It’s been more than a week since Hurricane Florence paid the United States a visit and many Americans are still reeling from the devastation it left behind. Some areas in South and North Carolina and nearby states are still flooded while tons of debris has yet to be cleared. There are reports that the death toll has reached 47 and may continue to rise. In the wake of this disaster, one question that should be in all our minds is what Hurricane Florence lessons have we learned and should apply next time something big hits our shores.
Florence scared the bejesus out of many people after it was revealed that it was a category 4 storm. This vital piece of information, and the fact that the hurricane moved at a slow pace, allowed many Americans to prepare for the incoming disaster. Despite it being downgraded to category 1 right before it hit the Carolinas, Hurricane Florence still managed to wreck havoc and claim lives.
As such, Hurricane Florence lessons are aplenty and people need to learn from their mistakes.
Hurricane Florence Lessons: The Calm Before and During the Storm
You Can Never Be Completely Prepared
This may seem contrary to our goal of prepping but you must understand that you can’t be 100% prepared for such natural disasters or other emergency situations. However, one of the valuable Hurricane Florence lessons we can learn fro this is that not being 100% prepared is still a lot better than not being prepared at all.
According to reports, many households prepped for the coming storm by stocking up on food and water. Government agencies such as FEMA suggest storing at least a week of supplies. However, no one can really tell how long the recovery period will be. If it takes longer than a week, especially if he power grid is down, then you’re left with nothing more to eat and drink.
Your best course of action and probably one of the important Hurricane Florence lessons you must learn, is that enough is never enough. If you think one gallon of water is enough for one person each day, add another gallon. If you have 5 boxes of MREs, go ahead and buy another five.
Pet Emergency Preparedness
Hurricane Florence lessons not only apply to humans but also to pets and domesticated animals. Around 3.4 million chickens and 5,500 pigs died during the onslaught of Florence. Most of these poor creatures drowned. An estimated 600 animals, meanwhile, were found abandoned by their owners.
This reflects the lack of preparation with regards to animals. Most people prepare for disasters forgetting that their animal companions need saving, as well. Check this out to know how to prepare your pets for disasters.
Evacuate When Told To Evacuate
People in the affected areas had enough time to evacuate when they were told to do so. However, many of them ignored the evacuation orders. In Charleston, some locals decided to party instead of following the authorities. To be fair with these party goers, they have learned their lessons long before Hurricane Florence lessons needed to be learned.
They are so used to hurricanes that they know what to do. Residences and business establishments were well protected. Windows were blocked with wooden boards, doors had flood gates, and sandbags were all over. Many people also resorted to salvage pumps.
They may have escaped harm during Florence’s visit but the fact remains that if the local government tells you to evacuate, then you should. Better safe than sorry, as they say.
Hurricane Florence Lessons: The After Effects
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
One of the important Hurricane Florence lessons you should learn is that it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Even after a storm has passed, there are still dangers lurking around. Take the case of a 67-year-old man who fell and broke his neck while cleaning up after the storm. His death is still considered storm-related since it involved cleaning up debris caused by Florence.
The old man, bless his soul, was doing something many people are expected to be doing at this juncture. It was an unfortunate turn events for him and his family but it proves that keeping your guard up doesn’t end when the storm leaves. You should still be extra careful when you’re trying to move on from such a disaster. With all due respect to the victim, one way you could avoid such tragic accident is to wear proper gear. Rescuers and first responders usually wear safety boots, proper head gear, and eye protection. You should, too.
Prepare for A Storm Surge
One dangerous after effect of a hurricane is a storm surge. The recent hurricane brought a massive storm surge along for the ride. There’s a possibility that many people didn’t expect a storm surge for the simple reason that they don’t know what it is. Others probably weren’t aware of its effects.
The storm surge that came with Florence brought most of the water that left this part of the country under water. In the past 70 years, Florence brought the second highest level or amount of rainwater of all the storms that passed through the country during that period. That’s enough to cause knee-high flood. The storm surge that was predicted to be four meters high didn’t help at all.
One of the Hurricane Florence lessons you should know by now is what to do in case of a storm surge. Know more about storm surges by checking this out.
Sewer Do We Go From Here?
One of the biggest problems that arose during Florence’s time in the country is the lack of clean water. The main culprit here is the overflowing sewer system. People in some shelters and evacuation centers were forced to relocate after the sewer systems overflowed.
An estimated 84,000 gallons of sewage spilled on camp Lejeune, according to reports. Another report claims 339,000 gallons of untreated wastewater from the Johnston County treatment plant spilled to the Neuse River.
Smooth Criminals and Desperados
People who fail to prepare for emergencies are likely to become desperate enough to do something they wouldn’t normally do. These people could resort to stealing and robbing just to feed their family. Aside from being wary of these people, you should have some way of defending yourself.
There are others who are more of the predatory type. This thieving kind thrives during tragic situations in which they try to profit from the misfortunes of others. Looters are just one example of this kind of criminals. The worst ones, however, are those who prey on the weak. Some examples are business owners who raise prices of their goods and services, those who start fake charities to usurp donations, and con artists who sell fake insurances. Even worse, there are people who steal important details such as Social Security numbers by pretending to be working for FEMA or insurance companies.
Hats off to the local government, authorities, and people who came prepared for the natural disaster. But as we all witnessed, there are still a lot to learn. Hopefully, these Hurricane Florence lessons will be instrumental in encouraging people to always be prepared for the worst.
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