Severe Weather Season Is Here — Be Prepared

As we continue through the severe weather season (hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires, floods, etc),  the American Camp Association reminds camps of the excellent resources available to assist you in developing your severe weather response plans:

Severe Weather Resources

• Preparing for Severe Weather – National Weather Service Resources
  • Drought
  • Earthquakes
  • Extreme Heat
  • Fire
  • Floods
  • Hurricanes
  • Lightening Safety
  • Thunderstorms
• Ready America — for samples of readiness plans for all kinds of occurances
• National Hurricane Center — tracking of all active hurricanes
• American Red Cross — Disaster Online Newsroom
• Environmental Protection Agency — preparation for and recovery from hurricanes.

In addition, some camps may be called upon to serve a variety of needs—including housing evacuees. The American Camp Association shares the lessons we learned over recent summers when camps served as evacuation centers for the victims of hurricanes in the Gulf region, and in other disasters. In preparation for future situations, we provide camps with a list of important questions they might consider prior to agreeing to serve as an evacuation center.

For information about your local area, make sure you know your local weather service information including the services they provide, and their notification avenues. Find your local weather service at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov

American Camp Association Resources

• Wild Fire Evacuation Plans
• Severe Weather Impacts - Tips for Response and Prevention
• Talking With Children about Natural Disasters
• Questions to Consider Before Serving as an Evacuation Site

Learn From Other Camps That Have Faced a Natural Disaster

• Forest Fire: A Crisis Reality for Camp, Don Brown and Rhonda Mickelson, Camping Magazine¸ March/April 2002
• Sanctuary From the Storm: Hurricane Evacuees Find Comfort at Camp, Teresa Nicodemus, Camping Magazine, March/April 2006