Thomas M. Kostigen
Understand, Prepare, Survive, Recover
 |
| National Geographic Extreme Weather Survival Guide Understand, Prepare, Survive, Recover |
WARNING
WE INVITE YOU to use this book many times and in many ways:
casual browsing, focused reading, and for reference when you
need it. Because much of its advice and information pertains to
times when reading is difficult-time is of the essence, power is
down, other demands are more pressing—the best approach
would be to roam and absorb the chapters on weather extremes
you are most likely to face, so you know the basics and the
organization of this book if and when catastrophe hits.
______________________________________________
All content and information published in this book is provided to the reader “as is” and without any
warranties. The situations and activities described in the book carry inherent risks and hazards. The
reader must evaluate and bear all risks associated with use of the information provided in this book,
including those risks associated with reliance on the accuracy, thoroughness, utility, or appropriateness of the information for any particular situation. The authors and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence of the use and application of any of the contents in this book.
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Product details
Price
|
|
|---|---|
Pages
| 338 p |
File Size
|
4,894 KB |
File Type
|
PDF format |
ISBN
| 978-1-4262-1376-2 978-1-4262-1486-8 (deluxe hardcover) 978-1-42621377-9 (ebooks) |
Copyright
| 2014 National Geographic Society |
Thomas M. Kostigen is a New York Times best-selling author who has
written numerous books on the environment, including the National
Geographic children’s book Extreme Weather. His journalism is regularly
featured in publications worldwide, and he appears frequently as a
public speaker, as well as television host and guest expert.
Peter Miller is a contributing writer for National Geographic magazine
and author of The Smart Swarm: How to Work Efficiently, Communicate
Effectively, and Make Better Decisions Using the Secrets of Flocks, Schools,
and Colonies. He specializes in science and adventure topics, and was
formerly a senior editor on the magazine staff.
Melissa Breyer is a writer and editor specializing in science, health, and
culture. She is the co-author of National Geographic’s True Food: 8 Simple
Steps a Healthier You and Build Your Running Body. Her work appears
across the web, as well as in magazines and newspapers, including the
New York Times.
Jared Travnicek, a scientific and medical illustrator, received his M.A.
in biological and medical illustration from the Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine in Baltimore. Travnicek is a certified medical
illustrator and professional member of the Association of Medical
Illustrators. His illustrations are featured in the National Geographic
Illustrated Guide to Nature
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jack Williams was founding editor for the USA Today weather page in
1982. After retiring from USA Today in 2005, he was director of public
outreach for the American Meteorological Society until 2009. Since then,
he has been a freelance writer, contributing to several books, including
the National Geographic Illustrated Guide to Nature.
GET READY
A hurricane is coming. Do you have a plan? Should you leave
home or stay put? Do you know how to access local alerts?
At home, are you better off upstairs or downstairs? Is your yard
in order? Where would you go if you had to leave home? Do
you have what you need to make it through a power outage?
What about family members? What about pets? Perhaps you’ve
faced such an emergency. Were you ready? Did you even know
what to do to be sure you were ready? Many face those
questions in the heat of the moment, but it’s best to think the
answers through carefully, long before the storm begins. This
book tells you how. It will help you understand, prepare,
survive, and recover.
We seem to be getting slammed harder and more frequently by extreme
weather—with record-breaking temperatures, storm intensities, property
destruction, and even fatalities. The news is filled with catastrophic
events—Hurricane Sandy brought epic destruction to New York and New
Jersey in 2012; monster Typhoon Haiyan wrought havoc in the
Philippines in 2013; and a dip in the polar vortex in 2014 made Chicago
colder than the South Pole’s summer temperature. In many places,
summers are hotter, winters are colder, and new weather records seem
to be set all the time.
What’s causing all this destructive phenomena? Why do they appear to
be happening more frequently than they used to? Is climate change to
blame? If so, how and in what instances? We’ll discover the answers to
these questions and more in the pages that follow. What seems to be certain:
Abnormal is the new normal—we need to learn to expect the unexpected.
home or stay put? Do you know how to access local alerts?
At home, are you better off upstairs or downstairs? Is your yard
in order? Where would you go if you had to leave home? Do
you have what you need to make it through a power outage?
What about family members? What about pets? Perhaps you’ve
faced such an emergency. Were you ready? Did you even know
what to do to be sure you were ready? Many face those
questions in the heat of the moment, but it’s best to think the
answers through carefully, long before the storm begins. This
book tells you how. It will help you understand, prepare,
survive, and recover.
We seem to be getting slammed harder and more frequently by extreme
weather—with record-breaking temperatures, storm intensities, property
destruction, and even fatalities. The news is filled with catastrophic
events—Hurricane Sandy brought epic destruction to New York and New
Jersey in 2012; monster Typhoon Haiyan wrought havoc in the
Philippines in 2013; and a dip in the polar vortex in 2014 made Chicago
colder than the South Pole’s summer temperature. In many places,
summers are hotter, winters are colder, and new weather records seem
to be set all the time.
What’s causing all this destructive phenomena? Why do they appear to
be happening more frequently than they used to? Is climate change to
blame? If so, how and in what instances? We’ll discover the answers to
these questions and more in the pages that follow. What seems to be certain:
Abnormal is the new normal—we need to learn to expect the unexpected.
The general mantra for an emergency is to plan and prepare in order
to survive and recover. In fact, everyone can take three actions to remain
safe during any extreme weather event. The first is to get informed. The
second is to make an emergency kit. And the third is to have a plan.
