Before a hurricane watch or warning is sounded in your area, prepare!
The previous post gave tips and reminders on preparing for a hurricane, so I pray you already have all you need to hunker down and wait it out – unless you’re in an evacuation area, in which case, evacuate! Storm surges and floods have the strength to wipe out buildings and bridges, and people are no exception.
Unlike most storms, hurricanes are not usually fast-moving. Some may make their presence known for days! Regardless of the length of time a storm hangs around, stay indoors until the wind subsides enough to be outside with no possibility of a sudden gust knocking you over or hurtling pine cones and debris at you like missiles.
Some ABC’s for after a storm:
• Assess any damages you’ve sustained.
• Be careful of downed wires, standing water, and damaged dwellings.
• Conserve bottled water, especially if told to boil tap water before using.
• Dial your radio to local news for storm assessments of your area.
• Encourage friends and family by letting them know how you are.
• Find out what damages need documenting and reporting to utility and insurance companies.
• Go help neighbors who have more than they can handle.
• Have a meal in mind before quickly opening the frig or freezer.
• If the threat of floods or storm surges caused you to evacuate, don’t go back until local authorities say it's okay.
• Just remember: Nothing is impossible with God! Everything IS possible.
• Keep on praying.
• Let go of anger, worries, blame, and regrets by giving them to God.
• Make today your focus.
• Notice what you CAN do, then do it!
• Observe the overall situation as realistically as possible.
• Pray, listen, and arrange priorities according to God's priorities for you.
• Quit thinking unhelpful thoughts such as “Why?” or “If only….”
• Remain as low-key as you can around kids, but be truthful.
• Sacrifice praise to God.
• Thank God for every good thing that comes to your mind.
• Understand this is trauma! Do unto yourself as you'd do unto others.
• Verify each loss or damage with lists and photographs.
• Work as you're able to improve conditions around you.
• X each chore off your list to remind yourself that things do get better.
• Yes! You will get through this, and maybe even help others too.
• Zip valuables and paper in plastic before the storm begins. Someday this aftermath will end and new hopes and plans get started.
Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2017
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Showing posts with label disaster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disaster. Show all posts
September 8, 2017
March 11, 2011
Protect your writings, photographs, and valuables before disaster strikes
As disasters fill the news today, prayers undoubtedly fill the air. The first concern, of course, is protecting yourself and your loved ones. If you’re in no immediate danger, though, please take time now to protect the records and valuables in your most valuable life:
Email your poems, writings, and/or works in progress to yourself, so you can retrieve them directly from the website of your Internet service provider.
Scan beloved family photographs and important documents. Save to a DVD and mail to siblings, children, or other family members, including at least one person who lives in another region of the U.S. or in another country.
Upload your prized photographs to a photo website such as Flickr or Picasa, making sure the security settings show as private rather than public.
Investigate free services on such websites as Google Docs and GMX.com that let you privately store your word files with easy retrieval from any computer, assuming you recall the user name and password.
Print out and/or backup copies of your poems and writings on a CD or DVD, and seal in waterproof Ziploc bags.
Seal other valuables too, including important papers, address book, and email contacts in watertight containers. Place them in a large purse, briefcase, or waterproof bag that you keep on your person or close enough to grab.
Although every contingency cannot be covered, consider as soon as you can the type of disaster most likely to occur in your area. In Florida, for example, we often prepare for water-related events, but for some time now, we have experienced drought conditions, so fire poses a threat too, making nonflammable containers a wise choice for storing valuables. If there’s a potential for evacuation, we also try to keep the car gassed up and stocked with water, appropriate clothing, flashlights, and snacks.
At other times, tornadoes and lightning storms have zipped overhead, causing us to stay put with our Ziploc bags, water jug, flashlights, and ourselves in the little basement room beneath our house.
I cannot even imagine what a tsunami must be like, but I have felt the impact of thunderstorms, snowstorms, and a 7.3 earthquake. I’ve seen tornadoes zig-zag overhead and ashes float into my living room from fires thirty miles away, and I’ve been in Hurricane Camille. Thanks be to God, my family and I survived with valuables intact, and, right now, I pray you do too.
(c) 2011, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved.
Email your poems, writings, and/or works in progress to yourself, so you can retrieve them directly from the website of your Internet service provider.
Scan beloved family photographs and important documents. Save to a DVD and mail to siblings, children, or other family members, including at least one person who lives in another region of the U.S. or in another country.
Upload your prized photographs to a photo website such as Flickr or Picasa, making sure the security settings show as private rather than public.
Investigate free services on such websites as Google Docs and GMX.com that let you privately store your word files with easy retrieval from any computer, assuming you recall the user name and password.
Print out and/or backup copies of your poems and writings on a CD or DVD, and seal in waterproof Ziploc bags.
Seal other valuables too, including important papers, address book, and email contacts in watertight containers. Place them in a large purse, briefcase, or waterproof bag that you keep on your person or close enough to grab.
Although every contingency cannot be covered, consider as soon as you can the type of disaster most likely to occur in your area. In Florida, for example, we often prepare for water-related events, but for some time now, we have experienced drought conditions, so fire poses a threat too, making nonflammable containers a wise choice for storing valuables. If there’s a potential for evacuation, we also try to keep the car gassed up and stocked with water, appropriate clothing, flashlights, and snacks.
At other times, tornadoes and lightning storms have zipped overhead, causing us to stay put with our Ziploc bags, water jug, flashlights, and ourselves in the little basement room beneath our house.
I cannot even imagine what a tsunami must be like, but I have felt the impact of thunderstorms, snowstorms, and a 7.3 earthquake. I’ve seen tornadoes zig-zag overhead and ashes float into my living room from fires thirty miles away, and I’ve been in Hurricane Camille. Thanks be to God, my family and I survived with valuables intact, and, right now, I pray you do too.
(c) 2011, Mary Harwell Sayler, all rights reserved.
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