In The Face of the Storm
Surviving Hurricane Weather
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By Carla Land
A great deal has been written about hurricane preparedness and what you should do when a serious storm threat approaches. But what if you don't know the storm is coming? Can you survive the fury of an unannounced storm when trekking through unprotected country?
It may sound more like a nightmare, but in reality there are people that are caught off-guard as a serious weather threat approaches, even in our modern world.
In spite of color radar, satellite imagery, expert forecasting and analysis; regardless whether we are equipped with cell phones or two way-radios, there are rare instances when the fury of violent weather overtakes us by surprise.
It probably happens more than you think.
While most Atlantic hurricanes form off the coast of Africa giving plenty of early warning, sudden Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricanes have formed and moved rapidly in less than a day's time, endangering everyone and everything in its path.
There have been oil crews trapped on off-shore rigs when sudden storms appeared. Field archeologists have been stuck in coastal areas without storm warning. It wasn't but a few decades ago that a Texas National Guard unit was trapped on the beach by rain-forced flooding and had to ride out a major hurricane during a training exercise.
There have been a few instances when travelers were trapped on an island or coastal area and unable to evacuate in time.
However unlikely it may seem, the question remains, could you survive a hurricane if you were stranded in the face of a raging storm? And while the prospect of such danger is a frightening one, the truth is, more people who face such terrible circumstances survive than those that don't.
Evacuation from storm-threatened areas is generally an option for most of us - but not for all. Each year thousands of islanders across the Caribbean and coastal areas of that region face the danger of hurricanes without so much as a public shelter to hide in. Most ride out the storm in their homes, often simple wooden or thatched-roof structures that are unprotected from harsh coastal elements. Nearly every year there are deaths associated with major tropical systems.
Not far from Brownsville, along the Mexican coast, many families have ridden out a serious storm without knowledge that it was even coming.
While there are a few things you can do to prepare yourself for some unexpected emergencies, something as widely devastating as hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanos are difficult to manage, especially when riding them out in undeveloped or underdeveloped regions or remote island locations.
If there is but one clear point to make here it is a reminder that bad things can happen to good people in the darndest places and at the least expected times. This is especially true for travelers in general, and adventure travelers in particular.
There's nothing more frightening - and surprising - than, for example, to be exploring the Belizian rainforest on an extended hiking tour, out of touch with the modern world, only to find yourself stuck in the path of raging hurricane. It has happened before and it will happen again.
Being prepared for the unexpected may be your best and only defense. Start by packing for inclement weather. If you're headed to the great outdoors for a few days or weeks of unspoiled uninterupted leisure, you should always carry a flashlight(s) with extra batteries, a GPS device, and a basic medical kit that could help you survive in such a crisis. Other essentials, especially in tropical environments subject to seasonal hurricanes, are inflatable floating devices, plenty of rope, a reliable method of creating fire, signal flares (check local laws) and a general antibiotic.
If you're traveling in your RV or car, remember you are particularly vulnerable to high winds. If there is no safe harbor for your vehicle, at least attempt to park it behind a solid structure or a colum of older, mature trees. You may want to abandon the comforts of the inside in order to avoid being blown away along with your vehicle.
If trying to survive in a hurricane ravaged area, be careful when drinking the water, be aware of heightened reptile and insect dangers, and, of course, avoid low lying areas. Seek high ground that is well protected from the wind and be constantly wary of blowing debris.
Seeking shelter in anything less than a stable and well constructed building is also questionable. Collapsing roofs and flood waters are two of the leading causes of injury and death during violent storms.
Keeping your head - and your courage up - are essential to survival in any type of crisis. Let common sense guide you and always be prepared for the worst. Chances are good you'll never find yourself in such a situation, but if you ever do become threatened by unexpected weather, thinking about what you would do in advance of the crisis is the best advice anyone could offer. Be aware of your geography and know the local watershed and areas subject to flooding.
Spending a few days wet and hungry and overexposed to the elements beats falling victim to the wrath of nature.
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