Thursday, May 26, 2011

EMERGENCY READINESS KIT


If a disaster struck your area and damaged your home, would you be prepared to respond?  A lot of people, including me, fall into the "Not-Prepared Category."  I became very aware of that fact last night.  Our area was under a tornado warning and the sky was getting really eerie-looking and dark.  Then the winds picked up and the rain started coming down.  I was frantically searching for the battery-powered radio and flashlights "just in case" something happened.  Then I realized that I didn't even know where we should all huddle, in the basement, if the sirens went off.
I mean, How Dumb is That??!!  

This is NOT the time to be "pulling an ostrich!"  


So, with that in mind, there is no better time than the present to start getting prepared.  I have searched online and found some excellent tips.


Be Prepared
Following are tips from experts on how to be prepared for emergencies:
Build a kit
Have a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water for each family member, medicines, sanitation and hygiene supplies, a first-aid kit, baby supplies if needed, matches, flashlight and extra batteries, a change of clothes, basic kitchen utensils, money, photocopies of identification and credit cards, pet supplies if needed and a whistle in case you are trapped in the basement.
Make a plan
Meet with family members and discuss how to respond in an emergency, including how to evacuate from your home, where you would meet if separated and an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded. Have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into your cell phone.
Be informed
During an emergency, monitor local news media or NOAA Weather Radio. (This is where a good, sturdy, battery-powered or hand-cranked generator radio comes in handy!)
Get more info
Among helpful websites are www.redcross.org and www.ready.gov.

What is in your emergency-readiness kit?  How have you prepared??

A.Marie

6 comments:

  1. A. Marie, sounds like a plan we all need to pay attention to and heed. Recently our neighborhood was hit hard by tornadoes sweeping through, destroying entire subdivisions. What a wake up call. These are simple and valuable tips, and I thank you!

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  2. Debra, Wow! That must have been terrifying! I cannot imagine what it must be like to have a tornado do so much devastation right in your own neighborhood!! I hope your home wasn't damaged too severely!!

    Danesa, Thanks, Sis!! :)

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  3. We get those same warning here. My backside would be in the basement if we actually got a tornado. As far as prepared? You are starting to know me, what do you think? LOL

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  4. Duke....ROFL!!! LOL ;)

    I am prepared about most things in life, but for some reason, this area is not one of those!

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  5. Since moving from relative 'ho hum' Ohio down to hurricane capital, making our kit was one of my top priorities....BUT, I never thought of the whistle (though we don't have basements, it would be helpful if we got trapped elsewhere). Another good tip I heard was to write with a permanent black marker on the inside of the forearm of each person their name, DOB, phone # and number of adults and children in the family. If you are separated it makes it easier to find your family -or- if you are unconscious (or worse).

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