|
Preparing for a Hurricane
|
By P.A. Yager
[Hits: 14035]
|
|
In Florida, we know hurricanes. We know what they can do and weknow how to prepare for them. We watched in horror as ourbrothers and sisters in the Gulf States were displaced anddamaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in what is undoubtedlythe worst hurricane season on record for that region. Wewondered why it seemed to be so difficult for them to evacuateand get to safety. When a hurricane threatens South Florida ourevacuation plans go into effect almost automatically.Systematically we evacuate the entire Florida Keys on a singleroad. Our keys population is nowhere near the population of NewOrleans or Houston and we do not have a network ofsuper-highways to evacuate them, only a single road moving northto Miami before our highways become a factor.
So why do our evacuations work? Simple! We have a plan. A plandeveloped and implemented by Local and State authorities, notthe Federal Government or its agencies. After all, we choose tolive here, so it is our responsibility to manage our needs underany condition. We do look for help from the Federal Governmentafter the storm in rebuilding under-insured areas, to helprestore roads and utilities and provide low interest loans foraffected businesses. This kind of help takes weeks and months toreach all affected people. And it only comes when States andLocal governments make the request. And to make those requeststhe Federal system expects that the State and Local governmentsprovide a viable plan to make sure that mistakes are notrepeated and that Federal Aid is not just a temporary fix.
Preparing a hurricane plan for an individual or an entire regionrequires information from many sources and many experts. A greatplace to start to gather information and sources is theHurricane Tracking page from www.ServicesInFlorida.com. Here youwill also find links to individuals and organizations that canhelp you with your plan.
P.A. Yager South Florida resident and webmaster and Survivor ofhurricane Andrew, 1992.
|
|
|
|
|
|
