Preparing for the unexpected; When natural disasters hit do you stay or leave?

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Happy 2022, Everyone!?

Let's make this a phenomenal year.

In this issue:?Preparing for the unexpected; When natural disasters hit do you stay or leave?

Enjoy!

When I was a young boy, rainy weather had been one of my favorite times to play, not because I loved wetting my pants in the rain when no one was watching or dancing in the rain ? like snow (The kid in you still loves it.) But unfortunately snow, that's something South Africans do not see unless on TV.?

It's funny how when we get older everything around us becomes childish. I, on the other hand, No longer see any joy in spending my time outside than I see joy surrounded by books and great minds.?

1 January 2022 I looked God in the eyes and asked Him why??

For it hit me, the Great tornado hit the Limpopo _ Mokopane, the village of Bakenberg.?

Disasters like tornados and Hurricanes when there hit your home, your community ? You may think it is a cease or God is trying to punish you by taking away everything you that had built.?

I thought of ceasing God, but all I could think of was my safety and my most precious items. After the storm had cleared, I run to my uncles to notify them of the unforeseen, and little did I know that I was not alone, My neighbors had seen more damages than I had seen.?

When I return from my uncles who are always calm, I meet with my neighbors who still consider me as their child and from there I understood the meaning of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” for they had come to see if I were fine and safe.?

But because everyone has seen more damage, We become the "they", You are the "they". We are the "they". Then we reached a point where We've got to say, "What are we going to do about this?"

I was the only youngest among my neighbors, and with a smile, because I believe in Hope, I said, 'We restore and rebuilt' not only did I know that rebuilding cost a lot of money and a handful of work.?

We went out and gathered all that was in good shape and everything, the night turned into a search party not a celebration of the New Year.?

All in number we gathered everything, around 3:30 am we gathered together and made our final say, that we will meet again in the morning to sort out everything and help each other where we can help.?

I still had a room that was not damaged to lay my head and the neighbors that had lost everything had to spend the night at relatives or the houses of neighbors that had not been affected.

My first week of January 2022 had not been pleasant, for I'm still tired. But I believe in the good, and I'm ready to take on 2022 with a new mind.?

Nothing has changed about God

With so many unstable things that knocked me off balance in life, here I am today stronger than ever.?

Let me remind you that every bit of the unforeseen circumstance in your life is still true about living.

No matter what you have been through,?

No matter what the locusts have eaten, No matter what time has slipped through your fingers,?

No matter who or what you lost, it’s still true.

You’re still going to do it.?

You’re still going to make it.?

You’re still going to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.?

Everything that happened, God already knew about. He has not changed; you are still chosen.

Without far a do, let's get to today's topic.?

Preparing for the unexpected; When natural disasters hit do you stay or leave?

The unfortunate truth is that disasters happen, Tornados, the same as Hurricanes are not a once-in-a-lifetime disaster.?

That means half of the year contains a threat for another major storm. Plus, recent studies have shown that we can expect stronger and bigger storms in the future.

Even those who prepare for natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados, or wildfires, may still suffer catastrophic losses.?

Natural disasters can cause significant damage to a home, but the amount and type of damage vary greatly. For example, hurricanes can cause damage due to strong winds, but an accompanying storm surge also can cause significant flood damage. Hurricanes also can spawn tornadoes. This combination can equate to significant and even complete loss of properties.

And we’ve all seen the damage done to homes after a fire, flood, or earthquake. These events are called “disasters” for a reason. The structural integrity of a home can be severely damaged by any of these, leaving it uninhabitable.?

In addition to disasters that cause roof and structural damage, a home suffering even a few inches of water damage can necessitate significant repairs as well as mold remediation.

Likewise, after a wildfire, fire and smoke damage leaves lingering issues beyond what is visible — such as odors and drifting ash.??

Schools, businesses, and municipal service organizations are also affected by natural disasters, leaving whole communities to decide whether they should rebuild or leave. Massive damage to schools means that children in the community will either be out of school for months or dispersed to different schools nearby.?

Public services such as police, firefighters, emergency services, and hospitals may find their facilities or workforce compromised, causing a disruption in services.?

When these types of emergencies devastate homes and towns, individuals and families find themselves required to make several big decisions in a short amount of time, including choosing whether to stay or leave.

After losing everything in a disaster, do you rebuild in the same area or pack up and head somewhere safer??

Here are some major factors to consider when trying to answer such a question

1. Can you rebuild to a higher construction standard that would make your new home sturdier and more disaster-resistant than the old one??

2. Will you be able to get (or afford) insurance on a rebuilt structure in a disaster zone??

3. Are neighbors, local businesses, and public services likely to return and rebuild?

Immediate Steps to Take When Disaster Strikes:

• When you’re affected by a natural disaster, you may feel overwhelmed. There are a few steps you should take immediately that can help you find peace of mind during this traumatic time.?
• Check-in. Let your family and friends know you’re safe, and register yourself and your family with your Local Emergency Management Agency as soon as possible, even if you have insurance.?
• Find shelter. After a disaster, local organizations such as churches or community centers will open as temporary shelters.?
• Listen to news sources for local shelter information.
• Secure temporary housing. Some families can stay with friends or relatives. If this is not possible, check in with your Local Emergency Management Agency if they offer different types of disaster aid to help those with housing needs.
• File a claim. Contact your homeowner’s insurance company, as well as additional entities that may be implicated, such as your flood insurance company.
• Contact your mortgage provider. Your lender or mortgage company can counsel you on the appropriate next steps, which might include mortgage forbearance or other agreement measures.
• Address mortgage concerns. What do you do if you’re unable to continue paying the mortgage on your damaged home (or should you even do so)??

