Don't Even Think About Borrowing My Flashlight

photo uploaded to flickr by future15pic

Let’s all take a minute to mock Hurricane Earl as he wanders off. He’s not a man, never was one. Barely worth disrupting a vacation over and he leaves behind nothing but legions of disappointed TV weather folks, unable to capture the footage of the gas station roof being torn off or the chance to interview the same six dumb-asses who insist on sticking around and surfing.

We are right to mock, as Earl was a wuss. But will we be so lucky the next time? The truth is, hurricanes are rare in DC, and that makes us complacent. Isabel in 2003 was the last we’ve even had to pay attention to a major hurricane, and even if one does manage to make it all the way up here, we’ve got 75 miles or so of land to buffer us from the full force of a storm.

So let’s take a minute, in the midst of our mockery of Earl, this weekend to review your emergency preparations.

• Have a plan – The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency has a website, www.makeaplan.dc.gov that coaches you through disaster preparedness.
• Emergency Supplies – A good rule of thumb is to be able to shelter in place in your home from 72 hours without power, gas, or water. Go ahead and throw some water jugs (1 gal/person/day) down in the basement, keep canned goods on hand, and so on. A good starting list is available here. Remember to plan for the special needs of children, pets, and people with chronic health issues.
• Print this stuff up – The chances are low of you losing power. Most neighborhoods in DC, and almost all of the Hill, have no overhead wires. But be ready anyway. Have hard copies of emergency plans, vital documents, contact info, etc. on hand. This is especially important now that we all have programed cell phones.
• Do a dry run – Turn off all the lights and electric devices in your house for an hour or so. Take note of what you’d need if this was for real. Can you get from your bed out of the house without a light? Can you do it while carrying kids?
• First Aid Kit – You have one, right? Know what’s in it and how to use it. It’s not a magic wand, it’s a tool kit.

That’s all fine and good for a basic preparedness plan. For those of you who are not from hurricane prone areas or don’t remember Isabel, let’s go through a basic primer on what to expect.

• Get all your crap inside – I don’t want your lawn chair going through my window. If you can’t move it, strap it down well.
• Move your car – Try to find a spot clear of trees. We lose a fair number of trees in summer storms, we’ll lose a lot more if a hurricane comes through.
• Plan on losing cell phone coverage – Either high call volume or knocked down cell towers make it unwise to rely too much on a cell phone. If you have a land line, have at least one phone that doesn’t require batteries. If you do not, plan on sharing a neighbor’s and give out of town relatives that number.
• Flooding – Most of the Hill is on high ground (hence, you know, the term “Hill”) so don’t expect too much flooding. However, portions of Georgetown, the Mall, Alexandria, and other areas routinely flood. Never try to drive through standing water.

All in all, these are some basic, common sense items that you should have on hand already, and not just when pre-hurricane hysterics start up. After all, not all disasters give multi-day warnings, and when the zombies come, you’re on your own, buddy.