Your
game plan must address other types of severe weather
Author: Kenyatta Esters, Emergency Preparedness Manager
When people
think of severe weather in Louisiana, many immediately picture a menacing
hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico taking aim for our state. It is true that
Louisiana has experienced many tropical depressions, tropical storms, and
hurricanes. However, as many of us have
witnessed recently, Louisiana also experiences catastrophic flooding, severe
thunderstorms and tornadoes, heat waves, and even ice storms.
Although many in our state are seasoned storm survivors, no two storms are alike, and each type of weather hazard presents a unique challenge for our communities. This is especially true for medically vulnerable populations in our state who may reside in medical or nursing facilities, have limited mobility, or rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment.
Every corner of our state prepares for and responds to severe weather events and the Louisiana Department of Health plays a significant role in these efforts. Our mission, “To protect and promote health” is evident in our agency’s tireless efforts to protect the health of Louisiana’s citizens before, during and after natural disasters.
Our employees
serve in preparedness or response roles at sites such as medical needs shelters
and regional and state emergency operations centers. Our environmental health staff ensure that
our food and water is safe after storms. Our teams within the Office of
Behavioral Health’s coordinate our Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling
Program that offers outreach
and emotional support to disaster survivors across the state.
Our emergency preparedness
staff continuously train with local, state and federal partners to ensure that
the state is ready to assist with the public health and medical needs of
Louisiana’s citizens when disasters occur.
As a part of planning and training efforts, we routinely collaborate
with the National Weather Service to develop and conduct training exercises that test our
severe weather plans. There are four different National Weather Service offices
that provide forecasts and severe weather warnings for Louisiana in the
following cities: Shreveport, Jackson, MS, Lake Charles, and New Orleans/Baton Rouge.
The department
has been recognized as a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador by the New
Orleans/Baton Rouge National Weather Service Office. The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador initiative is an effort to recognize
agencies and organizations who are improving the nation’s readiness against
extreme weather, water and climate events.
As a
Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, the department will continue to work with the
National Weather Service and other public health and safety partners to plan
for severe weather. We will also collaborate to promote disaster preparedness
and community resilience.
This week is
National Hurricane Preparedness Week and the Louisiana Department of Health encourages
you to prepare. Make personal preparations to ensure that you and
your loved ones will stay safe and healthy if tropical weather threatens.
Here are a few things to consider:
·
Determine
your risk:
Depending on where you live, you may experience different types of tropical
weather hazards. Storm impacts such as inland flooding can affect
communities hundreds of miles away from the coast.
· Review
and update your emergency plan:
Make sure that you include specific plans for family members who are elderly or
may have medical conditions. Don’t forget about your pets!
· Review
insurance policies for your home and car: Remember that standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover
flooding, and there is a 30 day waiting period for obtaining flood insurance.
For more
information on the Weather Ready Nation Ambassador initiative, visit: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/
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