One thing we've learned in Florida when it comes to Hurricanes is to PREPARE.
The most telling thing we saw from New Orleans and the State of Loisiana was that they were in NO way prepared, and neither were the people.
"Sept. 20, 2005 - For many Americans, Hurricane Katrina has served as a wake-up call. After viewing the devastation and displacement that followed the hurricane, residents across the country are asking what they need to do—and not do—to prepare for the worst (even while hoping for the best). "It's psychologically healthy to prepare. A resilient mindset is a mindset that allows you to think logically, to communicate, to problem-solve, to confront the challenges that face you rather than hiding and avoiding them," says University of Utah psychologist Sam Goldstein, coauthor of "The Power of Resilience" (McGraw-Hill). "Accept that the world is a place in which things are going to happen that are beyond my control, for which it pays for me to be prepared."
In each of his family's cars, Goldsteing keeps a pillowcase-size bag with a reasonable number of supplies—water, food, a flashlight and a radio. What would be overboard? "Filling my entire trunk with enough food to survive six months," he says.
Ideally, as was evident in the Gulf Coast, you should have enough provisions to be self-sufficient for at least 48 to 72 hours. Experts also stress the need to talk to kids about how to handle themselves in emergencies, including gas leaks and fires, not just hurricanes and tornadoes. That means talking about where flashlights are kept and about where to meet in case of an emergency. Here are other important steps you can take to be prepared for any emergency:"
"Be self-sufficient for at least 48 to 72 hours" Good advice and something no one talked about in the preparation for Katrina. By the way, it came through my home town on the way to the Big Easy.
Prepare! What a concept!
Whenever we are about to have a hurricane strike us here in Florida, we are told - by the media, Government and other authorities to have our flashlights, batteries, water, and other supplies for a least four days. Why? Because that was, and always had been the standard time before federal or state and local assistance could get services back up again.
Read the rest of the article. The point is being prepared isn't the Government's responsibility, ultimately it's YOURS.
Filed under Katrina Rita disaster relief new orleans emergency response FEMA
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