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A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. Prov. 22: 3
Charles B. Fleming
Its hurricane season and so I asked Hugh Weekes, who is actively involved in Disaster Recovery Planning at a national level in Trinidad, to send a summary of things to do that I could share with you. Be sure to read his memo, Emergency Tips.
I wish encourage you to make it a habit of giving a message at the beginning of every hurricane season, encouraging the brethren to make some crucial preparations for the season. Put that into your yearly planner of messages to give to the congregation.
Doing this is important because by being prepared we are doing two things:
- being good stewards to our families by anticipating their needs during a time of national disaster;
- putting ourselves in a position to extend the love of Christ to those around us. If our family’s basic needs are taken care of, we are in a better position to reach out to others.
Here are my top ten things to remind the brethren of:
In May, before the season begins, check the house for any needed repairs. Trim any trees or vegetation that may need it. Also in May, contact your insurance agent to be sure you have adequate coverage on your home. As construction costs and home values increase we need to be sure we have adequate coverage to repair or replace our homes. Have a multi-year plan for buying material for protecting home (plywood for windows, etc). Many of us cannot afford to buy all the plywood, etc, that we may need in any one year, but we can buy a few sheets each year until we have what we want. It took me five years to buy all the panels I needed for our old home in Coral Springs but we finally had all that we needed. This also helped make our home saleable, at a higher price, when we moved. During May and June, check on your hurricane supplies: water containers, battery supply, battery radio, back up fuel for cooking (coal, propane gas, etc). As you will see, Hugh stresses: "Make it a habit to place emergency items in a familiar location, where everyone would be expected to find them quickly." Starting in May it is wise to buy a few extra cans of food each week and let them accumulate until you have enough to take care of your family’s needs for approx. 7 days (see Hugh’s list for more details). If you never have to use them during a hurricane, then at the end of the season you can use them up, throw a party, or donate them to those in need. Know the evacuation routes to government-designated shelters, in case you need to use them. When a hurricane watch or warning is made, clean up the area around your house to avoid flying objects that can do damage. Compile a list of emergency numbers, and keep it in an accessible place (e.g. Police, Fire, Ambulance, plumber, electrician, etc. Update it each year. Water Storage: set aside 12-15 gallons per person per day. (See Hugh’s list for more details). Clothes, important documents and First Aid: Place some dry clothes and important papers in plastic bags to keep them dry. Have a small First Aid on hand (Hugh has good suggestions on this).
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