The information in this book goes a long way toward helping you
achieve these three steps. Here, you’ll learn how to prepare, survive, and
recover for and from just about every kind of extreme weather event—
from driving in blizzards and whiteouts to preparing to take shelter from
a tornado; from beating the heat to battening down for a hurricane; from
building a seawall against floods to following nature’s signals to
determine if a storm has passed.
Steps to Safety
First, you and your family need to agree on a basic action plan. An
agreed-upon plan will keep you safe in times of trouble. It will also give
you peace of mind knowing you can lean on it to help yourself or others
in need. Set up a meeting with all members of your household. Talk
about how best to prepare and respond to emergency situations. Alert
everyone to the types of problems that may arise. Identify tasks for each
member of the household, and discuss how you can work together when
an emergency arises.
For example, if there is a flood, who’s in charge of moving furniture to
a higher, drier place? Turning off the power? Or getting the sump pump
going? If a tornado is reported, who’s responsible for making sure
everyone is accounted for? What about pets—who is minding them? If a
heat wave hits, can elderly family members care for themselves? If not,
who will look in on them? Assigning responsibilities such as these ahead
of time makes for a well-organized, swift, and safe response to disasters.
Also, it’s important to plan what to do in case you are separated
during an emergency. Meeting places need to be chosen—one nearby in
case of, say, a fire. And one in a different area in case you need to
evacuate your home.
It’s also wise as part of your emergency plan to have emergency
contacts saved on your mobile phones and identified as ICE, or “in case
of emergency.” Emergency responders are trained to look for these labels
on mobile phones.
More tactically, agree on an evacuation plan, and make sure everyone
understands what to do. This means knowing what route to take and
how to get to your agreed-upon meeting place. Have different options in
case you cannot leave in a vehicle, and choose different locations to
meet. If you know of a local shelter, you may want to identify that. Then
practice your evacuation procedures twice a year. Don’t wait. Start
planning and preparing—now.
Don’t forget that technology can be extremely helpful during
emergency situations. There are apps that provide weather updates
directly to your smartphone or tablet. You can also text to find local
shelters. You can use websites (such as the American Red Cross Safe and
Well website) to let your family know that you are okay.
Good solid preparation will allow you to maintain control over your
emotions when a disaster hits. Staying calm and focused are critical
practices that every emergency responder knows can make the difference
between life and death. Knowing that you need to stop, drop, and roll if
you catch fire, or that you should never take refuge under an overpass
during a tornado—these are lifesaving lessons, and having them at hand
to follow will muster courage and emotional control when most needed.
Of course, you cannot experience the extreme weather event until it
happens, but you can prepare for it by doing drills, talking through
plans, and keeping well informed. And you can take steps to mitigate
dangers. Many people, for example, don’t check or change their smoke
and fire alarms frequently enough—every month is recommended. Nor
do people realize that hard objects left loose outside—such as outdoor
furniture—can become flying weapons during a storm. Little facts like
these could save lives.
With more extreme weather events occurring now than in the past, we
have to brace for a new kind of survival. Learning how to prepare,
survive, and recover from extreme weather events is—like it or not—an
integral part of life in the 21st century.
YOUR EMERGENCY KIT
Here is a basic checklist of contents for a household emergency kit,
useful no matter what the weather throws your way. Keep it in a
safe, accessible place where everyone in your family can find it.
Also, make sure to tailor your emergency kit to meet your needs.
There may be need for additional medical supplies or senior, baby, or
pet care products. Customize according to where you live as well.
Include rain gear or winter gear depending on your locale. Think hard
about what you might need under the worst conditions.
Your kit should contain:
• Water for every person in your household. That means one gallon per
person per day. Keep a three-day supply in case of evacuation and a twoweek
supply in case you get confined to your home.
• Food that won’t spoil and is easy to prepare. Canned goods or readymade
dry food products that have long shelf lives and are made
specifically for emergencies are good choices. Also keep a three-day
supply on hand in case of evacuation and a
two-week supply in case of home confinement.
• At least one flashlight and an extra supply of batteries
• A battery-powered radio or one that can be powered by a hand crank.
If possible, a NOAA Weather Radio is ideal as it
provides a steady stream of weather reports and alerts.
• A first aid kit. A ready-made kit is ideal as it contains different types of
bandages, antibiotics, tapes, and medical tools as well as an instruction booklet.
• Any medications that you or your family require. A seven-day supply is
recommended, and these should be updated to
account for any possible expiration dates.
• A multipurpose tool such as a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman
• A whistle or other shrill noisemaker and a
brightly colored bandanna to use as signals
• Matches or butane lighters
• A two-week supply of personal hygiene items such as toilet paper, soap,
and those for feminine hygiene
• Copies of important papers and personal documents such as
birth certificates, passports, and insurance policies
• A mobile phone fully charged with a backup battery and charger
• “In case of emergency” contact information
• Some cash or currency
• An extra blanket
• A map of your location and surrounding area
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
WARNING
INTRODUCTION
PART 1
WET
CHAPTER 1 THUNDERSTORMS
CHAPTER 2 FLOODS
CHAPTER 3 HURRICANES
CHAPTER 4 TORNADOES
PART 2
DRY
CHAPTER 5 DROUGHT
CHAPTER 6 WILDFIRES
PART 3
HOT
CHAPTER 7 RISING TEMPERATURES
CHAPTER 8 HEAT WAVES
PART 4
COLD
CHAPTER 9 COLD WAVES
CHAPTER 10 BLIZZARDS
DOING YOUR PART
RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS
EMERGENCY WEBSITES
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ILLUSTRATIONS CREDITS
