Emergency Preparedness: What Every Home Should Have
How to prepare-
Preparing for a disaster has three steps: plan, prepare, and learn.
Plan – “Don’t agonize, organize.” – Florynce R. Kennedy
With so much unknown, fear can be a deadly and paralyzing opponent. A plan can help with that. It should be simple and straightforward. You need to know what to do in the event of a disaster. For starters find several safe places, places to go in the event of earthquakes, fire, flood, tornado, and hurricane. Some of these places will be outside; house-fire is a good example. In an earthquake you should have a place in the building and one outside of the building. As soon as the earthquake is over you need to get out of the building as safely as possible, find a open area outside that is free of tall things that may fall on you. You should practice this plan 3 – 4 times a year.
Prepare – “Luck is a crossroad where preparation and opportunity meet” – Anonymous
Preparation is the key to getting through a disaster. You started with a plan, now you need to implement your plan. How many smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors do you need in your house? Do you have a first aid kit? How good is it? Does it include cleaning supplies for cleaning wounds? Do you have fire extinguishers? Does everyone know how to use them? Do you know when to use them? Some extinguishers should not be used on some fires. Are you prepared if the water, electricity, or gas was knocked out for extended periods? What should you do if someone drinks a poisonous chemical? What if someone overdoses on something? Have you practiced your evacuation plans? Do you know first aid or CPR? When was the last time you took first aid/CPR refresher courses?
Learn – “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.” – Anonymous
Once you have a plan and you have prepared, you need to keep your skills sharp. Every second counts in an emergency! Keep up-to-date on emergency preparedness. Find out the local disaster plans. Learn new skills that will help you and your family survive a emergency or disaster. To stay prepared for an emergency, you need to simultaneously work on all three steps of preparation. Always being prepared means that you should re-evaluate your preparedness often(at least every three months).
Fire departments, Police departments, CERT(Community Emergency Response Team), and the Red Cross offer training for disaster and emergencies. Check your local area for more information.
What to get –
This list is by no means complete, you need to personalize it to your area and family needs. Don’t be afraid to add to it.
- First Aid Kit
- First Aid Handbook
- Light Sticks
- Whistle
- Signaling Mirror
- Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- Radio (with extra batteries)
- Compass
- Watch
- Emergency Blanket
- Pocket Knife
- Rope
- Tarp
- Poncho
- Latex Gloves
- Food & Water (3 Days)
- $200 – $500 (in small bills – as in $10 bills or less — and
change) - Toiletries & Hygiene Supplies
- Emergency Candles
- Emergency Stove
- Matches (waterproofed or in a waterproof container)
- Pencil & Paper
- Small Games
- Book(s)
- Hard Candy
- Clothes (2 – 3 changes)
- Socks (3 – 6 changes)
- Shoes
- Eating Kit
- Sewing Kit
- Work Gloves
- Safety Goggles
- Personal Records (birth certificate, social security card… etc.)
Many sporting good stores have a large number of these items. The Red Cross sells many emergency supplies and kits. Keep your personal records safe from water, put them in a water-tight container. I hope that disasters will not befall you, and that life will be pleasant. But I also greatly hope that you will prepare. In the end, your survival is in your own hands and depends largely on how much effort you put into it.
“Be prepared.” – The Motto of the Boy Scouts of America
