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Friday, March 29, 2024

Florence was a warning: Gators must prepare for hurricanes

The eastern United States is currently at the height of the Atlantic hurricane season, and as I write this, Hurricane Florence is battering the Carolinas with heavy rain. Florence, plus Hurricane Irma which hit Florida a little over a year ago, are a stark reminder that a powerful storm can strike at any time and that everyone, from the county disaster official to the average Joe or Jane, must be prepared when it happens.

First, let’s look at what Alachua County has planned in the event of a hurricane. According to the website for the Alachua County Department of Emergency Management, the county offers various services to aid in disaster prep, including updates on various hazards and weather conditions in the area, instructions on how to make a hurricane kit and hurricane plan and training and certification for Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), which is organized groups of citizens who provide “vital services” in the event of a disaster where the regular fire and rescue teams cannot respond in time.

Here at UF, the university has put out a brochure with both instructions on how to prepare and information on what services would be available to students in the event of a disaster, including a hurricane. According to the brochure, shelters will be available for students around campus, but those who decide to stay in their residence hall are advised to follow all instructions from housing staff. Foodservice will be open for residence halls with foodservice units, and those without will have food provided if the disaster lasts more than 24 hours. (Although, the brochure also says that residents “should have their own non-perishable food on hand for the first 72 hours of the emergency.”) The university also advises both on-campus and off-campus students to have renters’ insurance.

However, while the university and local government can provide valuable services, hurricane preparation is ultimately in your hands, and the best way to prep for a hurricane is to do your own work ahead of time.

So, what can you do to prepare for a hurricane, whether you’re on- or off-campus? A good first step would be to put together a hurricane kit. A hurricane kit, also more generally known as a disaster kit or an emergency kit, is a selection of items a person or group of people will need in the event of a disaster and services like electricity and water are down. According to Ready.gov, a disaster kit should include items such as: plenty of water (ideally a gallon per person per day), at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a battery-powered radio (for weather alerts from local media), flashlights, a first aid kit, extra batteries and a manual can-opener.

In addition to having supplies, you also need a plan. Before the disaster strikes, you should have a plan for events such as: what to do if you need to evacuate, how to get in touch with friends and family, how to reach out for help in an emergency and what to do if you lose utilities such as water or electricity. Once the hurricane starts, you should hunker down wherever you are, as it would be unsafe to go outside. If the winds pick up, you should stay away from doors and windows and hide in an interior room such as a closet. Lastly, look out for one another. Before the disaster, help friends, family and neighbors put together a hurricane supply kit and plan if they do not already have one. During the hurricane, keep in contact with loved ones through whatever means are available to you to ensure they remain safe. After the disaster, check in with neighbors to make sure they’re alright. And above all else, listen to local media and local officials, who can advise you of weather conditions and how to best keep safe.

Do all this, and you’ll be in the best position possible to weather another Florence or Irma.

Jason Zappulla is a UF history junior. His column appears on Mondays.

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