Seven Tips for Surviving a Natural Disaster "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." That was the alert sent to the phones of Hawaiians on January 13, 2018. The warning also disrupted radio broadcasts. For 38 minutes, people across the state panicked before another alert was sent to phones: "There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii. Repeat. False Alarm." If you live in the U.S., you've probably heard this sound before. The shrieking beeps are the unmistakable sound of a Wireless Emergency Alert ("WEA"). This built-in feature on your phone (courtesy of the Federal Communications Commission) is designed to scream at you, alerting you to four types of danger: National Alerts (issued by the U.S. president or head of FEMA – the Federal Emergency Management Agency), Imminent Threat Alerts (either "Extreme" or "Severe" threats to your life or property), Public Safety Alerts, and AMBER Alerts. What happened in Hawaii was blamed on someone pushing the wrong button. Despite this error, the alert system is often used to warn people of life-threatening weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes. But the system failed many Texans last week... Catastrophic flash flooding hit many cities. As we write, the death toll stands at 107 across the state – 30 of them being children. It all happened in the wee hours of Independence Day. Texans awoke to water rising in their homes. What's scary is how quickly all of this happened. In less than two hours, the Guadalupe River rose to the height of a two-story building. Cars, homes, and people were swept away. And there was no flash-flood warning sent to residents. It's a harsh reminder that sometimes you might only have minutes to act by the time your phone blares that warning. In the wake of this flooding catastrophe, I want to stress how important it is for you to have a plan... Because you never know when you might be hit by a natural disaster. But when disaster strikes – as it does quite suddenly – if you have a plan, you're better able to handle the situation. As for floods... a jaw-dropping 90% of natural disasters within the U.S. involve some form of flooding. And it doesn't take much water to put you in danger... Even as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you over. So today, I want to share some important things to know about floods, along with some of my disaster-preparedness tips... How to Stay Safe 1. Never drive over flooded roads. More deaths occur due to flooding each year than any other thunderstorm- or hurricane-related hazard... According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into floodwater. It's even more dangerous when you're driving a rental and/or aren't familiar with the road. A foot of water, just 12 inches, can carry away a car. Add on another foot, and that's enough to sweep away bigger vehicles like SUVs and trucks. Floods can develop slowly or quickly depending on the type of flood. Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. You will have no way of knowing how deep the water actually is, how strong the current may be, or what other dangerous materials are in the water. 2. More people are in flood danger zones than the current flood maps show. Every city and town should be equipped with a flood disaster plan. You can find it by visiting your local government's website. However, changing weather patterns and widespread flooding led FEMA to admit that its flood maps were outdated. That was in 2022. And according to experts, they're still outdated. So it's better to be prepared for a situation like this than to be surprised. If you're in or close to a flood zone, keep your eye on the expected amount of rainfall (and the rate of it) when a storm is headed your way. 3. Homeowners and renters-insurance plans typically don't cover flood damage. Check your policy and see if you have coverage. Then, determine whether this is something you want to invest in. According to FEMA, 1 inch of flood water can cause up to $25,000 worth of damage in a home. Don't forget to snap a few photos and/or take a quick video tour of your belongings and house beforehand. You'll want to show each room and some shots featuring high-value items like jewelry, bikes, furniture, and electronics (including serial numbers). 4. Have an evacuation plan. If evacuation is possible, create a checklist so you'll know what to do before a disaster strikes. Keep a list of essential items to take with you, emergency numbers (preferably, a friend or family member who's out of state and away from the danger you're facing), a meeting place for your family, and different evacuation routes you can use. (And don't forget to plan for your pets.) As for important documents... make sure they're in a waterproof container or pouch. The same goes for a flash drive that contains your key documents – be sure to password protect it as well. 5. Keep enough clean water to last for at least one week. You'll need enough per person per day. Also for your evacuation bag, stuff in some packets of electrolyte-drink-mix powder to keep you and your family hydrated (especially during hot weather). When a storm is headed my way (or another crisis that can cause power outages), I fill up my freezer with water containers. A full freezer keeps frozen food cold for 48 hours, twice as long as a half-full freezer. 6. Always keep extra food in your house that doesn't require refrigeration. If you live in an area that often experiences severe weather events, make sure you have enough food to last you and your family one week. The best foods to buy for storage purposes are staples in your regular diet. Then, you can rotate them into your regular consumption patterns before their expiration dates approach. Canned vegetables, beans, and soup work best for this. You can also store canned meats and fish, like chicken, tuna, and salmon. If you find cans in your stockpile bulging at the ends, the food inside has spoiled. Throw them out. Never eat a can that looks like it's about to burst, no matter how hungry you are. 7. Have some form of backup power. This may range from heavy AC generators to small DC batteries. It all depends on the amount of power you would use during an extended outage. If you use a generator, remember... never run a generator inside the house or garage. Run it in a well-ventilated area to avoid the lethal fumes. Oh, and got any old smartphones with working WiFi? Download a "walkie talkie" app like Zello or Signal, along with offline maps, and keep the device fully charged. These things are the absolute minimum you can do to prepare for a natural disaster. They're low-effort precautions that can go a long way. Have you been through a flood or recent natural disaster? How did you cope? Let us know at feedback@healthandwealthbulletin.com. P.S. We're halfway through summer. And if you're planning on flying out to that vacation destination, you'll want to check out my latest issue of Retirement Millionaire – especially if you're worried about an in-flight disaster in the wake of the aviation tragedies this year. That's because air passengers face an even greater danger, especially seniors. If you aren't already subscribed, you can read it as part of your monthlong, risk-free trial.
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What We're Reading... Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement, Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
July 8, 2025
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