There is no time better to begin your disaster and emergency plan preparations than right now! The thoughts and actions you take can make a big difference in you, and your families ability to survive and recover.
The basic necessities, food, clothing and shelter should be at the top of your list.
First lets talk about food. High energy, high protein foods that do not require refrigeration are best. In the event of power outage keeping food refrigerated for an extended period may be impossible. Remember, if you have no electricity, the electric can opener that you used to open your canned vegetables tonight will not work. Do you have a manual can opener?
What if you have no water. One gallon, per person, per day is the minimum amount recommended. You have to have water to drink, flush toilets and cook and clean with.
For those of us with electric stoves, we won't have a way to cook. Again, do you have a plan. If you try to charcoal, cook outside. Charcoal can release toxic chemicals and smoke, which inside can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, and death.
Clothing is somewhat difficult. If you can go to your closet jackets, coats and extra clothing are not an issue. If you are in a shelter because your home is not habitable, then you might need a change of clothes, extra warm clothes and bedding. Don't forget diapers for the little ones.
Shelter is the third priority. If you can stay in your house, do so! Don't venture out. Downed power lines, trees, broken gas mains, washed out roads and debris may make it impossible to get from your house anywhere safely.
Some other important things to consider.
How do I get information? No power means no TV. A battery operated radio to keep up with the situation and reports from your local area is vital. If you have a cell phone, and almost everyone does, how are you going to recharge it when the battery goes down? Car chargers and solar panel chargers are available, but do you have one?
Speaking of cell phones, teach members of your family how to text. When the phone lines are clogged, many times text messages will get through.
Have a plan to call someone outside the area that is affected. If you have a point of contact in another City or State, many times these calls can get through, when you can't make contact locally.
Your landline telephone (the kind grandma used) will still work, but your handheld phone that you can walk around the house won't. It needs electricity.
Ways to Prepare.
Think like you are going on a campout, or to the lake for the week-end. Plan accordingly. Purchase items ahead of time. If you get a few items each week, you won't break the budget. If you wait, items may be in short supply, if you can find them at all.
Emergency Preparedness is not magic. It is simply being prepared for the worst.
Remember, NO PLACE IS IMMUNE FROM DISASTER!
The basic necessities, food, clothing and shelter should be at the top of your list.
First lets talk about food. High energy, high protein foods that do not require refrigeration are best. In the event of power outage keeping food refrigerated for an extended period may be impossible. Remember, if you have no electricity, the electric can opener that you used to open your canned vegetables tonight will not work. Do you have a manual can opener?
What if you have no water. One gallon, per person, per day is the minimum amount recommended. You have to have water to drink, flush toilets and cook and clean with.
For those of us with electric stoves, we won't have a way to cook. Again, do you have a plan. If you try to charcoal, cook outside. Charcoal can release toxic chemicals and smoke, which inside can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, and death.
Clothing is somewhat difficult. If you can go to your closet jackets, coats and extra clothing are not an issue. If you are in a shelter because your home is not habitable, then you might need a change of clothes, extra warm clothes and bedding. Don't forget diapers for the little ones.
Shelter is the third priority. If you can stay in your house, do so! Don't venture out. Downed power lines, trees, broken gas mains, washed out roads and debris may make it impossible to get from your house anywhere safely.
Some other important things to consider.
How do I get information? No power means no TV. A battery operated radio to keep up with the situation and reports from your local area is vital. If you have a cell phone, and almost everyone does, how are you going to recharge it when the battery goes down? Car chargers and solar panel chargers are available, but do you have one?
Speaking of cell phones, teach members of your family how to text. When the phone lines are clogged, many times text messages will get through.
Have a plan to call someone outside the area that is affected. If you have a point of contact in another City or State, many times these calls can get through, when you can't make contact locally.
Your landline telephone (the kind grandma used) will still work, but your handheld phone that you can walk around the house won't. It needs electricity.
Ways to Prepare.
Think like you are going on a campout, or to the lake for the week-end. Plan accordingly. Purchase items ahead of time. If you get a few items each week, you won't break the budget. If you wait, items may be in short supply, if you can find them at all.
Emergency Preparedness is not magic. It is simply being prepared for the worst.
Remember, NO PLACE IS IMMUNE FROM DISASTER!