How to prepare for hurricane season in the midst of a pandemic
Hurricane season is fast approaching. A worrying time anyway, the ongoing 2020 COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more stressful. How are you supposed to practice social distancing in an evacuation center during an earthquake? By planning ahead, and consulting official advice, you can help to keep you and your family prepared and safe in the events of both crises.
Donate to support hurricane relief
Aid organizations provide a tremendous service to communities who have been affected by hurricanes. Amongst other essential roles, they pre-position supplies for a faster response, distribute supplies to impacted areas, and provide food and shelter to families who have been forced to evacuate. A hurricane relief donation to organizations like the Red Cross will help to keep supply chains running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Mostly, donations made this year can go towards providing aid workers with PPE and sanitation items, providing them with protection from the coronavirus while carrying out their essential hurricane assistance.
Update your Emergency Preparedness Kit to incorporate the pandemic
Your Emergency Preparedness Kit will consist of the essentials you need to help you to survive in a disaster situation: first aid kit, essential documents, and food and water. When putting together your first aid kit, make sure to include disinfectant and hygiene items like soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes to help protect you and your family from the coronavirus. Also ensure that you pack enough over the counter and prescription medication to last for at least a month, which will help to reduce non-essential visits to the pharmacy.
Review and update your evacuation plan
If you live in an area that is susceptible to hurricanes, you really should have an evacuation plan for your family that you practice annually. Evacuation plans usually consist of meetup points in case the family becomes separated during a crisis and a plan of where to evacuate to. Due to social distancing measures, there are specific points that you will have to consider when reviewing your evacuation plan. Ensure that every person in your household has a cloth face covering, such as face masks and scarves. Though a good safety measure, face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing, and you should continue to keep around six feet between yourself and others while in public.
Most evacuation centers will remain open this year, continuing to offer sanctuary to those affected by hurricanes. They will, however, be implementing precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as screening before admittance, maintaining social distance, regular hand washing and the wearing of face masks. If at all possible, to ease the undoubtedly strain the pandemic will have on evacuation centers, try, and organize an alternative place to go. For example, arrange to stay with close friends or relatives who live outside of the hurricane zone, or book a spot at a hotel or motel. Pre-planning this might mean making the decision ahead of time whether or not to evacuate, but it will help in reducing social contact at evacuation centers.
