It’s not just about being prepared for the weather – it’s about being prepared for life.
We all know that extreme weather can happen anytime, but we still tend to go into it unprepared. We don’t have a plan in place, we don’t know what to do if we get stuck in the storm, and we don’t even have the right gear on hand when it comes time to protect ourselves.
If we consider statistics, we can see a sudden upsurge in the extreme weather conditions in different countries, especially the U.S. The extreme changes in weather conditions have been highlighted by recent statistics.
Over geographical areas in the United States and around the world, the total annual precipitation has grown. Across the contiguous 48 states, precipitation has risen, on average, 0.2 inches every decade since 1901. Moreover, between 20 and 70 percent of the U.S. land area experienced unusually dry conditions at some point between 2000 and 2020.
According to a survey of 10,282 U.S. adults by the Pew Research Center, roughly 40% of Americans say their local area has recently experienced extreme weather, such as floods and intense storms (43%) or protracted periods of unusually hot weather (42%).
Unfortunately, the weather is something that is beyond our control. Fortunately, plenty of simple things you can do right now will help you stay safe and comfortable when weather-related.
Keep a Tab on the Weather Forecast
Keeping a tab on the weather forecast is always important, but it’s especially important when you’re preparing for any extreme weather.
Let’s say you live in New South Wales (NSW), and the forecast says there’s an 80 percent chance of rain tomorrow night. Your first instinct might be to cancel plans with your friends – but if they’re on their way over and there are no other options besides canceling, you might want to do something else instead.
Maybe head out early so you can get dinner before the rain hits? Or just stand under an umbrella while listening to music? The point is – knowing about the weather ahead of time will help ensure that your plan A doesn’t go wrong in the first place.
Along with the weather forecast, it’s important to look at recent weather statistics. The year 2021 was the sixth wettest on record for New South Wales, with 30% over average rainfall. This featured the state’s wettest November on record and major flooding along the east coast in March. At 0.15 °C above the average between 1961 and 1990, it was the state’s coolest year since 1996.
Moreover, Orange Airport AWS has witnessed a new record lowest mean temperature of 11.4-degree celsius in 2021. This shows the extremities of weather conditions in these areas.
These statistics on the unstable weather conditions in Orange, New South Wales, are shocking and call for an accurate weather forecast tool like NSW radar that gives you a clear idea of what to expect in terms of temperature.
Know Where Your Nearest Emergency Shelter
If you’re wondering how to prepare for any extreme weather, one of the most important steps you can take is finding your nearest emergency shelter.
The best place to start is by calling your local government office and asking if they have a list of emergency shelters in your area. Emergency shelters are often located in public buildings like schools or churches, but they may also be in more private buildings that have been converted into temporary housing for people who have lost their homes during a natural disaster.
If you don’t know where the closest emergency shelter is, use Google Maps or another mapping app on your phone to search for it. You can also check with local law enforcement or fire departments – they may also help you find the nearest shelter.
The main effects of extreme weather include losing shelter and deteriorating or developing mental health problems as a result of environmental dangers. A third of the homeless population experienced stress as a result of exposure to bad weather. Extreme weather conditions contributed to homelessness for 19% of people.
Hence, finding an emergency shelter that helps you remain safe until extreme weather passes becomes all the more important.
Know Where to Find Emergency Supplies
One of the most important things to do when preparing for any extreme weather is knowing where to find emergency supplies. If you’re in a place that has a lot of extreme weather, it’s important to have a stockpile of supplies on hand so that you can be prepared for whatever comes your way.
If there’s a hurricane coming, it’s important to know where you can get drinking water and food in case you lose power. If there’s an earthquake coming, it’s important to have emergency shelters and supplies like blankets or sleeping bags. If there’s a tornado coming, it’s important to have flashlights, batteries, bottled water, and canned goods on hand.
Knowing where to find these things will ensure you can survive the worst without any problems.
In a recent survey among Americans, only 30% of individuals are certain that their emergency supplies will be enough should bad weather occur, despite 58% of people having some sort of emergency supplies in their vehicles. Bottled water, a blanket, nonperishable food, warm clothing, and a first-aid kit were cited by respondents as being the top five items to keep in a car in case of emergency.
Summing Up
If you live in a place where the weather can often be extreme, it’s important to know how to prepare for any situation. You don’t want to be caught off guard when the weather changes, and you definitely don’t want your home and family to be unprepared.
The tips above are just a few things you should consider when preparing for extreme weather conditions.
