Preparedness Resources for Hurricane Season
From the Diocesan Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee
The diocesan Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee works in collaboration with churches, the diocese, and local organizations to respond to disasters, to provide support for full and sustained community recovery, and to share disaster preparedness resources. They are sharing their expertise in a series of blogs that will help your family create preparedness plans and offer advice on what to have on hand to quickly respond to a disaster.
Hurricane season typically runs from June 1 through November 30, but disasters can happen any time. FEMA, the American Red Cross, and other organizations commonly define “disaster” as any event which overwhelms existing local capacity and requires outside assistance for recovery. Events like earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, epidemics, mass migration, and traumatic community events may cause tremendous damage, destruction, and human suffering.
It is critical to make preparations before a disaster strikes.
Episcopal Relief & Development suggests three steps to help ensure personal safety in time of disaster: make a plan, be informed, and prepare a kit.
- Make a Plan: Memorize the phone number of the person you would call in an emergency and keep copies of the number in your wallet. We often store emergency numbers in cell phones, which aren’t always functioning or available after a disaster. Have conversations about what to do after a sudden event – where would you meet? Who would you contact? Keep your plan fresh in your mind by regularly talking and practicing with family members.
- Be Informed: What’s the best way to get accurate and timely information about what’s happening? Identify groups that send out local text alerts and sign up for the service and consider buying a radio to use during emergencies or consider other ways of staying informed.
- Prepare a Kit: The three essentials you should include is a three-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day), non-perishable food items, and cash (including small denominations). Here is a basic preparedness checklist, available in English and Spanish, to share with members of your congregation.
Diocesan churches and institutions with questions about disaster preparedness may contact Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee Co-Chairs Jennifer Wickham, at jennifer.wickham@dwtx.org, and Jason Louis, at jasonlouis@gmail.com.
Preparedness Resources
- Click here to access the 2022 Hurricane Guide in English and Spanish.
- Click here for The National Hurricane Center and NOAA’s Southeast and Caribbean Regional Collaboration Team (SECART) hurricane awareness webinar series.