Staying After a Disaster

Many people have chosen to stay after a natural disaster and rebuild. People and communities are resilient. The nation has seen entire communities rebuild and come back even stronger after disasters. In addition to a natural desire to stay at home, other factors make it more likely that people will stay.?

If you can’t imagine living anywhere else, and your home is salvageable, then it’s time to start planning your home restoration. First things first: Understand that restoration will not happen overnight. Expect it to be a lengthy process. In addition to finding a contractor, you’ll also have to deal with your insurance company and building permits.?

While your insurance company can point you in the direction of some builders, it will ultimately be up to you to find and hire a builder. Do your research! Rather than hiring the first contractor on the list, compare the different options. Look at the homes each has built and compare prices.?

Keep in mind: If you’re in an area where several homes have suffered significant damage, builders will be in great demand.?

It is better to be patient and hire someone you trust to do a high-quality, professional restoration than someone who is looking to make quick and easy money.

You’ll also likely have to secure the right building permits. If your home is being rebuilt, you’ll need a building permit as well as one for demolition. Your builder may also have to alter the look or floor plan of your home to satisfy updated building codes.?

As you move into the renovation process,

Here are some tips to ensure that your home will be rebuilt safer and better than before:

• Hire a licensed reconstruction contractor. A reconstruction contractor specializes in reconstruction issues.
• Start with the basement. It’s wiser to rebuild from the ground up.?
• Strengthen the interior walls. After a disaster, you’ll want to do as much as you can to prevent the same damage in the future. Regard this as an opportunity to make your home stronger and sturdier.
• Use water-resistant materials when possible. If your home experienced water damage, you understand how difficult it is to extract water from the home, as well as deal with secondary issues like mold growth. As you rebuild, choose water-resistant materials to help minimize future water damage.
• Consider improved flooring options. Now’s the time to replace that old wall-to-wall carpet with flooring materials that offer higher water resistance, such as tile, vinyl, or laminate.?
• Add windows designed to withstand high winds. Storm windows are designed to provide extra protection from high winds — and they also provide better insulation in all types of weather conditions.
• Protect exterior walls by avoiding vinyl. Vinyl siding is not fire-resistant, and it does not protect homes well against high winds or hailstorms.?
• Hire a qualified roofer. Professional roofers have the experience and know-how to expertly repair all kinds of damage to your roof.?
• Use quality materials. When it comes to repairing damage and rebuilding after a disaster, you want to choose materials that will last longer and be sturdier in the face of another disaster.
• Keep all your receipts for insurance purposes. Repair costs will add up quickly. Protect yourself and your wallet by keeping your receipts.

Preparing now for the future

Preparing ahead of time can save you the anxiety and overspending caused by the panic of an oncoming storm. Natural disasters are a force of nature. They cannot be stopped no matter how many times you shoot at them. All we can do is be smart and be prepared.?

In emergencies, one cannot overemphasize the importance of disaster preparedness. While you can’t prevent a natural disaster, you can take steps to make your home and family safer when one strikes. By knowing your area’s risks and preparing your home in advance, you’ll likely sustain less damage than those who are unprepared.?

Here are some basic disaster preparedness tips:

1. Know the potential risks. Understand the disaster risks for your area and familiarize yourself with your community’s disaster response plans.
2. Have a family disaster plan. A family disaster plan is designed to help family members know how to find one another in the event of an emergency. The American Red Cross offers a family disaster plan template you can print and fill out.
3. Sign up for emergency alerts. The National Weather Service allows individuals to sign up for email and SMS weather alerts. Plus, you should sign up to receive notifications from your state and local alert systems.
4. Address your home’s weaknesses. Repair vulnerable spots and liabilities — for example, roof damage or wall-to-wall carpeting, both of which can exacerbate water damage — as promptly and completely as you can.
5. Inspect your plumbing and electrical systems annually. It’s wiser and safer to prevent or minimize the possibility of damage by maintaining your home’s most critical systems. If your plumbing or electrical systems are faltering, repair them before disaster strikes and even worse damage occurs.
6. Clear debris from your yard regularly. During storms, flying debris in your yard (such as broken limbs or loose furniture or fixtures) can become extremely hazardous.?

While we can work to prepare your home for the impossible, a disaster is still possible. And if we do experience a disaster in our homes, it will feel overwhelming. But being prepared with pertinent information beforehand and knowing our options for responding afterward can give us the strength to make the decisions necessary for our families to move on and move forward.

Right now, and throughout history, life has been and is filled with every kind of storm: emotional, mental, medical, political, and from the weather. People are out of control, restless, and confused.

All of us struggle to stay calm when faced with trials and problems.

It is important now, that we remember what Jesus said, “Peace! Be still!” In Mark 4:39

.....He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,?“Quiet! Be still!”?Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

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