Ready For Summer Disasters?

As many of us experienced last week, thousands of Georgians, including many in East Atlanta, were left without power for several hours following the thunderstorms that pummelled the region.

But how many of us are prepared for such emergencies? With summer's official start just a day away, it's timely to remember that hurricane season is nearly here.

While we don't get direct hits from hurricanes often — only four hit the the Peach State between 1900 and 2000 — we still get the effects from the ones that hit the region in the form of storms and floods.

The hurricanes also sprout tornadoes and though it's a rare occurrence, North Georgia is susceptible to earthquakes.

East Atlanta Patch went to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, headquartered in Ormewood Park, to get some tips on how to best prepare for emergencies.

Check out our video with Lisa Janak, GEMA's program manager for Ready Georgia, where she explains what we ought to have on hand in cases of emergencies.

Here are some proactive tips:

Extreme Heat

• Stay indoors and drink plenty of water during extreme heat conditions.
• Prepare your home by keeping it well-insulated and windows shaded.
• Learn about the types of medical conditions (like heat exhaustion and heat stroke) that can result from extreme heat and the proper first aid measures that should be taken.

 Thunderstorms and Lightning

• Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe storm.
• Delay outdoor activities in the event of a severe storm and plan to take shelter in case of heavy winds or lightning.
• Know the difference between a severe thunderstorm watch and a severe thunderstorm warning: A thunderstorm watch means there is a possibility of a thunderstorm in your area; a thunderstorm warning means a thunderstorm is occurring or will likely occur soon. If you are advised to take shelter, do so immediately.

Floods and Flash Floods

• Develop an evacuation plan that moves you to higher ground away from bodies of waters.
• Consider moving valuables to higher floors and talk to your insurance provider about your policy to see if it covers flood damage.
• Know your area's flood risk and stay out of flood waters as much as possible.

Hurricanes

• Plan an evacuation route out of your neighborhood and identify a place to take shelter.
• Prepare a Ready Kit of emergency supplies in case you lose electricity or have to evacuate.
• Follow instructions of emergency officials, and know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning: A hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible in your area; a hurricane warning means a hurricane is expected in your area.

 Drought

• Make a plan to conserve water in your household.
• Have enough bottled water in your Ready kit—one gallon per person per day for three days.
• Know your local water restrictions and follow direction of water authorities.

 Fire

• Review and practice escape plans from your home.
• Place smoke alarms in every room of your house and create a 30- to 100-foot safety zone around your home by keeping flammable vegetation in this area to a minimum.
• Know to stay low if a fire breaks out, know your wildfire risk and listen to fire officials upon arrival.