Tragedy Strikes the South

Are you prepared for a severe weather emergency?

The powerful tornados that tore through Mississippi and Alabama this week brought nature's destructive power once again into tragic focus. The massive funnel clouds can rip pavement from roadways, smash homes and businesses, and shatter lives all in the matter of moments.

Sadly, more than 250 people died in the storms that hit the South, but the death toll might easily have been much higher were it not for the area's sophisticated early warning system and the preparedness of local government agencies, community organizations and individuals.

The National Weather Service began warning of potential severe storms several days in advance of Wednesday's tornados and issued a rare "high risk" warning hours in advance of their arrival. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration similarly warned of "super tornados" a half hour before they appeared. Widely disseminated on television, radio and other media, these warnings gave many people time to seek safe shelter.

Given the devastating power of these storms, it may seem surprising to note that the National Weather Service once imposed a virtual ban on the use of the word "tornado" in weather forecasts. In the days before the invention of Doppler weather radar, tornados were nearly impossible to predict and the Weather Service feared talk of funnel clouds would cause a general panic. As a result, when the giant Tri-State Tornado swept through parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in 1925, nearly 700 were killed in part because it arrived without warning.

People who live in tornado-prone areas of the country need to remain alert for severe weather warnings, but they also need to maintain a high level of personal preparedness. It is essential for people to know what to do before, during and after a tornado arrives, and to be familiar with their community's emergency preparedness resources and procedures. It is also important for people to be prepared to deal with the immediate and extended aftermath of a storm by maintaining adequate emergency supplies. That includes a survival kit with food, water, medical supplies and other essentials sufficient for at least 72 hours.

More information on how to prepare for tornados and other emergency situations is available on the More Prepared website.

Hurricane Preparedness: 2011 Season Predictions

With Hurricane season—June 1 through November 30—just around the corner, we wanted to take some time to address the recent forecasts. Of course, weather forecasts are what they are— predictions. But, at More Prepared, we believe it's better to have a general idea of what you'll be up against than no idea at all.

So, what's in store for this season? According to Philip J. Klotzbach, William M. Gray, and their associates at Colorado State University, there's a lot in store for this hurricane season:

• 16 named storms
• 9 of them becoming hurricanes
• 5 of them major hurricanes

Which is a relatively active season compared to the average season:

• 9.6 named storms
• 5.9 of them becoming hurricanes
• 2.3 of them becoming major hurricanes

However, while forecasts indicate a busy season, this isn't surprising. Any season when there is no expected El Nino, the forecasts are higher. Basically, if there is an El Nino, it reduces the strength of the westerlies, which reduces the strength of any potential storms.

How much stock you put in these forecasts is really up to you. It's easy rag on the weatherman. He's an easy target in a largely unpredictable industry. Keep in mind, though, that last season—which was predicted to be busy—saw 19 named storms, 4 more than its April prediction of 15.

The closer we get to hurricane season, the more accurate the predictions will become. So, with that in mind, we encourage all of our visitors to get a refresher in hurricane preparedness and maintain up-to-date emergency kits.

Survive A Tsunami With A Survival Kit

A tsunami is a devastating event that is generally cause by an earthquake near or within an ocean.  Throughout the centuries, there have been numerous records and accounts of devastation that has been wrought by these frightening products of nature; although those who live on the shoreline are usually most at risk from a tsunami, the reality is that a tsunami can reach a mile or more inland, depending on the lay of the land and the height of the waves.  Having a survival kit ready for escape at all times in the event of an occasion such as this is one of the best ways to prepare.
    Due to the high level of technology utilized in the detection of tsunamis and earthquakes, individuals have more warning than ever of an impending tsunami.  Local news stations and authorities at the highest government levels can quickly warn citizens of impending waves and can direct them to head inland and to higher ground.  On occasion however, some individuals might miss the warnings, are unable to escape and need to figure out a way to survive.  When this situation occurs, you do not want to stop and gather your possessions; you need to have an emergency kit or survival kit that you can quickly grab that will already contain supplies to help you and your family survive.
    Always heed official warnings of tsunamis, even if you only see a small wave; tsunamis occur more than once, and even a small wave can still mean that there are larger waves to come.  Tsunamis can last for hours, and having the ability to stay in comfort if trapped can save your life; survival kits should be available in every home that lives on the shore in the event of a major catastrophe such as this.

