How My Family Prepares to Cope with Natural Disasters

The area where I leave in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC, is on the border between rural, agricultural land and more developed suburban housing developments. Adjacent to a wilderness park and just off one of Montgomery's rustic roadways, it is an idyllic setting. But, it is also in an area that is subject to what could be legitimately classified as natural disasters; at least conditions that would be disastrous for those of us living there.

There are three possible situations we face each year; being snowed in for days at a time, flooding, and tornadoes. Preparing to cope with each of these conditions is essential, and there are a number of things that must be done that are common to each, but they are such different situations, there are some unique preparations that are required. The challenge is to be prepared for each, or, heaven forbid, all.

Here's how my family, after over twenty years of living here, has prepared to endure and survive our 'natural' disaster situation.

We don't get real blizzards, but being snowed in is being snowed in

While we've not had blizzards like those experienced in more northern areas of the U.S., because we live on essentially rural roads that are the lowest priorities for plowing after snow storms, when we get really heavy snows, we're sometimes trapped in our communities for as long as three to five days. Preparing for the power outages, inability to travel, and cabin fever is a matter of 'forewarned is forearmed.' Just before winter, we make sure we have several serviceable lanterns, flashlights with a good supply of fresh batteries, battery-powered radios, a good stock of reading material, at least a week's supply of drinking water, and a well-stocked pantry. Because the power often goes out after a heavy snowfall, it's important to make sure you have a good supply of already cooked food; such as canned goods that can be opened and eaten without cooking. We also have a couple of gas-powered hibachis, the kind that have the plug-in fuel cans, and can prepare simple dishes like fried eggs, bacon, Texas toast, and noodles.

Floods are always a danger

Because we live near the Potomac River, and have several streams in the wilderness park that forms part of our back yard, flooding is always a danger. Just because it hasn't happened, doesn't mean it never will, and we are constantly aware of the possibility. In addition to the preparations we make to deal with being snowed-in, and because flooding is a potential hazard during hurricane season and during the rainy season, we make sure the pantry is well-stocked at all times. We use our basement for entertaining, but make sure that all really valuable possessions are kept on the first and second floors of the house, so they won't be destroyed or damaged should a flood occur - this also protects them should a water pipe burst and flood the basement. One of our cars is an SUV with a high wheel base to give us a chance to get out of the area should the streets be flooded.

Twisters are killers

Tornadoes in Montgomery are rare, but every now and then, a twister forms and whips through. Our survival plan for this is to keep a weather eye and ear on conditions during tornado season, and be ready to go to shelter if we get a tornado warning. Having a battery-powered radio is really important. If the power goes out, and you can almost bet on that happening, since it happens even after a heavy rain, it will be the only way you have of knowing what's going on. If we get a tornado warning, everyone had been told to make a beeline for the basement and to hunker down in one of the inner rooms and away from windows.

References:

http://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov

http://www.visitmontgomery.com/plan-visit/weather

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/inland_flood.shtml

http://ussartf.org/blizzards.htm

http://nsidc.org/snow/blizzards.html

http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html

http://www.fema.gov/kids/tornado.htm