Hurricane Ike’s Record-Setting Run

Mr. Prepared Says Proper Preparation Saved Thousands!

Mr. Prepared here. There’s no question Hurricane Ike this past September was a monster. At one point, while it was still offshore, it became the most massive storm ever recorded in the Atlantic – 550 miles in diameter!

So I was right there pushing the panic button with all those other weather forecasters when I saw the giant swirling pattern on the satellite photos heading for Galveston, Texas. And I knew what those same forecasters meant when they said it was “certain death” for residents of that Texas island to not evacuate.

In my new online article, “Hurricane History Repeats Itself With Ike,” I write about how in 1900, a similar, even stronger storm hit Galveston in the worst weather tragedy ever to hit the U.S. Over 8000 people lost their lives – because forecasting then was so unsophisticated and hi-tech tools like satellite and radar…well, they didn’t exist!

And that’s the crucial difference today, I think. We’ve got everything we need to see what’s happening and to take the appropriate action to ensure our survival! No, we still can’t predict exactly what will happen with hurricanes – both Gustav and Ike this year were on track to be bigger storms than Katrina in 2005 – but we do know how to prepare for a hurricane.

Crucial aspects of emergency preparedness include having an evacuation plan in place, knowing how to contact family members and loved ones during a crisis and having a pre-set meeting place. And an incredibly important element is having enough emergency supplies on hand – first aid kids, food and water supplies, survival gear, flashlights, generators, weather radios, etc. – everything you could possibly need should the worst happen.

When outside help is in short supply, you want to be well-supplied with what will get you through a disaster. And that goes for earthquakes, floods, fires and tornadoes, not just hurricanes.

I hope you check out my article for an interesting look at how hurricane preparations have changed over the last century – and also feel free to check out my website at www.MrPrepared.com for all the latest news and tips on emergency preparedness. There’s lot of valuable free information there that I know you’ll find useful.

Until next time, be Smart! Be Safe! Be Prepared! This is Mr. Prepared, bringing Awareness to Preparedness!