The Impact of Typhoons and How Relief Funds Can Help
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National Preparedness Month: Promoting Readiness for Disasters
August 25, 2023July 25, 2023
Summer is a time for relaxation and outdoor fun, but the severe summer weather that often comes with the season can also pose serious threats. Extreme heat often results in the highest annual number of deaths among all weather-related disasters, with over 700 heat-related deaths each year in the U.S. alone. One of the biggest dangers of severe summer weather is heat waves. In this article, we’ll share safety tips for preparing for severe summer weather to ensure that your team members are ready when temperatures start rising.
What Are Heat Waves?
Heat waves are prolonged periods — generally two or more days — of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. Defining heat waves is difficult, but climate scientists usually describe a heat wave as consecutive days of temperatures at or above the 85th-90th percentile of that location's historical temperature distribution for that time of the year.
With climate change, heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, with the number of heat waves steadily increasing over the last 30 years — a trend that is expected to continue.
The Danger of Heat Waves
In the last decade, heat waves have been responsible for more deaths in the U.S. than any other weather-related disaster. In June and July of 2023, heat waves have caused at least a dozen deaths so far in Louisiana and Texas, with 87 million people from California to Florida under heat alerts. In Phoenix, daytime highs have soared above 110 F for 21 consecutive days (as of July 20th).
These heat waves are not just affecting certain countries or continents, but different regions all over the globe. In June of 2023, severe heat waves in northern India affected over 33 million individuals and led to nearly 100 casualties.
As the frequency and intensity of heat waves increase, understanding and mitigating these dangers become even more crucial. Here are some safety tips summer weather experts recommend.
Extreme Heat Safety Tips to Share With Your Team
As temperatures rise, ensuring team safety is paramount. By sharing the following safety tips, you can equip your team with the necessary knowledge to handle severe summer weather:
- Know the Signs & Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness - It's essential to be aware of the different signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses. These conditions range from mild — like sunburn — to severe — like heat stroke.
- Stay Hydrated - Hydration is key in surviving a heatwave. The average person needs to consume about 3/4 of a gallon of water per day.
- Gather Emergency Supplies - Prepare for a heat wave like you would any natural disaster. Having emergency supplies on hand can mean the difference between comfort and discomfort, and sometimes life and death.
- Make a Plan to Stay Cool - In the case of a heat wave — especially one resulting in a power outage — staying cool can become challenging. Having a plan to stay cool can prevent heat-related illnesses.
The threat of severe summer weather is real, but with preparation and understanding, we can mitigate its impacts and ensure safety, health, and comfort during a heat wave. Another way to stay prepared and ready to respond to severe summer weather is by proactively establishing a disaster relief fund that can aid team members in the event of a dangerous heat wave.
How Establishing a Disaster Relief Fund With Emergency Assistance Foundation Will Help Provide Aid
In the aftermath of a natural disaster or severe weather event — like a heat wave — your organization can help impacted team members rebuild and recover with a disaster relief fund administered by Emergency Assistance Foundation. A relief fund can boost morale and encourage your internal communities to contribute directly to the support of fellow team members. Establishing a fund can alleviate the stress that disasters put on those within your organization and allow impacted individuals to start on the road to recovery.
If your organization is interested in starting a relief fund, consider establishing a fund with Emergency Assistance Foundation today. As a financial first responder, we are resourceful and fearless in ensuring that financial assistance reaches individuals in need, no matter the unique circumstances involved.
Once you establish a fund, you can also launch an Immediate Response Program (IRP) in the event of a qualified disaster to provide small grants quickly and efficiently. This is a unique, low-cost program, which is supplemental to a fund’s standard grant program and awards small grants (< $1,000) quickly in times of large-scale disasters like heat waves.
Proactively establishing a relief fund with Emergency Assistance Foundation ensures that your organization is ready to assist any team members that are impacted by heat waves and other natural disasters, and it can even be life-saving. According to data analyzed for our landmark 10-year relief fund industry report, natural disasters are the number one event included in the grant criteria for funds that are established with Emergency Assistance Foundation.
In fact, 73% of the over 300 relief funds we administer include natural disasters in their grant criteria. The funds’ sponsoring organizations recognize the growing importance of taking care of their team members in the aftermath of a natural disaster. As the threat of natural disasters continues to increase, now is the perfect time to start preparing for how your organization will respond once the next disaster occurs.
By establishing a fund with us today, your organization can assist members of your team affected by heat waves and increasing natural disasters. Relief fund grants can help impacted individuals pull through difficult times and start on the path toward recovery. If you’d like to learn more about how your organization can help your team during difficult times, you can review additional information about how a fund works or contact us today. We look forward to helping you make a difference for those who need it most!
