On Monday March 31st, Greta Sharp joined OBXDFC over a BBQ lunch at the Baum Center to discuss helpful steps to take before coastal weather emergencies occur. Greta is the Preparedness Coordinator for the Department of Health and Human Services in Dare County and is chock full of great tips for planning.

At the senior center, the discussion covered a range of important steps for emergency preparedness. It began with registering for the OBX Alert system, followed by ensuring that your medications and health information are recorded and stored in a way that emergency services can easily access in case you need assistance. The conversation also included tips on assembling a kit with essentials like whistles, batteries, fire starters, and other items needed to sustain you for at least seven days. Many of the attendees, who had lived through hurricanes on the beach, shared their own helpful advice, such as adding a cooler to your emergency kit, stocking up on gas bottles for your grill, and filling your bathtub with water before a storm hits.

Greta also provided calendars for breaking down preparedness prep steps for each month. This method makes it more affordable as well as manageable, so you don’t have to be overwhelmed with all the tasks immediately. She got us thinking “What can I do this month to prepare for an emergency?”. Here are some of the options she gave us:

• Buy a solid first aid kit with a good amount of antibiotic ointment
• Start building a cash savings with increments of $1’s, $5’s, $10’s, and $20’s
• Purchase and collect disposable plates, utensils, and napkins to lessen the use for using water to wash dishes
• Stay up to date on your Tetanus shot
• Take pictures and videos of your house for using in the case of an insurance claim
• Compile and gather your updated important documents in a digital and hard copy form for yourself as well as sending to a family member or trusted friend outside of your area to keep for you in case of emergency

Our group learned so much at her presentation and appreciate the work she does for the Outer Banks Community. Greta does these discussions at churches and organizations throughout Dare County for those who ask. Here is a link to the Preparedness & Response page of Dare County where you can also find her contact info. Be prepared, not scared!