While weather is unpredictable, residents in storm-prone areas are in control of their ability to stock up on the essential items they’ll need during evacuation or prolonged power outages.

Creating an emergency kit is an essential part of your being prepared during weather emergencies. These kits can be kept at home, at work, or in your car. 

Flashlights, radios, and batteries are commonly known necessities for hurricane preparation, but a new video from the Tulane School of Professional Advancement offers deeper insight into other items you’ll need to prepare.

While weather is unpredictable, residents in storm-prone areas are in control of their ability to stock up on the essential items they’ll need during evacuation or prolonged power outages.

This article is brought to you by the Tulane School of Professional Advancement.

With more storms forming quickly in the Gulf of Mexico and giving people less time to prepare, it’s more important than ever for families and businesses to have a hurricane plan and review it beforehand.

“The key is preparation. You don’t want to wait until the last minute,” said Michael Wallace, Senior Professor of Practice and Program Director for Emergency and Security Studies at the Tulane School of Professional Advancement. “When there’s a storm in the Gulf, there’s always a rush to the supermarket and gas station, so anything you can do in advance will give you a head start and reduce some of that pressure.”

Wallace said individuals should have a “go bag” ready at all times during hurricane season. The bags should include items such as water, non-perishable food, energy bars, a first-aid kit, medications, pet food, a hat, flashlight, batteries, emergency radio, duct tape and rain poncho. Go bags for kids should also have books, games or toys to keep them occupied.

When destructive weather events happen, it's a good idea to be prepared with a pre-packed bag containing essential supplies. In this video, Professor Mike Wallace, director of the Emergency & Security Studies Program at the Tulane School of Professional Advancement, shares what to pack ahead of the storm.

In addition, Wallace said people should have at least $500 in cash, since ATMs may become inaccessible during power outages. They should also make sure important documents that cannot be easily replaced, such as insurance paperwork or birth certificates, are in a safe location or can be transported easily during an evacuation. Vehicles should also be filled with at least a half tank of gas during hurricane season in the event of an ordered evacuation or the desire to leave voluntarily arises.

“The most important thing is to have a plan and communicate it to the entire family,” Wallace said. “If your family must evacuate in separate vehicles, everyone needs to have each other’s phone numbers and discuss where they will meet up or stop. If you’re going to a hotel, make a reservation as soon as you can. Write down all important contact information and details and make copies so everyone is on the same page.”

Wallace said business owners should also have a formal hurricane plan and distribute it to all employees long before a storm is a threat. The document should include information on how to contact employees both locally and if they evacuate.

“One thing we saw after Hurricane Ida was that a lot of people left because they didn’t have power and many companies were trying to account for their employees,” Wallace said. “The business owners should have a way to contact everyone to make sure they are safe and let them know when they will re-open.”

In addition, Wallace said owners should include details in their plan about how the company will operate in the event of flooding, prolonged power outages or other issues that may hinder services. Wallace also recommends that companies assign an employee to oversee emergency preparedness and recovery who can serve as a main point of contact for everyone.

Creating an emergency kit is an essential part of your being prepared during weather emergencies. These kits can be kept at home, at work, or in your car. 

“No one anticipated the extended power outages we saw after Ida,” Wallace noted. “I think that’s a lesson for business owners to plan now for where they would relocate and what type of building they would need if their primary location is unavailable,” he said. “People are better equipped to work remotely now, but most businesses may still need a physical space and a way for everyone to stay connected.”

While a storm may pass in a few hours, the aftermath can last for several days or weeks. If a family decides to ride out a hurricane, Wallace said everyone who stays should have at least a 72-hour supply of food and fresh water. Those with home generators should test it beforehand and ensure it has sufficient fuel and oil.

Wallace said such preparations and planning can help alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes when a hurricane is near.

“Concentrate on what you can control and change, and accept the things you cannot,” he said. “You can’t control the storm, where it hits or how long it will stay in the area, but you can control how you keep your family and yourself safe.”

Flashlights, radios, and batteries are commonly known necessities for hurricane preparation, but a new video from the Tulane School of Professional Advancement offers deeper insight into other items you’ll need to prepare.

Since 2006, the Tulane School of Professional Advancement has offered undergraduate and graduate degrees in emergency management and homeland security. Courses are designed for individuals who are working in those fields and are interested in learning the latest about disaster preparedness and recovery, business continuity, digital security and more.

“Our programs are designed by people actually working in these fields,” Wallace said. “We regularly interview people in these industries and ask them what they want these courses to include, then incorporate that feedback into our programs. We’ve been very successful in placing graduates in roles in private industry and the government, whether it’s in emergency management, intelligence or counterterrorism. These are all growing fields that attract people who want to help others.”

For more information on the programs, visit https://sopa.tulane.edu/degrees-programs/programs-study/emergency-security-studies.

Email Amanda McElfresh at amcelfresh@theadvocate.com

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