Hurricane Season: Are You Ready?

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kimberly Erickson
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season - are you and your family ready? Reservists at the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., are encouraged to get their hurricane kits ready and have plans in place for the 2010 hurricane season.

"The most challenging aspect of teaching hurricane awareness is getting people to respect the potential impact of a natural disaster," said Master Sgt. Elijah Ramsey, 403rd Wing ground safety manager.

Gathering emergency supplies and making evacuation plans will help people be better prepared you if and when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning.

"Plan ahead," Sergeant Ramsey said. "There will be many who don't prepare and wait until the last minute."

Equally important is following evacuation orders.

"Sheltering in place when told to leave can be catastrophic," Sergeant Ramsey said. "Often, people underestimate the destructive power of hurricane-driven wind and water."

As the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, Sergeant Ramsey said he is reflecting on the storm as an eye-opening experience to the devastation wrought by natural disasters.

When he returned to Biloxi two days after evacuating for the storm in 2005, Sergeant Ramsey said he struggled continuously with thoughts of survival. "There was no gas, food or water for miles," he said.

When you are making plans to evacuate, it's critically important that you inform others of your plans so they can keep in touch with you.

"Let them know where you're going, who you'll be staying with, and make sure they have an address to contact you in case the phone lines are down," Sergeant Ramsey said.

Once you've established an evacuation plan, putting together a hurricane kit with emergency food and supplies will get you ready to sustain potential power loss.

"The one essential thing everyone should have in their hurricane kit is prescribed medications," Sergeant Ramsey said.

Stock plenty of water and preserved foods, he said, suggesting canned goods and MREs when preparing a hurricane kit.

The bottom line in preparing for storm season?

"Plan ahead!" Sergeant Ramsey said. "Don't wait until the last minute to accomplish your needs to survive. Keep in mind, every situation is different and requires a different approach. Remember property can be replaced; lives can't."