Dr. Scott Needle is a practicing pediatrician and medical director for patient safety for Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida. He also is the chair of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters.
When Hurricane Irma struck Southwest Florida last year, many Collier County residents experienced their first major disaster. While we hope to never repeat the experience, hurricanes are a yearly risk for us in the Sunshine State, and it’s important to always be ready. Preparedness is even more important for families with children, since kids rely on adults to keep them safe. You may not be able to avoid every danger, but you can take actions to reduce your risk.
Preparing for a hurricane or other disaster can seem overwhelming: what do you do first? Should you buy supplies? Where can you find a list of what to do? Fortunately, there are many great resources, and you don’t have to do it all at once. Work on it a little at a time, and everyone in the family can help.
Most experts recommend preparing for disaster in three steps:
• Make a kit.
• Have a plan.
• Be informed.
The first, and most obvious, way to be ready is to have the right emergency supplies at home. What would your family need to survive if there was no power, water, or transportation? You should have at least three days’ supply of bottled water and ready-to-eat foods such as granola bars, nuts, raisins, or jerky. Flashlights, batteries, tools, and a first aid kit are also good to have. Make sure to keep copies of important documents in a safe place. Families with infants and young children will need diapers and age-appropriate foods. Babies on formula will also need bottles, but breastfeeding is usually easier and healthier – one more reason that nursing is the best way to feed babies, even in disaster. It is important to have enough prescription and over-the-counter medicines available, too. Many health insurance companies will allow you to get refills early if a hurricane is coming. Kids can help pick toys, games, dolls, and books to keep them busy at home, on the road, or in a shelter. Finally, don’t forget supplies for your pets.
Families also should have a plan in case of disaster. Make sure children have the address and phone number of other family members and trusted friends. Talk with your children about what you will do if something happens and you are separated during the day – for example, if children are at school and mom or dad is at work. Pick a safe space to meet if you can’t get to your home. If a hurricane was coming, think ahead to what you might do: would you stay, go to a shelter, or evacuate? If you evacuate, where would you go, how would you get there, and when would you leave? Don’t forget to keep cars and trucks filled with fuel if a hurricane is coming. Remember how there was no gas when Irma arrived?
Lastly, be informed. Know the risks and how to get information. Hurricanes are the biggest danger for our community, but other disasters are possible. Wildfires and tornadoes have happened, and industrial accidents also could occur. How would your family respond to these events? How would you know if a severe weather event was nearby or coming? You may want to have a battery-powered weather radio to keep you informed.
Some disaster experts add one more step: get involved! Talk with your neighbors and learn how to help each other. Your neighbors may have special skills or equipment that could be useful, such as military experience or items like a chainsaw. Some of your neighbors may need extra help. For instance, if they are older and live alone or if they have special medical needs. You also can join a county Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to receive special training on how to help, volunteer, and prepare. To learn more about Collier County CERT, call the fire district where you live. If you need more information, there are some excellent guides online. The American Red Cross (www.redcross. org) and FEMA’s Ready.gov are both good resources, and the FEMA website also includes a section just for kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a Family Readiness Kit, available at www. aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_fam- ily_readiness_kit.pdf.
Remember, you can’t prevent disasters, but you certainly can be ready if they happen!