Weatherford Oklahoma: Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness Strategies

This report examines disaster mitigation and preparedness in Weatherford, Oklahoma, focusing on hazards faced by the community, particularly low-income and minority populations. It identifies hazardous materials, flood zones, transportation route issues, and common local disasters like thunderstorms. The report proposes mitigation strategies, including reducing hazardous waste, managing flood risks through building codes and barriers, improving transportation networks, and raising awareness for thunderstorm safety. It emphasizes the importance of community preparedness, emergency planning, and addressing the vulnerabilities of specific populations to create a more resilient community. The report concludes by highlighting the importance of proactive measures and community engagement in disaster management.

DISASTER MITIGATION AND PREPAREDNESS
[AUTHOR NAME(S), FIRST M. LAST, OMIT TITLES AND DEGREES]
[INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION(S)]

Introduction
Weatherford Oklahoma is located about one mile in the north of interstate 40 on the highway of
the state in southeastern Custer County. Ranching and farming have provided the main economic
base. Just like any other area, the residents of the place experience unique disasters that call for
specific remedial measures (Kalwar et al 2016).
Hazardous Materials found in Weatherford Oklahoma
The local minority group that lives in Weatherford Oklahoma is confronted with some of the
hazardous materials. These materials have not only proven to be threats to the environment but
also human health. This is because very little efforts are being put in place to ensure that they are
properly discarded (Liu et al 2018).
Most of the products which are found around the homes in Weatherford Oklahoma particularly
the minority groups are potentially hazardous. Considering that some of these materials are
chemical in nature, the can potentially harm, explode, poison, ignite or explode easily when
handled improperly. Some of the potentially identified hazardous materials in the area included
the following:
 Glues
 Kitchen Cleaners
 Fungicides
 Adhesives
 Batteries
 Oven Cleaners
 Pesticides

 Cosmetics
 Lighter Fluids
 Paint thinners among others
Future management of the Hazardous Materials in Weatherford Oklahoma:
Acceding to the environmental data available, at least every home has 100 pounds of the
hazardous household materials wastes that have accumulated in their basements, storage closets
and garages (Jones et al 2016). The proposal to have these wastes properly managed will involve
the use of the three “R”. Such stands for
 Reduce: The community members are expected to limit the quantity through purchase of
only what is required.
 Recycle: The community members should strive and find out what is actually recyclable
and ensure that all the instructions regarding recycling are properly followed.
 Reuse: The members of the Weatherford Oklahoma will be expected through
sanitization to participate in the charity work by donating the unused portions to their
friends.
 Disposal: The available programs should be exploited to ensure safely disposal of the
materials.
 Exchanges: The waste collection or exchange of the unused products with the useful one
is very crucial step towards the management of wastes.
 Setting of the Collection Days: It is recommended that special dates to be set aside by
the communities to facilitate household hazardous waste collection. In such programs,

potential dates in the year with reference to the most engaging activities in the area will
be considered.
Hazards in Flood Zones
One of the most hazardous weather disaster in Weatherford Oklahoma is the flash floods,. This
kind of the disaster is responsible for the damage of the infrastructure, power outrage and can
potentially trigger landslide. The heavy rains which occur in Weatherford Oklahoma the level of
water to rise more rapidly thereby elevating the flood risks. The occurrence of the flooding is
usually characterized with very little warnings and in some cases it develops slowly after the rain
ceases.
Future Mitigation measures of the floods in Weatherford Oklahoma
 Preparation ahead of the flooding times is the safest ways of avoiding floods. Such kind
of the preparation will include the following:
 Avoiding of buildings which are found in the plains of the flooding and whose locations
are in the area which are prone to the floods.
 The barriers will be constructed so as to stop the water from the floods from entering
homes. In some extreme cases sandbags will be used in handling floods temporarily
 In order to avoid seepage of water, the walls that are found within the basement will be
sealed with the compounds that are waterproof.
 In case of the intermittent floods
 Emergency plan will be embraced besides practicing skills of survival including having
first aid and how to properly have the water disinfected.

 Charging of the batteries of cell phones s well as other reusable batteries to be used as
flashlights energy sources.
 Observing or heeding the warnings of the evacuations
Hazards of Poor Transportation Routes
Transport represents one of the most important economic activities of human in Weatherford
Oklahoma. In fact it has been regarded as one of the indispensable component of the economy of
Weatherford Oklahoma. It has helped in the creation of the spatial relations, assisting in the link
creation between people of Weatherford Oklahoma and other regions. The area is however fed
with poor routes of the transportation. It is because of the poor transportation routes especially
within the areas occupied with low-income people that the trade is not vibrant. The movement of
people and goods are limited with the poor transportation routes.
Mitigations of the poor transportation routes
One of the remedies towards this challenge is “Smart Growth “use of land which improves tye
accessibility for non-drivers to certain areas. This will encourage the development of pedestrian
friendly and more compact transit oriented communities in which residents will have to drive
less.
Improvements of bicycling and walking: The automobile trips will be substituted directly in
certain areas with poor roads so as to support the initiative of ridesharing and public transit.
Residents of communities of Weatherford Oklahoma with good bicycling and good walking
conditions use more transit and drive less (Costea & Tăuşan 2016).

Programs of commute trip reduction: This program will give commuters incentives and resources
to reduce automobile trips. They typically include options of transportation such as transit
telework, ridesharing and flextime. The incentives will include parking pricing or parking cash
out.
Common Local Disaster (Thunderstorms)
This is another common disaster in Weatherford Oklahoma. In most case, thunderstorm has been
lasting for about 30minutes and it is usually characterized by large hails, lightning, tornadoes,
and strong winds among others.
Mitigation measures
 Sensitization of people on the possible ways of avoiding being thunderstorm victims like
closing of windows while securing the outside doors as well as unplugging the electronic
equipment.
 Installation of the lightning arrestors on the structures which are raised in the
thunderstorm common areas.
Other relevant data
Earthquakes
In Weatherford Oklahoma, the cases of earthquakes are not widely reported as they used to be
before. However as part of the disaster preparedness, relevant measures must be put in place to
have such issues addressed properly.
Conclusion

The paper has effectively evaluated some of the certain aspects of the hazard management in
Weatherford Oklahoma in regard to the disaster preparedness. Considering is given to the
potential or capability of the local community considering that they are low-income groups.

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