Ensign » 2007 » March
Storming Back
By Norman C. Hill and Richard M. Romney
This article is about Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina. Here is an excerpt:
Suggestions from Survivors
“Be both spiritually and temporally prepared,” says Charlotte Moore of the Waveland Ward in Mississippi. “Have food and water in your home, gas up your car, and know when the storm is coming. Then you’re not struggling to deal with basic needs, and you can take care of your family and serve others.” Here are some other suggestions from those who survived the hurricanes.
Evacuation, travel, communication
• Take evacuation orders seriously. Leave as early as you can.
• Travel in caravans. “It may slow you down a little, but there’s security in knowing you’re in a group,” says President Johnny Ross of the Orange Texas Stake.
• Be aware of gridlock. Highways may be tied up with evacuating traffic. Leave early to avoid it. Back roads may be open when major interstates are clogged.
• Contact your home teacher or other priesthood leaders, and let them know your plans. When you get to an evacuation center, check in and let them know where you are headed.
Evacuation centers
• Know where you can go ahead of time. If possible, have a plan to stay with family or friends.
Emergency supplies
• Gasoline. If you know a disaster is on the way, keep your gas tank full and have extra gas containers filled well in advance.
• Extension cords.
• Cash. Get it out of the bank in advance, or keep a small emergency supply if you can. “If you wait until everyone else is taking money from the bank, it will be empty,” cautions Melissa Moore of the Williamson Third Ward, Orange Texas Stake.
• Ward roster or address list. “You might not think of it first off,” says Keith Crossley, also of the Williamson Third Ward. “But when we were asked to start checking on people’s homes, it came in really handy.”
• Prescription medication.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• Portable, battery-powered radio.
• Waterproof matches.
• Fire extinguisher.
• First aid kit and instruction book.
• Blankets and sheets.
• Duct tape. At evacuation centers, duct tape came in handy for making labels and signs.
• Change of clothes.
• Adequate supply of food and water.
• Coloring books and crayons. These will give your children something to do during long hours of waiting.
• Favorite games, toys, and books.
• Consecrated oil.
• Scriptures.
For those who stay and those who return
• Turn off gas and electricity.
• Don’t open doors or windows during a storm. The change in pressure may cause destruction.
• Beware of downed power lines. To avoid electrical shock, treat every power line as if it is live.
• Take as many belongings as possible off the floor, or move them to a higher floor.
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