Implementing a thorough, proactive emergency preparedness strategy can make a significant difference in the days that follow a natural disaster. From hurricanes and tornadoes to fires, floods, earthquakes, and more, being prepared means ensuring the safety of students, faculty, and staff while limiting disruptions in operations.
E&I suppliers can help by offering products and solutions to ensure your institution is well prepared and ready to respond to a range of emergencies.
Earthquakes can strike at any time, often with very little to no warning. While there are 45 states and territories within the U.S. that are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes, the higher risk areas include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, and the Mississippi River Valley. Being prepared can help mitigate risk from dangers during an earthquake, as well as fallout such as fires, tsunamis, landslides, or avalanches.
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the U.S., with the NOAA reporting that flooding has caused more damage than any other severe weather-related event. Failing to evacuate flooded areas or entering flood waters can lead to injury or death. Floods can develop slowly or quickly – flash floods can occur without warning – and can cause outages, disrupt transportation, damage buildings, and create landslides, not to mention health and safety risks associated with standing water.
Large and slow-moving, Hurricanes can cause major damage due to storm surge (the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the U.S.), wind damage (winds can exceed 155 mph), rip currents, and flooding.
Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season: May 15 – November 30
Atlantic Hurricane Season: June 1 – November 30
Central Pacific Hurricane Season: June 1 – November 30
Not only does an extended power outage disrupt communications, water, and transportation, but it can cause food spoilage, water contamination, and prevent the use of medical devices. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that weather only accounts for about one-third of all power outages; these interruptions are more likely to be caused by animals, fallen trees, or human error, which means a plan for these unexpected events are a necessity.
Summer weather – more specifically, periods of extreme heat with high humidity and temperatures above 90°F – causes your body to work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to injury and/or death. Risks from extreme heat include heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, all of which are dangerous, but preventable.
Tornadoes can strike with little to no warning, reaching potential windspeeds of 300 mph. Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip vehicles, and create deadly flying debris.
The Midwest and the Southeast states of the U.S. have a greater risk for tornadoes. Although tornadoes can happen at any time of the year, tornado season is typically considered April through July, with May and June being peak months for tornado incidents.
Wildfires and droughts often go hand-in-hand. Nearly every part of the U.S. experiences periods of reduced rainfall, resulting in drought conditions. While the threat of wildfire is always present in wildland throughout the year, wildfire season in the western U.S. typically runs from May through September.
Winter weather includes everything from blizzards to extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. These can have serious consequences on the health and safety of your students and staff because winter weather can last a few hours or several days and can cut off heat, power, and communication services.
