Following all of the discussion regarding Hurricane Sandy, it’s important that our students understand what to do in the case of a natural disaster. Especially if your student resides off-campus, it is essential that he/she knows what to do in case of an emergency. Here are a few tips for how you can help your student be prepared if a natural disaster struck the Springfield area:
- Be prepared. Help your student create an emergency plan for whether he is at home, at work, or driving in his car. Also, encourage him to assemble a disaster supply kit for his home and car. Preparation is the key to staying safe and calm when a disaster strikes. It’s important that you and your student know what to do in the case of an emergency. The following link contains a detailed explanation of what an emergency plan and disaster supply kit should look like: http://www.redcrossillinois.org/tornado-safety-tips
- Understand the warning signs. Due to Springfield’s geographical proximity, the most likely natural disaster that we face is a tornado. Make sure your student knows the difference between a Tornado Watch (in which tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area) and a Tornado Warning (in which a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar). Be sure your student is prepared to react and to implement his emergency plan.
- Know which resources are available. If your student is living in an off-campus dwelling without a basement, urge him to find out where his nearest storm shelter is located. Encourage your student to ask about the apartment complex’s disaster preparedness plan. Also, help your student develop his own plan, including phone numbers and organizations that he can use as resources if a disaster were to happen. Students can also sign up to receive Missouri State emergency alert messages through text, email, or a phone call. The link is located in your student’s my.missouristate account, under the “Other Information” portion of the “Profile” tab. If your student is living on-campus encourage him to read over the “Safety and Security” section of Missouri State University’s 2012-2013 Guide to Residence Hall Living (pp. 25-27). Missouri State has gone to great lengths to ensure that our students living in the residence halls feel safe and secure in their places of residence.
Although we don’t like to think it can happen to us, it is important that we are prepared for any of life’s challenges. If you or your family is in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, our thoughts are with you. We hope that you and your loved ones remain safe and dry and, that you and your student are able to use these tips in order to be prepared in case of a possible natural disaster in the future.
Tips taken from http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/tornado