Emergency Preparedness / 2022 / July
July 2022 Message
Dear Stake,
While much of our state is in a drought and a rainstorm sounds like a great thing (especially if you are trying to grow a garden!), living in North Carolina means that we will be impacted by a hurricane eventually. Hurricane season lasts from June - December and a hurricane's effect on our area may be as mild as a rainy day or as severe as downed trees, flooding, high winds, tornadoes, and power or water outages. To help us be aware and prepare, the state has put together a very handy guide on hurricanes, found in both English and Spanish at this link.
Coastal counties are affected by hurricanes much more directly than we typically are in our stake, but you may be traveling to the beach this summer, and this guide gives some practical information on how to swim out of a rip current, as well as details on storm surges, for which there are watches and warnings, just like there are for tornadoes.
Also included are helpful tips on working with insurance companies after a storm, a guide for small business owners who may be negatively impacted by a hurricane, and information on how to help others after a damaging event.
The end of the pamphlet gives a great visual on what kinds of things to gather and have ready in case of an emergency brought on by a hurricane. The pamphlet states, and we affirm: the best time to assemble your emergency supply kit is before a disaster! Also, the best time to learn about what to do in a hurricane is before one happens.
This pamphlet can be printed out and stapled together into a booklet that can be kept in your home for reference and periodic review with family members. Using this guide to quiz your family on their hurricane and emergency preparedness knowledge would make a fun family home evening activity!
We hope that this season brings us very little hurricane impact, but if we are affected, let us be prepared.
Holly and Chris Earls
Stake Emergency Preparedness Coordinators