Thursday, October 20, 2005
Despite warnings, most Americans don't have emergency plan.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
After 11 hurricanes and 21 tropical storms this year, the emergence of Hurricane Wilma in the Caribbean is producing the familiar call to get ready to evacuate.
But Norris Beren, executive director of the Emergency Preparedness Education Institute of Mount Prospect, Ill., says that in spite of all the warnings, more than half of Americans don't have an emergency evacuation plan, and two-thirds aren't equipped with emergency supplies.
After 11 hurricanes, Beren frets things actually could be getting worse rather than better. "There's something called hurricane fatigue, like, 'I've already done that this year,' " he said. That could result in people unwisely delaying their evacuation plans until the very last minute.
"People are their own first responder," Beren said.
Mapping it out
His recommendation: think of MAP, for material, attitude and a plan.
U Material: It costs less than a tank of gas to prepare. Get spare glasses, essential prescription drugs, bottled water and canned food sufficient for a week and put them in a plastic bag that you will take with you. Spare cash is also good in case electricity cutoffs limit your ability to use credit cards.
U Attitude: Follow the storm's path, listen to the government warnings, and be ready for the evacuation announcements. The government generally provides 24-to-48 hour warning of an evacuation. If you feel it's not going to be safe, go.
U Plan: If you don't have a car, hitch a ride with a neighbor or make arrangements with a church group that uses their Sunday school buses for evacuations. Decide what you are going to do with the family pets.