Blackouts, flooding, fire evacuations. Hurricanes, storms, and all unexpected disasters have impacted us or someone we know. But how prepared are you? Global terror attacks, 9/11, COVID, and various sudden life events have interrupted our lives. Due to these occurrences, proactive steps need to be taken to prepare for the unexpected.
Car purchases often may have owners consider being stranded. Perhaps also wanting to be able to take care of minor upkeep so tools are readily available for these situations. Some even take the initiative to purchase roadside assistance through their insurance company or purchase similar memberships through AAA. But how many people have items in their homes and also personal items in their car if and when they experience an emergency situation? In January of 2022, a winter snowstorm impacted many people in the mid-Atlantic to the northeastern region of the United States. Cars were stuck on highways due to snow and ice in addition to the below-freezing temperatures. Many drivers ran out of gas and did not have the ability to stay warm and obtain gas while they were stuck on the roads. As a result, some were not equipped to handle these conditions.
Consider hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (August 2005), superstorm Sandy New York (October 2012), and the Condo building collapse in Florida (July 2021). In all of these instances, the individuals impacted may not have been aware of the devastation that would occur beforehand.
However, if they had been prepared just in case, many would have been better equipped to handle the impact of these events.
Homeowners may not always need to evacuate, especially if they are adequately prepared. but if they lose power, the weather can have a severe impact if one is not prepared. In many states, people have
generators and solar panels in their homes to avoid losing power during bad weather conditions. In New York City, a blackout occurred in 1977 and another in 2003. Many people had to walk home from work
as this occurred during the latter part of the core lunch period and right before evening rush hour. BJ’s Club has a list of emergency items on their website for homeowners that would like to get their homes and apartments emergency ready.
New York had an emergency preparedness event sponsored by Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (pre-COVID-19). This event was to provide NYC residents with an overview of what to do in emergency situations. Perhaps there is a similar program in your area. After the course, each attendee received an emergency bag that included necessary items needed in case of an emergency or
evacuation situation. These were basic items and did not nearly include the comprehensive list one would need but a good foundation. Check out their 4 steps to emergency preparedness (including emergency bag supplies) so you can equip yourself and your family to be better prepared for unexpected occurrences that could potentially save your life.
