When disaster strikes are we truly prepared? A lot of us work hard to secure valuable belongings, essential needs and a safe living environment for ourselves and our families and it’s scary to think that it all can be suddenly wiped away. That is the harsh reality we can face when a natural disaster occurs. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more can strike at any time, but despite the devastation that comes with it, there are still ways to survive and make the situation more manageable in the aftermath. National Preparedness Month is a reminder for individuals, families and communities to spend time planning and determining what steps to take in these types of emergencies.
We spoke with Becky White, the Direct Services Program Manager of United Way of Greater St. Louis (UWGSL) about how to be prepared when disaster strikes and the role that UWGSL plays in that.
How can people be prepared to deal with a natural disaster?
I like to think that becoming prepared for a disaster is a bit like packing for a trip. You make a plan, pack the things you will need for the trip and get ready to go. Our partners at the American Red Cross also have some great resources to help you and your family be prepared for a disaster. Visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html
It’s important that your family preparedness plan includes all the members of your family – even pets. My disaster preparedness bag includes: my favorite granola bars, the meds I need to take each day, food and water for my cats, and a flashlight with extra batteries.
What does UWGSL do to help people when they face crises like these?
United Way has a unique role in the community in that we are a convener in the community – we bring agencies, clients and funders together to address crises. Depending on the disaster, the resources provided can include help with a place to stay, food, medicine, and mental health resources.
Sometimes, during a major disaster, United Way may have the opportunity to support recovery efforts in the community financially by providing funding to Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) that assists recovery and case management efforts.
Does UWGSL have any programs or initiatives in place that help people with disaster preparedness?
United Way works with the community to be prepared every day. Being prepared is not something you do once and then it’s done, being prepared is a continual process.
Our 2-1-1 helpline has the most up to date information and referrals. We work with our partner agencies like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and specifically with disaster response partners like local emergency management to build relationships throughout the year so we know what to expect of each other when we do face disasters.
You were on the frontlines of disaster relief efforts during the flooding here in 2022, and at your previous job at American Red Cross during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. What were those experiences like for you and how did it affect the way you view disaster relief and disaster preparedness?
Both during my time at the American Red Cross and continuing into my career at United Way, I have had the opportunity to help a lot of folks take that first step from being affected by a disaster to moving into both short-term as well as long-term recovery.
From a single house fire to a massive hurricane like Katrina, every disaster starts and ends on the local level. Spending much of my career on the front lines of disaster relief efforts, I’ve learned that people have more in common than we think we do.
Disasters don’t care about zip codes, county lines or your income bracket. And while every disaster is different, there are definitely some themes that are the same – people will help each other after disasters. It is hard to lose our home and valuables in a disaster, but when it comes down to it, we can get more “stuff”, people cannot be replaced.
For someone who is not prepared for a natural disaster, but is forced to endure one, how long can it take that person to fully recover and why?
Disaster is an all-inclusive word – we can look at COVID as a disaster because it changed our everyday world. We can also look at weather events, mass violence issues, social uprisings, earthquakes, wildfires, and more.
There are so many variables to the recovery process that depends on the size of the disaster, and the resources the person had to start with – people who already don’t have the full resources they need on a daily basis are often affected more by natural disasters. So, depending on the circumstances, it can take years. When you lose everything, it can take a long time to put life back together.
So, being prepared takes one step at a time and it makes the recovery process much easier.
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