In March 2021, five people were killed after a tornado ripped through Alabama. Sixty homes in one community were damaged or destroyed. In Birmingham, a tornado that was part of a supercell tracked more than 100 miles. In 2020, Alabama reported 73 tornadoes.
Spring’s tornado season leads right into summer’s hurricane season. Alabama has never been hit by a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, but it has been close, and six Category 3 or 4 storms are on record as making landfall in the state, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It also might surprise some Alabamians to know that the state has experienced some six earthquakes registering at least 4.0 on the Richter scale in the past 50 years, and 26 temblors in the past year alone.
Clearly, Alabama has seen its share of natural disasters, which is why each household should be ready for an emergency situation.
Keep emergency supplies on hand
The American Red Cross suggests families have ready two kits: One with a two-week, stay-at-home supply of emergency items, and a second “grab-and-go” backpack with supplies for three days in case of an evacuation.
Emergency officials generally recommend that each household have a kit with enough supplies to get each family member through at least three days without electricity or running water.
Mark Wakefield, disaster relief strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, advises families to have one other important item in their emergency kit: a Bible.
“Often a family will have the necessary supplies,” he said, “but one thing they forget is a Bible.”
Though emergency kit items might vary from family to family, some essentials include:
- Canned goods and nonperishable foods that don’t need cooking (canned meats, fish, soup, fruits, vegetables, juices, baby formula, etc.)
- Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)Prescription medicine (two-week supply)
- Manual can opener
- Disposable plates, cups and utensils
- Water purification tablets (halazone)
- Infant care items (disposable diapers, wipes)
- First-aid supplies
- Flashlights or lanterns and extra batteries
- Battery-operated or hand-crank NOAA weather radio with alert.
“It’s also important to have copies of important documents in a waterproof bag or container,” added Jordyn Elston, a spokesperson for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
Those might include copies of personal credentials (including credit cards, lists of medications, medical information, proof of address, deed to home and vehicles, passport, birth certificates and/or insurance policies). Keeping cash on hand and maintaining family contact information also can be helpful.
“We encourage people to take their family’s specific needs into account and have any necessary medication or pet supplies packed as well,” Elston said. “Once you are in the middle of a disaster, that is not the time to start gathering supplies. We encourage preparedness because it saves lives.
“After a disaster, you may need to survive on your own for a couple of days,” she said. “Knowing what to do and having all the supplies that you need in an accessible place could be the first step toward your recovery.”
Caring for pets
And if there are family pets, don’t forget about their emergency needs. Pets depend on their owners to take care of them, so these will help furry friends not only survive, but reduce the stress of leaving home.
- Dog or cat carrier
- Proof of recent vaccinations, chip I.D., name of veterinarian
- First-aid kit
- ID tags (on animal’s collar)
- Leashes
- Proof of ownership
- Medications
- Food, water, bowl
How to survive a natural disaster
- Follow directions for using a generator. Use outdoors, never place inside a home.
- Before a natural disaster occurs, secure important documents in a bank deposit box. These have a greater chance of surviving flood, fire or tornado (as opposed to a home).
- Designate a meeting place for the family — such as the end of the driveway in case of a fire or explosion.
- Before a disaster, find locations of shelters in the area.
- Are pets allowed in these shelters? Is an animal shelter specifically listed?
- Download mobile apps and emergency numbers. Print information in case of a power failure.
- After a disaster, contact the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Team. These men and women volunteer their services when natural disasters occur.
Resources
- American Red Cross
- Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) (http://ema.alabama.gov)
- Ready Alabama (http://readyalabama.gov)
- National Hurricane Center (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov)
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric (NOAA) (http://www.noaa.gov)
- National Weather Service
- Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief (https://sbdr.org)
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