A little over a year ago, Hurricane Sandy struck the New York metropolitan area, leaving many students unequipped to deal with such a disaster. This year’s hurricane season may be over, but don’t be caught unprepared if any type of seasonal storm strikes.

Pack it Up

Before a disaster hits, prepare a bag of important essentials in case your building loses power and evacuates. Pack a change of warm clothes. Keep important documents, such as passports and birth certificates, on you — otherwise, they could be lost in the event of flooding. Write down a list of emergency numbers so you have contacts if your phone dies. Also, remember to stock up on cash before the disaster hits. Although this might be counterintuitive, don’t worry too much about food or water. NYU will evacuate students to a building with a backup generator, where such necessities will be provided.

In and of the City

NYU may not be your only resource during the aftermath of a natural disaster. Take advantage of a local coffee shop to charge your electronics, or use your neighborhood dumpling joint to provide you, for a price, with meals cooked in the dark when you grow tired of university-issued rations. On the bright side, past disaster situations have shown moments of altruism, too. Midtown apartments with power ran extension cords outside their buildings, inviting people to charge their phones. If you need help during a natural disaster, don’t be afraid to look around and ask. You never know who may be willing to help.

– Bryna Shuman