Throughout my series of articles, I have mentioned having a plan in place in case of a disaster. Today, I wanted to go into more depth about why planning ahead of time is a good thing to do.
We have discussed what type of disasters we have had in Brookings County.
They range from long-past events such as blizzards where snow was piled up to the second floor of buildings to flooding that made the area between the Brookings and Volga one large lake. In recent times most of you can remember the May 2022 derecho that swept through the county.
Of course, those are natural disasters, but we also have also had man-made disasters in the county.
An example is March 5, 2001, when there was a large propane gas leak in the Volga. The town’s population of 1,300 people had to be evacuated and was allowed to return on March 7, 2001. A 30,000-gallon propane tank leaked approximately 6,000 gallons of propane into the ground. The biggest problem was described as the possibility of a massive explosion. U.S. Highway 14 and the railroad both were shut down through Volga during the evacuation. The residents of Volga were housed in hotels in Brookings and the National Guard Armory was turned into a shelter. If the same event happened today, we would still use hotels in Brookings but since the 911 attacks the National Guard Armory has been removed as a possible shelter. We now plan to use the Dacotah Bank Center and the Brookings County Outdoor Adventure Center.
It is important to realize that when the need to be evacuated occurs no one will know how long you will be away from your residence.
Disasters disrupt thousands of lives every year, leaving behind lasting effects on people and property. After a disaster, many others in your community need help as well. For this reason, local first responders and other assistance may not be able to reach you right away. You and your family can take simple steps now to prepare for emergencies. By doing so, you take back control — even in the uncertainty of disaster.
Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find. Everyone’s plan will be different. Do you have young children? How many pets do you have in your home? Do you own a large herd of cattle? etc.
An emergency plan can help you reach loved ones when normal communication methods are not working or are inaccessible. Most importantly, it may help you stay safe in a disaster and give you peace of mind. Consider making plans for evacuation, communication, and to protect critical documents and your property.
Know how to contact and meet family members before, during, or after a disaster by making a family emergency communication plan. The first step is to collect all contact information from your family and add it to the communication plan. Include contact information for other important people or organizations as well, such as medical facilities, doctors, schools, or service providers. You should also set an out-of-state point of contact, which enables everyone in your family to share updates through that person if local communication is unavailable. Be sure to have at least two forms of contact for that person.
You may also use social media as an important method of communication with your family.
Make sure everyone understands the family emergency communication plan. You should also post a copy in a central location in your home, such as on your refrigerator or family bulletin board. It is vital that your family practice your plan once you have developed it — just like you would a fire drill. Have regular household meetings to go over your communication plan and meeting place after a disaster.
Knowing what plans already exist can help you understand what you need to plan for and what resources are available. Ask local officials about your community’s emergency preparedness plans and learn about opportunities for education and training.
Parents and guardians should make sure that schools and daycare centers have emergency response plans. Ask how schools will communicate with parents and guardians during a crisis, and whether they keep enough food, water, and other basic supplies on hand. In addition, find out if schools are prepared to shelter in place, whether they have designated evacuation locations, and whether they have plans to reunite families. Knowing your loved ones are safe when away from home will give you peace of mind in emergencies.
You must find protection for you and your family when disaster strikes. Deciding whether to evacuate or to shelter in place depends on many factors, including the hazard you are facing and whether your shelter will keep you safe.
Evacuation: Local officials may also advise, but do not require, evacuations. Our first responder will need to keep moving to warn the people who do want help. So, remember, if you do not plan to evacuate under any circumstance it is recommended that you write your name and a telephone number for someone to contact in case you do not survive. It makes identification much easier.
Sheltering: The best protection in high winds, tornadoes, and many other events is to find shelter in an interior room away from windows, doors, and flood waters.
Always remember to keep an eye on the sky.
