September 7, 2017 AsktheBuilder Emergency News
This is a RARE EMERGENCY alert message.
I did this a few years back with Hurricane Sandy that pummeled New Jersey and New York City back in late October, 2012.
Hurricane Irma LOOMS
This is really for folks who live NORTH of FL. If you're in Florida, you're about out of time and you may have already evacuated.
Here's what you need to know about the aftermath of Hurricane Irma:
Your local police and fire department will BE THERE TO HELP after the storm, but you're not their top priority. It's not because they don't care, it's just they have more valuable community assets they have to protect.
For example, think about fuel depots, grocery stores, hospitals, nursing homes, all energy infrastructure, etc. Anything that's important to get the community back up on its feet so the masses like you and me can get things are far more important than some house located at 4893 Vista View Drive.
Your home and all others in the community are at the BOTTOM of the pre-plan list fire departments maintain. Investing valuable first responder assets after natural disasters into one single home is not a wise thing to do. It works when just your home is on fire, but not when 10,000 houses in the community are destroyed.
Cold Truth
How many fire trucks are within fifty miles of your house? How many ambulances? Unless you live in a huge city like Chicago, Los Angeles or New York City, I'd venture to say less than 250 TOTAL.
How many houses are going to be damaged by the storm? Tens of thousands / hundreds of thousands?
Do you see why you can't count on first responders to come to your assistance?
Your neighbors and friends probably will NOT be able to help you. They'll have their own homes to contend with.
It's going to take MONTHS to get repairs done. The law of supply and demand is in play. There are only so many contractors and if 20,000 homeowners need work, many are going to wait. That'll be you.
You're going to have to make emergency repairs to protect your home from more weather after the storm.
You need to TAKE ACTION NOW to protect VALUABLE things. Get sentimental items that can't be replaced protected. Wrap in heavy garbage bags to keep them dry. Keep them up high somewhere.
How are you going to survive?? What about food and water? What about temporary shelter?
What about all your important papers? WHERE ARE THEY? Gather them up. They should have been scanned and put up in the cloud, but it's too late for that now.
TAKE PHOTOS NOW of everything you own to show the insurance company. Upload the photos to the CLOUD!!!! You could lose your cell phone in the storm.
Cover important furniture with plastic tarps or sheets to prevent water damage from roof leaks. This will only work in areas where the windows and doors won't be blown out by the storm.
Don't try to stick around if you're near the coast and you think you can win. The storm surge will kill you.
I could go on and on and on....
The biggest thing I want you to realize is it's up to YOU to protect yourself and to account for your survival. Don't count on any first responders. They'll be busy with MORE IMPORTANT community assets.
I wish you the best of luck if you're in harms way.....
Tim Carter
Founder - www.AsktheBuilder.com
Do It Right, Not Over!
Author's Note:
Within eight hours of sending out this emergency newsletter, I heard from Butch. Here's what he sent me:
Tim,
This is well written and very true. I’m a retired emergency management director from a Florida coastal county. Everything you said, I have already said to the people in my county. Thank you for putting this on your web site.
Butch Baker