact. Ensure everyone knows the person’s name, phone number, and contact information.
Remember those with special needs. You will be required to prepare an individualized and more detailed plan for them. If you have a family member in a nursing care facility, you need to make sure they are okay and safe in the place.
Be ready to evacuate or stay at home. Always listen to authorities regarding whether you should evacuate or stay at home. If an order comes that you should evacuate, never ignore it. Even the sturdiest building might not hold up against a hurricane.
Staying at home to protect your property will end up putting your health and safety at risk. If you hear an order to stay at home, follow that too because perhaps driving is dangerous, so the safest option is to remain indoors.
Trees and branches can fall due to hurricane winds; therefore, before the season, trim and eliminate all damaged trees and limbs to protect yourself and your property. Secure loose rain gutters and downspouts, and clean clogged areas and debris to prevent your property from getting damaged by water.
Retrofit to secure and reinforce your roof, windows, doors, and garage doors to reduce property damage. Have a standby portable generator to use when power goes off. Ensure that the generator and any other power source are at least 20 feet away from your windows and moisture. Never try connecting power by plugging the generator through wall outlets.
Purchase Emergency Supplies
One of the mistakes that people make when in storm preparation is waiting until it’s too late to purchase a lot of items. Generally, once there is news on a possible storm, shelves will be quickly empty, and once it hits, you are unlikely to find necessary supplies.
Therefore, stock items like:
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Portable, battery-operated weather radio and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual
- Emergency food and water
- Non-Electric can opener
- Essential medicines
- Cash and credit cards
- Sturdy shoes
Also, keep the contact information for contractors for repair work, vendors for home clean up, and materials for temporary home repair,
Conclusion
It’s important to be aware of the devastating history of the Galveston hurricane and do all it takes to protect oneself and prevent similar occurrences. This article has presented ways you can prepare for hurricanes and how you can take care of yourself and your family.
Remember, safety is more important than anything; once you are asked to leave, obey the order immediately, and if you are asked to stay indoors, avoid going out until your official announcement comes from authorities.