DJP Update 8-27-2011 Hurricane advice! #IRENE (posted 1:04 p.m. Central on 8-27-2001)
Below are some of my recent tweets about Hurricane Irene and suggestions for safety. My experience comes from living in New Orleans all of my life except for my tour of duty with United States Air Force.
Key pointers:
1- follow advice of authorities to evacuate when told to do so. Possessions can be replaced; not so with life.
2- realize that unless you have been in a major hurricane, it is difficult to imagine all of the unexpected bad things that can happen in addition to flooding of home, loss of electrical power, intense heat in newer construction because of sealed nature and reliance on air conditioning that no longer works, flying debris, tornados spawned by hurricane, and of course, marauders! People living in New Orleans in Lakeview area survived Hurricane Katrina passage BUT then defective 17th Canal levee gave way and death and destruction ensued.
3- we keep life jackets and inflatable raft in our home in event evacuation routes blocked.
4- fill up gas tank in car prior to evacuation time. You don’t want to run out of gas in slow stop and go traffic exiting the danger zone.
5- take bottled water and some food that can be stored. take your portable computer and a backup hard drive. Keep the back up hard drive in water proof container, even if you have to double bag it in plastic containers.
6- let family members and friends know where you are headed in event they lose contact with you.
7- HAVE A PORTABLE RADIO, AND A PDA PHONE AND LEARN TO TEXT! Have a backup power supply for phone including car charger and portable batteries. Texting frequently works when voice does not. GET a WALKIE-TALKIE. Works well for short distances in event you and family members have to be separated for a short time and distance.
8- HAVE A WATERPROOF ID ON YOUR BODY in event you drown. It took months to identify some of bodies and some never identified after Katrina. Sad but true. Difficult to tell identify after long period of time in water. I visited morgue after Katrina and saw experts taking DNA from tibia marrow to try and match up with relatives searching for lost family. I wear a dog tag with ID and allergies and meds. Also, I have waterproof ID in wallet but one never knows if wallet will still be on you in the aftermath of chaos.
9- take some family pictures with you in event your possessions disappear in hurricane or flooding or tornados. This may be most important possession for you and loved ones.
If you wish to read some adventures during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Gustav (In Gustav, MedPageNow hired me as a reporter) see:
http://www.donaldpalmisano.com/html/updated01.html
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PublicHealth/10734
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TWEETS FOLLOW: SAMPLES FROM www.twitter.com/DJPNEWS
I retweeted CDC advice in the tweet immediately below. The rest are my tweets giving advice from years of my experience with hurricanes, including the unnamed 1947 hurricane in New Orleans.
CDCemergency CDC Emergency
retweeted by DJPNEWS
Make sure that you have at least a 1 week supply of prescription medications, more if refills will be difficult to obtain go.usa.gov/kw0
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
@medpagetoday “Leaving New Orleans – A Doctor’s Journey” – Evacuation #Hurricane Gustav tinyurl.com/3n4737k #voiceofexperience #Irene
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Communication essential #Hurricanes & aftermath! PDAs, texting, walkie-talkie etc tinyurl.com/3wc7ll3 #Irene #voiceofexperience
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
+ reason evacuate when authorities give the order: flying debris (roof slate) both outside home & in = windows break, can be lethal #Irene
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Evac! Roof slates too RT @nationaljournal: AP: Paramedics say man in NC killed outside his home by tree limb blown down by Hurricane #Irene
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
#HurricaneIrene RT @DHSJournal: 11AM Update from @NHC_Atlantic 1.usa.gov/nmlrUY pic.twitter.com/4wII7fP
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
& Cell charger RT @MikeBloomberg: Video: My latest update #Irene& what NY’ers should do now to prepare: bit.ly/mOYv4J (9:30 am 8/27)
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Note! RT @RepPeteKing: Here are some important phone numbers and websites you should know before Hurricane Irene hits:peteking.house.gov/hurricane.shtml
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Excellent App at Apple Store iTunes is HURRICANE – track hurricanes, satellite view, advisories, radar, etc. $2.99. #Irene @Hurricane
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
New Orleans #hurricane hx; 1947 unnamed one & photo of 17th St Canal failed levee flooding. #Katrina #NOLA; tinyurl.com/43f553w
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Chap1 my book deals with his role RT @sonodoc99: @DJPNEWSMeet MSNBC’s Hurricane Preparedness Expert – Ray Nagin? tinyurl.com/3oe9hs4 #Irene
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
If can’t leave/refuse to leave #hurricane areas: have H2Oproof ID on their person. #dogtag ideal. ID helps identify bodies. #Katrinalesson
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Those in path #HurricaneIrene see FEMA site READY.Gov for info. Staying home when in #hurricane path = great risk. Evacuate early
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Risk of injury vs inconvenience RT @MonicaCrowley: I’m feeling very uncertain here in Cone of Uncertainty. Stay put or run for my life?…
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
Good RT @DHSJournal: What should a basic Hurricane kit contain? It’s not just water, food & a flashlight – see the list:1.usa.gov/Ih7pJ
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
#Hurricane tip: when authorities say evacuate, do it; don’t wait till last minute; get gas tank filled for trip; take #WATER – #Irene
DJPNEWS Donald Palmisano
One more #hurricane tip from years of experience with them: get a charger for your phone/PDA that plugs into car power source; & text
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Stay well and I wish you safety and good health if you are in path of hurricane.
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Donald J. Palmisano, MD, JD
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