Emergency Management office provides tips for disaster preparation

  • Published
  • By Ken Spears
  • 23rd Wing Emergency Management
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Since hurricane season officially began June 1, the 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management office advises Moody personnel to be ready in case a disaster strikes.

The most important things to do during a disaster are to be informed and be prepared. Disaster prevention includes being ready as well as reducing potential damage.

Disaster prevention should include developing a family plan, creating a disaster supply kit, securing your home and having a pet plan.

One of the most important decisions to make is whether or not to evacuate.

If asked to evacuate, do so without delay. Unless you live in a manufactured house, coastal area, low-lying area, or an area that floods frequently, it is unlikely that emergency managers will ask you to evacuate. This means it is important to have a plan that makes it safe to be inside your home.

Also, make sure to fill up the car with gas before evacuating.

Once an evacuation order is given, leave as soon as possible. It is best to leave during daylight. Even a slight delay in starting an evacuation will result in longer travel times as traffic congestion worsens. Evacuation will probably take longer than expected, so give yourself plenty of time.

Select an evacuation destination that is nearest to your home, preferably in the same county. Minimize the distance you must travel in order to reach the intended shelter location.

In choosing a destination, be aware that the hotels and other shelter options in most inland metropolitan areas are likely to be filled quicker in the event of a large, multi-county hurricane evacuation. If a hotel is your final intended destination, make reservations before you leave. The longer you wait to make reservations, the less likely you are to find a vacancy, especially along highways or in major metropolitan areas.

If you are unable to stay with friends or family and no hotel rooms are available, go to a shelter. Remember, shelters are not designed for comfort and do not usually accept pets, so bring your disaster supply kit with you to the shelter.

Follow the steps pre-identified in your family disaster plan. 

Your unit Emergency Management (EM) representative can provide a copy of the 23rd Wing Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan 10-2, which contains details about hurricane emergency procedures for the installation.

The local emergency management office, which can be reached at (229) 671-2790,or local chapter of the American Red Cross should be able to provide details of their plan. This plan would include information on the safest evacuation routes, nearby shelters, school closures and what conditions are necessary for recommended evacuation of certain areas.

Disaster prevention also includes modifying your home to strengthen it against storms. It includes having the supplies on hand to get through the storm. The suggestions here are only guides and you should always use common sense.

Develop a family disaster plan before an actual storm threatens your area. The Web site, www.ready.gov, is available for more information on preparing a plan.

For more information on developing a family disaster plan, a disaster supplies kit or a pet plan, call the Airman and Family Readiness Center at (229) 257-3120.

The Moody public Web site, www.moody.af.mil, also contains a hurricane survival guide along with the following checklists: disaster kit, hurricane watch/warning, evacuation, staying/returning home and hurricane conditions.