Rising temperatures and rain, this weekend, threaten many Western New York areas with serious flooding in the wake of this week’s record snowfall. Some of our Canadian neighbors to the North have been through similar situations, and one of them spoke with WBFO’s Avery Schneider about how best to prepare….
Lynda Miller has worked in crisis and stress management for over thirty years, mostly for the Ontario government. From her personal and professional experiences, she’s found that most people aren’t ready for an emergency when it hits…
“You know, a lot of people don’t even know where their insurance papers are. Because they’re not usually together in one place. Most people aren’t well organized - I hate to say - even though we have good intentions,” said Miller.
So among many things to prepare, one of the most important is paperwork. If it’s got to do with your finances, your health, or your property, set it aside somewhere safe. Miller recommends making a contact sheet for people related to those things, as well as key family members you might contact for assistance. Then keep that sheet with you.
On the mental side, she says to do the best you can in a crisis situation, and stay positive…
“Try and keep the emotion out of it as much as you can and just do what you have to do and do it the smartest and wisest ways. And more importantly, be safe. Things can always be replaced,” Miller said.
She says in ways like these, people can switch from being reactive, to proactive. And most importantly, keep smiling, because things will get better.
Avery Schneider
WBFO News
