Recent chilly temperatures and rains may have you thinking otherwise, but it is that time of year where FEMA Region 3 is beginning to get the word out on heat and drought preparedness. Did you know that, according to the National Weather Service over the past 10-year and 30-year periods, heat related deaths top all other hazards? No joke. A hot home, hot vehicle, or over-exerting yourself outside during hot weather can lead to serious consequences, like heat stroke, sunburn, dehydration, or worse, death.
Even though we’re probably all very ready to get outside and enjoy the sun and warmer temperatures (when they eventually come), it’s important to keep in the back of our minds that we need to prepare and take care of ourselves And, with hot weather, comes the potential for drought. Water is our planet’s most vital resource and in times of less precipitation, to conserve it, we need to get inventive, know our limits, and understand how to operate under the potential for local water restrictions.
Fortunately, FEMA has this toolkit.