This is What Panic Looks Like: Thousands Stuck in Gridlock After Failing to Prepare

• Hurricane Matthew is expected to hit southern Florida late this evening and move up the East Coast 
• Powerful storm claimed at least 140 lives after it ripped through the Dominican Republic and Haiti Tuesday causing mudslides and flooding in the latter yesterday 
• President Barack Obama has declared a federal state of emergency in Florida as the hurricane approaches
• The storm intensified to a ‘catastrophic’ Category Four this morning with sustained winds of 140mph 
• There are fears Matthew could combine with Tropical Storm Nicole, forming further east over the Atlantic  
• National Weather Service has advised ‘loss of life’ and ‘immense human suffering’ is possible 
• Seven million people could be left without power and some areas left ‘uninhabitable’ for months
• Two million people in the US have been urged to evacuate their homes in preparation for a ‘direct hit’
• Gov. Scott warned Florida warns that the storm ‘is going to kill people’ after declaring a state emergency 
• South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said only 175,000 have evacuated so far, warning ‘that’s not enough’ 
• Disney has now confirmed that all theme parks will be closed at 5pm and won’t reopen until Saturday

By late morning, Hurricane Matthew had grown from a possibly devastating Category 3 storm to a potentially catastrophic Category 4. The eye of the storm is already more organized since it hit Haiti, thus becoming stronger. Forecasters are suggesting that West Palm Beach and Cape Canaveral areas farther north could get the brunt of the storm.

This is the latest report for the fast-moving hurricane.

Florida Governor Rick Scott has urged all Florida residents to take the storm seriously and earnestly prepare and/or evacuate to a safer area, but for some, his pleas have fallen on deaf ears. With 200 million evacuating the roads are gridlocked because many waited too long to leave the area.

Courtesy of http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

While many are taking the hurricane warning seriously and preparing or evacuating, some are not taking the fury of this storm seriously. In fact, one Florida resident shrugged it off and said, “The hype is going to be worse than the actual storm. I feel I can do quite well,” said Long, who owns a bike shop and plans to ride out the storm with his cat in his 32-foot recreational vehicle a half-mile from the ocean. He has lived in the Space Coast area for three decades. “There’s always tremendous buildup and then it’s no stronger than an afternoon thunderstorm. I’m not anticipating that much damage,” he said Wednesday. Source

Overconfidence Can Kill

One of most common mistakes in disaster preparedness is overconfidence. You cannot put a gauge on Mother Nature. Storms like Matthew can quickly get out of hand, especially due to storm surges that forecasters are estimating to be between 3-6 feet and some residents believe this hurricane could give some residents a wake up call.

Those left in the wake of disasters and have not prepared adequately tend to take matters in their own hands if they feel desperate enough. This is the perfect storm for a breakdown if the state of Florida is not prepared. Residents who have stayed behind will face gas shortages, supply delivery stalls , looting, lack of water and essentially, will be left to fend for themselves until help can arrive.

One can only surmise how far-reaching this storm will be, but rest assured, there will be massive amounts of damage and not preparing for this storm could get you killed. These are essentials you need to prepare for and understand how devastating these types of disasters are.

Preparation

• Get prepared for being off the grid
• 5 reasons you need an emergency fund
• Bugging out with your data
• Preparing your home for a hurricane checklist
• How to board up your windows like a pro
• Turn your car battery into an alternative power source
• The prepared pet

Supplies

• Here’s a checklist for supplies for short-term disasters
• Make a 72-hour bag for each family member
• How to stock a prepper pantry
• Emergency water sources found in the home
• Getting your pet prepared for emergencies
• What will you do when the lights go out?
• Ways to make candles from household objects

Medical Needs

• Emergency medical supply list 1 and list 2
• Commonly overlooked medical needs
• How to store medical supplies
• Pet first aid

Communication

• 5 emergency protocols for families who may be apart
• How to communicate when the grid goes down

Sanitation

• Make a basic sanitation kit
• How to take a shower after the SHTF
• Women’s health during times of disaster
• What happens when the toilets won’t flush

Evacuation

• Here’s an evacuation checklist
• The prepper’s conundrum: bugging but
• Knowing the signs of when to bug out
• Keep your vehicle evacuation ready
• Roadside medical kit

Don’t Be Another Statistic

Now that you understand what we’re dealing with, there are ways you can use this information to prepare for the next event so that you will be a part of the population that is ready for what may come.

Ultimately, you are the only one who can best care for your family. Having a stash of your family’s favorite canned or dry goods, a supply of water and a simple medical kit can maintain your basic needs for a short-lived disaster. This simple preparedness supply could set you apart from the unprepared.

If you live in a highly populated area, understand that resources will diminish quickly, so preparing beforehand can circumvent this. You can always start out with these basic preparedness items to get through a disaster:

1. Food and alternative ways to cook food
2. Water – 1 gallon per person/per day for consuming only. Plan more for sanitary needs.
3. Fuel for generators. Also consider charcoal for outdoor grills
4. Batteries and battery charger
5. Flashlights and lanterns
6. Generator
7. Emergency lighting
8. Ice
9. Medical supply
10. Items for baby needs
11. Sanitation supplies

This information has been made available by Ready Nutrition