Matt Redhawk and Survival of a Natural Disaster

Being ready for unexpected events is the easiest way to overcome unforeseen difficulties. Sadly, however, most individuals do not realize how ill-prepared they are until a major catastrophe strikes. Think about the notorious Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans in 2005. Besides causing north of a $100 billion in damages, it also led to approximately 1,833 deaths. Unfortunately, the exact number of people who lost their lives in New Orleans remains unclear.

Although there are many reasons why the damages were so extreme, the lack of preparation for the storm is a noteworthy one. The main issue was the fact that Hurricane Katrina was a storm the likes of which were never experienced in New Orleans. Consequently, people had no precedent or previous experience to rely on in order to be safe. So, what are some of the most important steps that people affected by this hurricane should have taken? Additionally, what can those residing in New Orleans learn from this event and, subsequently, use in the future?

Establishing an Emergency Plan

According to an industry expert for home and family safety, Matt Redhawk, creating an emergency plan is the first step. For those unfamiliar, this includes all the low-level details that must be considered in case of a potential disaster. For instance, it relates to everything from one's out-of-town contacts to the best evacuation path. Having this type of plan established will minimize the downtime needed to figure out an escape route. Since natural disasters take lives within seconds, every bit of time saved is valuable.

Various Alternatives

In order to be prepared for an unexpected event, one should have different alternatives for resolving the issue. For instance, being trapped in a flood zone requires an escape route. Naturally, however, driving may be completely impossible given the body of water that prevents mobility. Thus, people should also plan for things like alternate transportation methods, high-ground points in the area, and more. Doing so will enable one to adapt to any potential difficulty as it was already accounted for in the past.

Communication

During the days of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the vast majority of signal towers were out of service. This meant that communication was much more difficult to establish. After all, the lack of mobile devices meant that face-to-face conversations were the only viable option. Thus, families should be prepared to operate in a high-stress environment where mobile connections are not working. An easy way to achieve this is to think about meeting points where displaced individuals can find one another.

Water and Food

Since flooding is one of the most popular natural disasters, people must account for the lack of drinkable water. If they fail to do so, they could ingest contaminated substances. The easiest way around this problem is to always carry bottled water that is safe to drink regardless of the conditions outside. Also, preserving food sources that can be put away during the storm is extremely important. Since one is unlikely to have access to electricity, the food should be available to eat as is. Meaning, one should not have to heat or cook it in order to consume the nutrients. Very common snacks include:

• Peanut Butter
• Protein Bars
• Canned Juices
• Nuts
• Multivitamins
• Comfort Food

Change of Clothes

Another common way that people fall victims to diseases comes from dirty clothing. After all, being sharply dressed is certainly not one of the priorities anyone should have during a natural disaster. Nevertheless, some change of clothes should be accessible as it will reduce the exposure to cold water. This is why most rescuers in New Orleans wore water-resistant suits that were frequently changed.

Knowing When to Leave

According to Matt Redhawk, many people suffer because of their lack of timeliness. In translation, they fail to leave the area immediately upon realization of imminent danger. A good way to avoid this problem is to get educated on various hurricane or tornado categories. Knowing them will allow the person to anticipate the consequences and know if they should leave.

Additionally, being engaged with government-based websites and representatives that notify the public about emergencies is important. These are all the platforms that will display warnings about the danger of staying in some area. Of course, as Matt Redhawk reminds, all of these actions should take place prior to the storm. Waiting until the disaster starts may be too late given how mobile devices may not function.

Finding Local Shelters

In some scenarios, people may be unable to leave an area where the storm is located. If that happens, the next best alternative is to find public shelters where government agencies are providing aid. These can be local facilities where the national guard may be supplying everyone with food and water until their rescue. Ultimately, the best course of action is to stick with others and avoid moving alone. That way, there will be those capable of helping if one finds themselves trapped in deep water or fast winds.

The list of useful survival techniques goes on to include many more lessons. Regardless, surviving a potential disaster in New Orleans should be much more bearable if the aforementioned pieces of advice are followed.