Can We Stay Ahead of Life’s Disasters?

There are many activities involved with preparedness. Including gathering as many tools and supplies as possible. To help deal with inevitable emergencies.

But preparedness is also a mindset. This is what separates the prepared from the unprepared. The prepared act proactively. The unprepared act reactively.

Due to the huge number of disasters occurring in the U.S. in recent years, the government has also gotten into the act. Today we’ll look at how authorities prepared for Hurricane Francine. And for the current California wildfires.

But at the end of the day, no government preparation can fully protect you in a crisis. It’s up to you to proactively prepare so you’re ready when the storms of life roll in.

Francine Cuts Power to Nearly 400,000

Hurricane Francine made landfall in southern Louisiana last week as a Category 2 storm. It was the third hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. this year. That’s the most since 2020.

As expected, downed trees and power lines accompanied flash floods in New Orleans. And in a variety of other parishes.

More than 387,000 homes and businesses lost electrical power. Water flooded streets and entered many homes. Hundreds of flights were canceled.  

Even after Francine weakened to a tropical storm, it had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It moved northward through Mississippi, Arkansas, and parts of Tennessee and Missouri. Rains and winds reached Alabama and Florida.

Louisiana Took Proactive Measures

How did Louisiana state officials prepare for Francine? In a variety of ways. They’ve learned from many hurricanes in the past.

The Public Service Commission put 7,500 utility workers on standby. Debris management plans were put into place. Open lines of communication with nuclear power plants and utility providers were established.

The Louisiana Department of Health started monitoring nursing homes and medical facilities. Although no major evacuations occurred, shelters were prepared.

The state’s governor stressed preparedness. And encouraged citizens to use Louisiana’s “Get a Game Plan” app for real-time updates. Including how to access emergency resources.

The state’s attorney general warned businesses against price gouging. And announced a hotline and website to report abuses.

Residents Urge Other Residents to Prepare

Louisiana residents are used to hurricanes by now. But still, many are caught off guard when they happen. They scramble at the last minute for supplies.

Prior to Francine arriving, some of the Pelican State’s citizens were warning others. Including Lake Arthur resident Cameron Kershaw.

Resident Gavin Hanks urged area residents to conserve. “The little things at your house, just use it sparingly. Don’t use it too much because you never know how long you may be out of power. Just conserve; it’s the best thing.”

Store Shelves Empty Quickly

Farther north in Louisiana, students at Louisiana State University were sheltering in place. And store shelves were picked nearly clean.

The community was stocking up on supply kits and shelf-stable products. As well as charging their electronics in anticipation of outages.

Among products disappearing quickly from stores were bottled water, paper towels, and chargers. Plus cereal, bread, bagels, and peanut butter.

But even when stores stay well stocked, road closures can keep people from reaching those stores.

California’s Wildfire Prep Helps… Somewhat

Let’s move out west to California to see how the government is reacting to the intense wildfires in San Bernardino County.

Since last fall, the Golden State has received much more precipitation than normal. That’s good for a state facing drought conditions. But it also has its downsides. Increased vegetation means there’s more to burn once wildfires start up again.

California has prepared for wildfire season. By increasing the number of firefighters and aircraft that can combat them. It has also added satellites, cameras, and drones to the equation. This keeps firefighters better informed about a fire’s strength and movement.

But all the high-tech equipment in the world can’t stop raging wildfires. As of this writing, three major, fast-moving California wildfires are destroying dozens of homes. All in the mountains east of Los Angeles. And forcing thousands to evacuate.

Already this year, the state has seen nearly three times as much acreage burn as during all of 2023. Triple-digit heat in some areas has fueled the fires. And made fighting them a dangerous proposition.

Think Proactively to Be Ready

It’s great that the government is doing what it can to help people deal with emergencies. Including hurricanes and wildfires. That’s part of what our tax dollars pay for.

But as mentioned, they can’t help everyone. And what help they can provide often comes too late.

It’s up to us to develop a preparedness mindset. To think proactively rather than reactively. It’s the only way we can stay protected when emergencies occur.

Disasters are increasing. Both in number and intensity. That’s not likely to change. But we can be ready for them by taking basic preparedness steps. And building upon our survival stockpiles over time.