Helen Hu
October 3, 2002
Flood
It was in a rainy day. Evan was sitting on his couch at home watching TV and being very bored. All his friends said they didn’t want to go out because it was raining very hard outside. Then when he was watching Dexter Laboratory on Cartoon Network, all of a sudden a Special Report flashed on and he flicked to another channel, but the same thing was on. When he was about to shut the TV off the news reporters said, “Citizens of Merimack Valley should prepare for a flood. A flood warning is in effect.” Evan was shocked so he called up one of his best friends Thai, and told him to watch the TV because there was a flood coming.
Evan hung up and went back to the TV, at the same time, Thai was doing the same thing. The news reporter said, “To prepare for the flood, you have to check the batteries in your flashlight and radios. Make sure there are a lot of batteries in the house. Remember to pull all small boats from the marina slips or places near water. Bring all outside garden, patio fixtures, and furniture into the house so when the flood is here, it won’t drift away. If anyone has a barbecue grill or any outdoor lamps, remember to shut them off and bring them inside and shut all gas tanks.” Evan and Thai was thinking, No need to worry about that, I don’t have any of those things outside. Remember the most important thing, check to see if there is enough food in the kitchen for the next couple of day and if not, go out and buy some now before the storm gets bigger. The foods you may want to get are cookies, a lot of bottles of water, instant noodles, canned foods, and any food that is quick to make. More special reports will be forthcoming after the commercials.”
After Evan heard about this, he rushed to his kitchen and went to the fridge to see if he have enough food. Evan said “Thank God, I’m not a big eater. I still have a lot of food in my fridge. I wonder how is Thai doing with this he is a big eater. Hope he didn’t empty out his fridge last night?” At Thai’s house, he rushed to the kitchen but the fridge and all the cabinets in kitchen were empty and he said, “ What?!?!? There is nothing left kitchen left. My fridge is empty and there is nothing in the cabinets. I need to stock up on food.” So he rushed out and went to Stop & Shop and loaded himself with food. Then about an hour later, Thai came back from Stop & Shop and went right back to the TV to see what is happening now. Meanwhile, back at Evan’s house, he went back to the TV and waited for the Special Report to come back on.
In a minute or two the report was back on. Now the reporters said,“ The storm has gotten worst. There are a couple of more things people need to do to get prepared. Remember to plan a menu of non-perishable food for the next couple of days. Explain to little children or a brother or sister is younger then you about what are happening. Keep all TV and radio on to listen to the weather update. Secure all TV and satellite antennas. Don’t forget to check on old relatives and the parent. Write down all the names and location of evacuation shelters that are close to your home. Remember to make plans where you will be when all this is happening. Now here is the manager of NOAA’s National Weather Service talking to you all about what you should do.”
“Hi everyone, I’m from the NOAA’s National Weather Service,” said the manager. “During a flood people should post all emergency numbers by the phone. Install safety features in your house (such as smoke detectors or fire extinguishers). To my knowledge everyone’s house should already have a smoke detector so no need to worry about that. Inspect your house for items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire. Have your family learned CPR. It is okay to start to learn CPR now. Although it is okay to start now but there is no time to learn it just remember to have a first aid kit. Learn how to use a fire extinguishers (direction is on the back), and how and when to turn off gas, water, or electricity in your house. Teach the children how to call 911 or local Emergency Medical Services number. Keep enough supplies that you might needs in the house for at least three days. Remember to have a Disaster Supplies Kit. It has to included a 3-day supplies of water and food that won’t spoil, one change of clothes and extra pair of shoes footwear per person, one blanket or sleeping bag per person, and a first aid kit (including prescription medicines), emergency tools including battery, radio, and flashlight. Remember to put extra car keys and cash and credit card and special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members. Right now the flood is not that bad all of you should go out and get all these things now. If all of the people in this city will do what I recommended everyone will do fine surviving this flood. Also, the NOAA will always keep people updated of the weather forecast. Thank you for watching. Now back to the Special Report.” The reporter of the Special News said, “ Now firefighters is butting sandbag on every side of the border to stop the water from coming in. Remember to watch the TV or open the radio for any new update on what is going on”
After watching what the manager of the NOAA recommend them to do, Thai and Evan began to call their friends and tell them the way to prepare for the flood. After telling them all this information they start to prepare for the flood themselves. Now, they were all prepared, and they were not fearful of the flood coming anymore, because they have learned how to handle flood warnings when there is a flood coming.