How to Shelter From a Storm During a Pandemic
The “extremely active” hurricane season, in the midst of a global pandemic, sounds like a disaster movie from the late 1990s, but it’s 2020, so that’s our current reality. Earlier this month, New York and other parts of the east coast got a taste of this twin disaster, when tropical storm Isaiah ripped through several states, killing at least nine people and leaving millions without electricity.
Coping with the aftermath of a natural disaster is difficult in the best of times, but now is really not the best time to be without electricity and water, get hurt or stranded during a flood. In addition, there is the issue of shelter both during and possibly after a storm: as we have learned from Hurricane Katrina and other violent storms, the conditions in overcrowded shelters are ideal for the spread of infectious diseases – and again, that was true when we were n’t. It was. I’m not at the center of a global pandemic.
Now that hurricane season is in full swing, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have jointly developed a set of guidelines to help you stay safe during storms and pandemic. Here’s what you need to know.
Get ready
Those who live in hurricane-prone coastal areas or other parts of the country that are regularly exposed to tornadoes and violent storms should already have a contingency plan in place, ” Lifehacker told the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Association (NOAA) Meteorologist of the National Warning Coordination. Chris Mayer.
“Everyone should have a plan [for hurricanes] if you live anywhere on the coast,” he explains. “Part of this plan is to know your escape route and how best you can to mitigate the risks associated with your property.”
This also includes a pack of emergency gear ready to go. (We covered this in more detail here .) If you already have one of the previous seasons, check again to make sure everything you need is still there (and not expired) – and add hand sanitizer, masks , gloves or something else. other PPE that you think may be useful. And don’t forget to include pets in your emergency plan.
Don’t wait too long to take action
Now that so much is happening, it might be tempting to minimize the danger of an impending hurricane, but this is not a good idea. “Know when to act,” explains Mayer. “Because if you wait too long and get stuck in a storm, it can be a life-threatening situation.” The best way to get the most accurate weather information and evacuation instructions is to watch or listen to local news for recommendations for your area, he said.
Evacuate if necessary
If you know you will have to evacuate and have enough time to do so, you can stay with friends or family until the hurricane passes, as recommended by the CDC – just make sure you clear it with them first. (and let them come out if they don’t like it). And as with any guest situation right now, all of the usual COVID-19 precautions (physical distancing whenever possible, frequent hand washing, covering up coughs and sneezes, etc.) are still very relevant.
But not everyone has somewhere to go, so spending time in a community shelter might be the safest option. It is understandable that some people may fear being caught in a closed building during a pandemic – and rightfully so. As with most difficult decisions, it comes down to weighing the potential risks and benefits (protecting yourself from the storm, but potentially exposing yourself or others to COVID-19 or other infectious diseases).
“The bottom line is that in the event of a major hurricane hitting the coast, you should take action against the hurricane — as recommended by the CDC as possible,” explains Mayer. “In most shelters, emergency managers make sure these rules are followed to their best – for example, making sure people in the shelter have masks.”
In addition to face masks, other guidelines include avoiding any heavy-touch surfaces and – perhaps the biggest problem – staying away from others at the shelter (other than the people you usually live with). If you feel unwell at the shelter, notify one of the staff immediately and they will advise you on how to deal with the situation in that particular location.