Emergency Preparedness / 2023 / June
June 2023 Message
Dear Stake,
Hurricane season officially began June 1 and lasts until November 30. We live in a state that has often been and will continue to be affected by hurricanes. While some years are worse than others, we can never truly predict a devastating storm, so it's best to always be prepared!
The NOAA site is a wonderful resource, with information on how to best prepare for hurricane season. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with it, and talk about it with your family.
For those who are new to this area, a hurricane will typically bring high winds (including tornadoes) and a lot of rain, leading to flooding and fallen trees, which then causes power outages and damage to buildings and cars. Thus, preparing for a hurricane is essentially preparing for loss of electricity, as well as strengthening your home, if applicable, against high wind and tree damage.
For those who have lived here long enough to experience hurricanes, what is your best advice for others, to help them prepare? One sister advised: when experts spot a hurricane headed our way, go ahead and get all of your laundry done! When the power goes out and you can't wash your kids' clothes, you'll be glad to start out with enough clean things to last a while.
Over the next few months of hurricane season, we'll share specific ways to prepare and be safe in the event of a hurricane. This month, consider what you might need to have in place if you were to lose electricity for 3-5 days. Think about food, lighting, and keeping warm or cool. What are some ways you can prepare for this type of emergency? We'll talk about it in our next message!
Stay safe!
Chris and Holly Earls
Stake Emergency Preparedness Coordinators