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Date: 11/14/2018
AGAWAM – In Western Massachusetts, residents typically avoid major storms and natural disasters. However, on Nov. 5, writer and country living skills teacher Kathy Harrison and Chet Nicora, Emergency Management Coordinator for the town of Agawam, presented at the Agawam Public Library and showed guests why it is important to be prepared. Harrison and Nicora provided individual presentations that coincided around the same topic: Preparing for the worst of weather.
The premise of Harrison’s presentation revolves around one question: “You turn on the news and this is it. It is the storm of the century. You have one week to prepare. Would you know where to begin?” She also relayed other questions that tend to come up in a dire situation. “Thing number one, you have to make a decision and this is the hardest part: Do I go? Or do I stay? And there are so many things that enter into that decision. How close are you to the area that may be impacted? How vulnerable are you? How well prepared are you? Could you manage without water for a week if you had to?”
Harrison broke down the bare bones of what is necessary to execute a safety plan. She began the presentation with common trends that occur when storms hit nationwide. “We start seeing a week, maybe 10 days in advance that this is going to happen and there are things you can count on. You’re going to see empty store shelves, and it is always flabbergasting to see what goes. Milk, bread, batteries, water and canned food included. You see as it becomes clearer that people need to evacuate, signs that say ‘No gas’ for example.”
Harrison explained that this is common in areas frequently struck with hurricanes and flooding such as Texas or Florida, but residents of the Northeast tend to stay home. “You see people start to panic. And because we live in a place where we get snowstorms and ice storms but not that kind of terrifying, deadly storm all that often, I was curious why people don’t evacuate.” She explained that the primary reasons people stay in the area of a projected storm include not believing weather reports or poverty.
With the group of guests pondering the above thoughtfully, Harrison offered comfort by showing everyone what to have available at all times. Important items included cash, a paper map, a cell phone charging bank and a “preparedness bag”.
Showing her own “preparedness bag,” Harrison explained what would be helpful to have on hand at all times in the event of a storm. Items included bottled water, nonperishable snacks, toiletries, medications, a hard copy of contact information for family and friends, dry socks and a preparedness notebook.
Harrison said it is important to keep items such as social security cards, birth certificates and a copy of identification on hand in a preparedness notebook. Harrison shared that a flash drive full of family photos is also a good idea in the case of damaging weather that may destroy original printed copies.
Nicora, who volunteers at the Agawam Emergency Management Office, ensured that guests to the presentation understood the work of the office and familiarized them with Code Red, the emergency notification system utilized by the town of Agawam. Nicora reassured guests by stating, “Agawam has done quite a bit for preparation and we are ready for storms. Agawam is prepared all of the time.”
Nicora also covered information that is necessary on a local level to ensure safety. Code Red is the town of Agawam’s emergency alert system that can be utilized by citizens to hear about potential dangers. Nicora explained, “If there’s an emergency, if we are opening up shelters, if there is information that we want citizens to know, you can call that line and I will put out a message.”
He also explained that there are three Red Cross shelters in Agawam that would be utilized in the case of a disaster and that the Agawam Emergency Management Office has health kits prepared.
Explaining the dangers associated with using generators and burning kerosene lamps, Nicora offered the group tips on how to safely use these products during an emergency. He reiterated that kerosene fumes can be harmful and that generators cannot be used inside of the home, garage or basement due to carbon monoxide emissions.
Harrison’s books “Just in Case” and “Prepping 101” are available for purchase at amazon.com or to be checked out from the Agawam Public Library. To sign up for Code Red, please visit the town of Agawam website at www.agawam.ma.us. Agawam Emergency Management also utilizes a phone system to release emergency messages that can be accessed by dialing 1-866-419-5000.