As I See It
Leaving at a moment’s notice
Have you been part of a natural disaster? And if so, did you face an evacuation of your home?
Usually with floods and snowstorms you have an advance notice that something is about to occur.
Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are a little less predictable but still can be detected.
Other disasters, like earthquakes, tsunamis and the direction and speed of wildfires, are not so easy to predict.
Southern California has experienced widespread fires and residents are now having to deal with mudslides as a result of the rain they received.
Vegetation and trees that have burned away increased the problems they are dealing with.
Have you thought about what you would grab if the authorities told you that you had to leave your home right away? Photos, clothing, important papers, a phone charger?
One of the lessons I learned after experiencing a large tornado was to always grab my wallet, keys and my phone. When residents came back, authorities were asking for ID to prove you lived at the home and were not there trying to loot the property.
Having a credit card also came in handy for those who had no home to return to and needed to find shelter, food and gas.
And having an emergency plan is not old-school thinking.
As I see it, I’m Bill Dollar.
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