THE NIGHTMARE OF ‘COVID-19 MEETS HURRICANE SEASON'

Hurricane Season during a Pandemic


New ‘Natural Disaster Playbook’ guides planning & response

A new version of the classic horror movie, ‘Godzilla Meets King Kong’, is due to be released later this year.

For the film buffs among you, the original was released in Japan in 1962 and then the following year in the US. It remains the most popular Godzilla movie of all time.

However, if you relish a story about two monsters facing off against each other, you do not need to wait until November.

June 1st is the official start of Hurricane Season.

Coming to you soon across the United States – ‘COVID-19 v. Hurricane Season’.

You have to smile because if you didn’t you would cry.

Naturally, Sod’s Law dictates that the Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to be more than usually active, with a 60% chance of an above-normal season.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13-19 named storms, in which winds are 39 mph or higher.

So, while we are all focused on managing the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic, and will be for some time, this is not the year to cut corners on your emergency planning and resources for natural disasters.

With this in mind, the team at In Case of Crisis has just published the latest of our Crisis Playbooks.

This Playbook is focused on preparing for, and responding to, natural disasters, including hurricanes, other forms of extreme weather, earthquakes and wildfires. 

Get more information about the In Case of Crisis ‘Natural Disaster Playbook’.

As a reminder, here are steps to consider as you build or refresh your Emergency Response Plan to protect employees and visitors at your work location:

  • Create a shareable Site Map with assembly points, escape routes and emergency equipment clearly marked. Have copies of the map accessible at every entrance and exit to the facility.
  • Regularly update a List of all Employees with their contact details, including next of kin.
  • Be vigilant that a protocol is being consistently followed that enables Visitors to be accounted for in an emergency– and visitors are given access to information on the crucial elements of the facility’s emergency response & evacuation plan.
  • That you maintain and regularly refresh the Emergency Equipment & Supplies, which are available on-site, such as:
  • Radios
  • Satellite phones (for when cell service is unavailable)
  • Bottled water
  • Flashlights
  • Extra batteries
  • First-aid kits
  • Fire extinguishers & other fire-fighting kit
  • Whistles
  • Tinned Food
  • Can openers
  • Basic tools such as hammers and pliers
  • Bin Bags/Moist towelettes (for personal hygiene while sheltering in place)
  • Local maps
  • That you create, update and share, at least annually, the instructions on when and how employees should safely Shelter in Place (lock doors, turn off fans, take emergency supplies, seal windows etc.).
     
  • Include in the employees’ information a guide to Emergency and Weather Terminology – what specific phrases and warnings mean, and what should happen next.

If you have not had an emergency response and evacuation drill for employees recently, this would be a good time to make it happen. 

The curriculum should cover recognition of alarms and how to respond; identifying and using evacuation routes; and what constitutes a ‘safe place’.

Good luck – 2020 is shaping to be a ‘monster’ of a year for crisis managers!

THE IN CASE OF CRISIS ‘NATURAL DISASTER PLAYBOOK’

RockDove Solutions created our Natural Disaster playbook, available on mobile devices via In Case of Crisis, to help organizations plan and respond to a range of naturally forming threats such as hurricanes, other forms of extreme weather, earthquakes and wildfires.

GET INFORMATION ON THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE IN CASE OF CRISIS APP 


SOURCES OF ALERTS AND UPDATES ON EXTREME WEATHER, EARTHQUAKES & WILDFIRES 

The latest official national & international updates are available here:

 

Learn how hundreds of organizations large and small are using our award-winning crisis management platform, In Case of Crisis, so you can be better prepared and respond faster to emerging threats like Coronavirus.