Children and Disasters- National Preparedness Month Week Three

September 20, 2022

September marks National Preparedness Month and Midland Radio is encouraging people across the country to take preparedness seriously.

Whether it's a wildfire, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flood, or other disaster, you'll need to have a plan for you and your family to navigate an emergency safely.

CHILDREN AND DISASTERS

For kids, severe weather and emergencies can induce anxiety.

Midland Radio's Meteorologist, Bruce Jones says a fear of thunder, dark storms, and tornadoes is completely normal. However, he notes that this fear can be disruptive for kids and their families.

PREPARING CHILDREN FOR EMERGENCIES

The more kids are prepared, the less likely they will be afraid of the storms. It's also important they know how to react in case they are home alone when a storm or a disaster hits.

Here are some of Bruce Jones' tips for helping you child prepare and overcome any fears they might have:

Grab a book. They're available at all reading levels and can help kids learn more about the weather
Let kids know that even in "Tornado Alley" a tornado is very rare and the odds of getting hit are very, very small. However, this doesn't mean kids shouldn't know the plan and practice it
Peace of mind comes from understanding and being prepared for storms so make sure you're discussing your emergency plan with them and walking through drills at least once a year
Children who learn about preparedness gain confidence and also often enjoy sharing that knowledge with other kids

THINGS KIDS SHOULD KNOW

Make sure to discuss the following with your kids:

How to receive a warning- kids should have multiple, redundant ways of receiving emergency and weather alerts
Warnings don't guarantee severe weather, they just tell you to take action to find safety
When a warning is issued, go to your safe space. Talk to kids about the safe space, where it is, and what they should bring
Every family member should know what county you live in and where it is on a map

RADIOS FOR YOU EMERGENCY GO KIT

Radios, both emergency and two-way are important aspects of any emergency go kit.

Kids should know where the household radios are kept and how to use them in case of an emergency.

EMERGENCY RADIO

In any emergency, you'll want to make sure you're receiving the latest alerts and information. The quickest way to receive alerts issued by the National Weather Service and emergency officials is through NOAA Weather Radio. Each of Midland's emergency radios are equipped with this feature.

Every emergency go kit should have multiple chargers for your household's cellphones, but disasters can wipe out or destroy cellphone towers, making it difficult or impossible for everyone to receive emergency alerts on their phones. With an emergency radio in tow, you won't have to worry about getting important, life-saving alerts.

Midland's ER40 Emergency Radio has multiple power sources to keep your radio charged no matter what the state of electricity is. This includes a lithium rechargeable battery, solar panel, hand crank, and a USB charging chord.

Not to mention, emergency radios have a flashlight with SOS strobe, checking off multiple items on your emergency go kit checklist.

The ER40 is available this month.

WALKIE TALKIES

Emergencies or a natural disasters have the potential to wreak havoc on cellphone towers and electricity, but that doesn't mean communication isn't just as important.

Walkie talkie two-way radios bring reliable, strong, and clear communication to any location. Whether it's splitting up with members of your family as you asses the damage of a storm or caravanning as part of a wildfire evacuation order, walkie talkies will keep you connected.

Midland's X-Talker T77VP5 Walkie Talkie Two-Way Radios have an impressive battery life, important during and after an emergency. These walkie talkies come loaded with extra features including battery packs, a desktop charger, AC wall adapter, boom microphone headsets, and mico-USB charging cable. The walkie talkies have Weather Alert Radio with Midland's Weather Scan Technology, giving your family another way to receive important alerts.