Lessons from Japan

It's time to review your preparedness plans and restock your survival kits.

The terrible earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan has caused many Americans to reevaluate their own preparedness for a major disaster. And well they should. Japan, by all accounts, sets the standard for preparedness. It has the world's most sophisticated warning systems for earthquakes and tsunamis. It enforces stringent building codes on all types of construction. Its population regularly takes part in earthquake drills.

And yet, the results of the earthquake and tsunami were devastating. As of March 20th, the death toll topped 8,000 with another 20,000 people still missing. 360,000 people were living in shelters. More than 115,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged. 2.3 million people were without regular power service and 750,000 were without electricity.

Still, the preparedness of the Japanese people saved many lives and prevented wider damage. Most buildings in the earthquake zone fared fairly well. The country's early warning systems stopped trains that might otherwise have derailed and provided a few minutes advance notice of the coming tsunami that helped at least some people seek higher ground. Having drilled incessantly, most Japanese people knew how to respond during and immediately following the quake, which surely saved many lives.

What can Americans learn from Japan's tragic experience?

1. Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency is essential for everyone. Disaster preparedness training is offered by CERT, the Red Cross and many other organizations. It would be unwise to rely on others to know what to do.
2. Government entities, first responders and utilities are often overwhelmed when a disaster strikes. Everyone should have survival kits in their homes, workplaces and cars, and be prepared to attend to their own needs for at least 72 hours after a disaster strikes. That means keeping sufficient medical supplies, food, water and shelter for every member of the family and pets.
3. It is crucial to have a plan. Families should have a communications plan so that they can contact one another in the event of an emergency. They should also be familiar with local evacuation plans and know what to do should they be forced to leave their home, their neighborhood or their city.
4. Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere. Every community and every home is vulnerable to disaster, whether it be an earthquake, a flood, a tornado or some other event. By their nature, disasters arrive unexpectedly and at the most inopportune times. It is therefore important not to delay disaster preparedness. The time to begin ensuring that your family is ready for an emergency is now.

Tsunami Preparedness

Our hearts at More Prepared go out to all of those affected by the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan. With thousands of lives lost and countless others drastically changed, Mother Nature has proven once again that we are at her complete mercy.

A natural, or unnatural, disaster can occur in the blink of an eye—with or without warning. Even with the all the advancements in technology, some events are simply unpredictable. And, with that in mind, that is why we at More Prepared do what we do. We offer survival gear and survival education in order to prepare you for any natural or unnatural disaster. For now, given the recent events, we’ll focus on tsunamis.

First, you should know what a tsunami is.

• A tsunami is a series of waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water. It’s not one, enormous rogue wave. In fact, a tsunami will look more like rapidly rising water than towering waves. The displacement is usually caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, meteorite ocean impacts, and any other large disturbance below or above water.

Know if you’re in a tsunami risk area.

• Naturally some areas, like Japan, are more prone to tsunamis, but any low-lying coastal area is technically a tsunami risk area

If you’re in a risk area, you should:

• Know your home, office, and children’s school’s exact height above sea level. You should also know our distance from the coast. During a tsunami warning, evacuation orders may be based on these numbers.

• Plan and practice evacuation routes. As a general rule of thumb, you should try to get at least 100 ft. above sea level and 2 miles from the coast, if possible. Know the best way to reach these destinations by car or by foot.

• As you would with any disaster, remember to save yourself, not your belongings. With that being said, be sure to grab a radio and any survival gear if possible.

CAUTION—if there is a noticeable rapid recession in water away from the shoreline, this is nature’s tsunami warning and it should be heeded.

As we’ve seen with the tragic events in Japan, a tsunami can have a devastating impact on an entire nation. Nothing can protect us entirely from the nature’s destructive path; however, we can prepare ourselves with the proper survival gear and education to ensure that only the minimal amount of damage is incurred.