By Jennifer Whitlock
Field Editor
Bare grocery store shelves. Hours-long lines at gas stations for fuel. Out-of-stock notifications lingering for months on paper goods.
Winter Storm Uri and the COVID-19 pandemic have taught Texans a few tips about being prepared for disasters or emergencies.
To spread awareness of this too-often-unnoticed issue, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared September as National Preparedness Month.
“The recent devastation from Hurricane Ida in nearby Louisiana and the record number of named tropical storms from last hurricane season—and growing number of them this season—should serve to demonstrate the need for everyone to take emergency preparation seriously,” said Monty Dozier, program director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit. “We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to learn more about what they can do to help protect their families, homes and businesses.”
Making a plan, building an emergency kit and teaching children about preparedness can make the difference between disaster and safety for families. Dozier noted many resources are available online at the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) that can assist Texans in meeting these goals.
The first step is to develop and practice an emergency family plan. This plan should consider any specific needs and different scenarios the family may encounter during an emergency or disaster.
“Some of those specific or special needs might include making provisions for small children, those who are disabled, seniors or family pets,” he said. “These plans help everyone be aware of what to do, where to go and how to respond if there’s a disaster or emergency.”
Meet-up locations in case telecommunications are down, assigning preparation or packing tasks to each family member, specific routes to follow in an evacuation order and identifying hotels along the way that accept pets or offer long-term lodging are just some of the details families may wish to include in their emergency plans.
All family members should participate in the development of the plan and practice their assigned tasks, so everyone knows what to do if the need arises.
Having an emergency kit ready is another important step in being prepared. The kit should have enough supplies for each family member for at least three days, said Dr. Joyce Cavanagh, AgriLife Extension specialist in disaster assessment and recovery.
Essentials to include are bottled water, non-perishable foods, face masks, extra clothing, a first aid kit, gloves, blankets, toiletries, flashlights, matches, a weather radio, spare batteries, garbage bags, medications and antibacterial cleansers or wipes.
Keep the kit replenished and take stock of the items on a seasonal basis. Out-of-date items and weak or dead batteries should be replaced as needed to ensure the kit is ready when disaster strikes. Cavanaugh recommended placing important personal and family documents and financial records together, so they can be quickly packed if necessary.
“While disaster preparation takes time and requires forethought and commitment, having a plan and necessary emergency supplies ready will help make what is bound to be a traumatic and stressful situation a lot more manageable,” she said.
The AgriLife publication Texans, Get Ready! has information on creating a disaster plan and kit. Farmers and Ranchers, Get Ready! focuses on the same topics, but incorporates other considerations unique to agricultural producers such as livestock and equipment.
Additional information is available on the EDEN website. FEMA also has resources and information on National Preparedness Month, disasters and emergencies at ready.gov.