Hurricanes are forms of tropical cyclones with violent winds that exceed speeds of about 75 miles per hour. According to the National Hurricane Center (2016), some of the hazards associated with hurricanes include storm tides, heavy rains, flooding, rip currents, and tornadoes. My organization is in a hurricane-prone area. The following, therefore, is a discussion on how the organization can respond to this disaster.
The management is aware that hurricane winds can cause a lot of damage. Some of them, in addition to the ones stated above, include damaged building, fallen trees, and power outages. As a response to such situations, it would be vital for the organization to keep its buildings safe by trimming and removing affected trees. Second, the administration could consider unclogging drainage systems as a way of preventing water damage and flooding. Third, prior generator installations will serve as an alternative during power outages (DHS, 2016).
After the storm, the organization should participate in community rescue activities, including treating the sick and injured. Particularly, the management can set up an emergency team in preparation for the surge of patients. As victims, such patients are usually on the receiving end of the disaster. Also, the organization should look into educating the community on the potential spread of communicable diseases (National Hurricane Center, 2016).
Furthermore, the organization would be best placed to look for appropriate means of communication and transportation as ways of accessing affected areas. For instance, boats are essential in flooded localities to transport injured patients. Finally, the best response strategy would be to set up an emergency storm shelter designed to protect the team and patients during high winds and flooding. This shelter should have a functioning generator to act as a backup power source in the event of outages. As an alternative power source, the generator should be in a well-ventilated area (DHS, 2016).
References
DHS. (2016). Hurricanes. Retrieved from the U.S Department of Homeland Security: Ready: https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
National Hurricane Center. (2016). Hurricane Preparedness - Be Ready. Retrieved from National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php
