Sherri McKinney, the national spokesperson for the Red Cross, knows just how unpredictable natural disasters can be. She lived through the deadly Nashville tornadoes in 2020 – the 6th costliest tornado in U.S. history. 25 people died, over 300 were injured, and the city suffered 1.6 billion dollars in damage.
The tornado hit overnight quickly and unexpectedly, leaving McKinney and others without any time to evacuate ahead of it touching down.
"Emergencies are more common than people may think, and disasters happen anywhere and any time. It can even begin in someone's own home," said McKinney.
McKinney says that proper preparation can make navigating a disaster event less difficult.
"Being prepared for any type of emergency or disaster can make the difference between life and death," McKinney added. "We can't stress that enough. Have a plan, have a kit, and know how to evacuate your area."
After a disaster happens, it could take days before first responders are able to reach people. And it's usually friends or neighbors in your community who can get to each other first.
Lea Crager, FEMA's Ready Campaign Director, says there are still steps you can take to prepare yourself for situations where your access to medical assistance is limited.
"That's why we tell people [to] take a CPR class, have a first aid kit, know that if something happened in your neighborhood or community, you may be having to help some of your neighbors or they may be having to help you," said Crager.
Crager added that the more prepared you are as a community, the easier it is on first responders. Because there are only so many resources to go around.
