2020 has been a very active year as far as emergencies go and as we move into the summer months, we may see more issues arise. Certain disasters are more likely to occur during the warmer months and if you live in an area prone to some of these naturally-occurring disasters, it’s important to be ready for them.
5 Weather-Related Emergencies That Could Happen This Summer
1. Hurricanes
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) explains that an average hurricane season sees 12 storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
If you live in a place warranting hurricane preparations, now is the time to get prepared. Even if this season is less severe than forecasters originally predicted, it won’t hurt to be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. We’ve put together a quick and easy guide to help you get prepped.
Related article: 20 Preparedness Articles To Help You Get Prepped
Having preparedness resources printed out in a binder will help you stay organized and on track as far as getting your supplies together. Further, you can use these print outs if you find yourself in an off-grid scenario when turning on the computer or turning to the iPad won’t get you very far. One such resource was written by Ready Nutrition’s Tess Pennington, The Prepper’s Blueprint.
In addition to hurricane preparedness, it’s important to be mindful of the emergency situations that occur in the aftermath of a hurricane such as water contamination, supply shortages, and blackouts.
2. Droughts
Nearly every part of the U.S. experiences periods of reduced rainfall. When below-average precipitation in a region occurs, this results in prolonged shortages in the water supply. One of the most concerning issues with being in a drought is the susceptibility of wildfires occurring. When dry conditions occur, actions by local government and water suppliers can range from requesting voluntary reductions in water use to declarations of local water emergencies.
Droughts can last anywhere from weeks to years and planning in advance for drought can protect us in dry years. Here are some helpful tips for conserving water inside and outside the home.
3. Wildfire
Wildfires often begin unnoticed, particularly if they originate in a remote area. They can be started by acts of nature or by the carelessness of man. The four major natural causes of wildfire ignitions are lightning, volcanic eruption, sparks from rockfall, and spontaneous combustion. Here are 7 things your family needs to do to get ready for rapid-moving wildfire.
While wildfires can occur suddenly, and for that matter, quickly become out of control, if you live in a region prone to wildfires it’s important to get prepared. This checklist can help your household get ready for wildfires.
4. Heat Exhaustion and Dehydration
Dehydration is far more common in the summer season, as high temperatures and excessive sunlight can quickly diminish the body’s water supply. However, lost fluids can occur for a number of reasons, including bowel movements, neglecting to eat or drink, sustained physical activity, and illness such as fever. When these fluids are not replenished, the body can experience symptoms of dehydration, which include a dry or sticky mouth, dark yellow or orange urine, headache, muscle cramps, dry and cool skin, dizziness, fatigue, and, of course, thirst.
Heat-related deaths are the number 1 weather-related killer in the United States. Although this type of death is preventable, annually many people succumb to extreme heat. The most important ways to prepare are to dress appropriately for hot weather, drink lots of fluids, and reduce, eliminate, or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities.
Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death. The elderly, the very young, and those with mental illness and chronic diseases are all at the highest risk. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Your risk of heat-related illnesses can be reduced by staying hydrated and being in an air-conditioned environment. If a home is not air-conditioned, spend time in public facilities that are air-conditioned. Here are some tips to follow to prevent this type of emergency. As well, make sure your pets are well cared for during summer.
5. Earthquakes
Nothing catches you off guard quite like the sudden rumble of an earthquake. Without a moment’s notice, these naturally occurring events have the ability to create mass movements in the form of landslides, rock slides, rockfall, liquefaction, and submarine slides.
Hot summer weather could trigger earthquakes in certain regions that are prone to this type of disaster event. Meredith Kraner, a geophysicist from the University of Nevada, examined high-precision GPS time series from the region around the quake, “we found this really interesting signature in the data,” she told Live Science: a telltale pattern of expansion and contraction in the Earth’s crust. Now in a study that describes this finding in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Kraner and her colleagues also explore whether seasonal fluctuations in local aquifers might explain that cycle of expansion and contraction, a phenomenon that could have triggered the earthquake itself. (Source)
Learn more about what to expect and how to prepare for an earthquake here.
While many of these emergencies are localized to certain regions, it’s important to prepare for them if you live in these areas. Putting some forethought and items in place can help you better navigate through them and the aftermath.
You missed Tornado’s which usually occur in the Southern states this time of year. Plus severe thunder storms which can produce cloud to ground lightning strikes, large hail which can kill plus cause severe property damage and also produce microburst winds. While these two are all pretty localized, they never the less create a major impact where they happen.
Not that it’s a natural phenomenon, but there’s usually an uptick in civil unrest during the summer months. In light of recent events, we need to be mindful of being prepared for dealing with the fallout from demonstrations escalating into violence, roadblocks, disruptions to services, etc.
Space weather! you forgot a coronal mass ejection from old Sol!
The key word here is “could”.
Floods and flash floods, they are different events and need different responses.
“Heat-related deaths are the number 1 weather-related killer in the United States.” If this is true then why isn’t this listed as #1?
Earthquakes? LOL, not relevant as there are far more serious weather related events that “could” cause problems. Aquifer drawdowns and their effects are long term events and if this were a serious and imminent danger it would have already happened in areas of SW Nebraska, eastern Colorado, western Kansas, NE New Mexico where there has been a decades long decline in the Ogallala aquifer.
I live in the urban/wild interface on 2.5 acres. In 2013 the forest fire here burned 500 homes and killed 2 people. The one piece of advice missing from the wildfire part is MITIGATION. Trimming tree’s and brush around your home is the best advice I or the fire men will give you. Believe me it makes a large difference weather you will still have a home after the fire passes.