Even if the situation isn’t pervasive or destructive enough to force you out of your home, it’s smart to be prepared for emergencies that would disrupt your usual activities or limit travel to get food and items you need.
A recent threat: Air quality. Canadian wildfire smoke has been an increasing factor in Michigan skies, and households with vulnerable people — seniors or children with asthma — can stock up on breathing masks. Just a few days without electricity in the harsh heat of summer or the plunging temperatures of winter could be dangerous. Consider secondary power and heat sources. Keep stable grocery and water supplies on hand.
Keep elderly and vulnerable neighbors in mind, sharing resources when possible, staying alert to community needs and collecting reliable information for recovery services.
Keep supplies on hand:
Consider extra fire or flood insurance. Residents of Detroit’s canal district in the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood may think about having ready access to sandbags in case of high water. Homeowners living in lake districts may see their waterfront properties either flooded or left high and dry by rapid changes in lake levels.
If you are considering a move, take stock: Is the house you’re thinking of buying in a flood zone? Is insurance available and what limitations does it carry? There are multiple places to check for various climate threats. One dashboard, The Climate Explorer, uses NOAA, NASA and other data to compile both historic and projection data for any county or metropolitan area in the country. Information includes temperature, precipitation and flooding predictions, as well as "take action" data that points to top concerns and at-risk neighborhoods.
Evaluate where you live:
Start with a personal to-do list, considering what you might need, who you need to communicate with and where you would go if you need to evacuate the area or leave your home at a moment’s notice.
It makes sense to have a “go bag” with emergency supplies ready in case you need to decamp on short notice. A change of clothes, extra power cords for your electronics, perhaps medicines or extra cash — anything that may be needed to get through a couple of days away from home when you have only minutes to leave, whether that is due to flooding or tornado damage or long-lasting power outages from strong summer or winter storms.
Also keep important documents at the ready to take with you or to keep in a flood- and fire-resistant place.
Be prepared to move fast:
How to protect yourself
A climate crisis can move slowly and the cumulative effects may take decades to emerge. But as residents in Los Angeles’ fire zone learned recently, a crisis can also strike with horrifying swiftness. Make sure you’re as ready as you can be for what could happen.
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