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E-mail This StoryAs Hurricane Ike sent thousands fleeing to North Texas, the city of Mesquite’s Office of Emergency Preparedness found itself in an ironic position. It had to cancel its emergency preparedness program to teach residents how to prepare for a natural disaster because of a natural disaster.
September is National Preparedness Month, and while Ike delayed some of the city’s educational programs, city emergency planning officials say citizens shouldn’t delay planning for the worst.
While North Central Texas is unlikely to experience the full force of a hurricane, this stretch of rolling plains is known for its severe weather in the form of flooding, tornadoes, ice and hail.
Prit Patel, emergency preparedness specialist for the city, said planning for these weather events is no different from planning for a hurricane.
“All preparations are basically the same,” she said.
The most important preparation is the 72-hour survival kit, she said. The kit should contain enough necessities so that an individual can survive alone for at least three days.
“A lot of it being prepared is having a kit,” she said.
Water and non-perishable food is most critical, she said.
A good rule of thumb is to have one gallon of water per person per day. The water should be stored in sealed, unbreakable containers, she said.
The kit also should contain high-energy foods and foods that can be eaten with little preparation. If necessary, it also should contain foods for infants or those on special diets.
Patel suggested that the kit also contained a hand crank canner opener in case there is no electricity.
In kit also should contain a first-aid kit, medication, flashlights, extra batteries, and an extra change of clothes for each person as well as blankets.
It also should contain a weather radio to hear alerts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio. NWR Is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Patel noted that the radios are relatively inexpensive and available at many retail outlets.
People also should have a means of communication. Cell phones are most common, she said.
Patel pointed out that many of the people who made their way to the city’s emergency reception center had such kits with them.
“Evacuees have been educated on the importance of having a kit,” she said.
People also should plan for their pets. That was a critical lesson learned from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she said.
“After Katrina, large population didn’t evacuation because of their pets,” she said.
Like kits for humans, the kit should contain enough food and water to last each animal for three days.
Patel said the kit could be as elaborate or detailed as one wants to make it.
For example, it could contain toys to entertain children.
When severe weather approaches, people need to know what actions to take. While a person in a brick home might take their chances by sheltering in place, a person living in a manufactured home, might need to decide whether to stay put or move to a shelter.
The bottom line is that people “prepare, plan and stay informed,” she said.
The city has its own emergency preparedness web site located at www.cityofmesquite.com/oem. The city also has partnered with the regional web site www.knowhat2do.com and www.ready.gov to provide educational resources for its citizens.
In addition, the Emergency Management Office’s educational booth will be located through the end of the month at the Main Library, located at 300 West Grubb Drive.
