Emergency
Preparedness Tips
- Be prepared for the worst and pray
for the best!
- Have at least 3-12 months worth of food stored for each family member (Not
just for Emergencies, but it comes in handy during a laid off, or someone
becomes unable to work due to injury or illness.) When you go to the store pick up a can or two extra, you
will be amazed how fast is will accumulate.
- Do not buy a lot of water,
save it. When you are done with your (twist on cap) gallon of milk or juice;
clean it out. Fill it with tap water and “One Drop” of regular bleach (NOT
SCENTED). Every 6-12 months dump them and refill.
- All 5 gallon buckets of food or water should be stored up off the floor.
Wooden pallets or some kind of platform or shelf will be handy. (This is good
practice for all your supply storage!)
- It's a Must to have 1-3
months of extra Medication for anyone that may need it. Insulin, Heart medications,
Asthma inhalers, etc. You don't want to be without what you need in a serious situation.
- When packing an Emergency Kit for the car, or one to grab quick during an
evacuation. Pack similar to camping; clothes for cool/warm temperatures, plenty
of healthy life sustaining food/snacks, WATER (1gal. per person per Day), have
a blanket/sleeping bag for everyone, you may need them.
- Do you have crank flash lights/radios? Batteries can be heavy but necessary
for many flash lights/radios. If you keep a crank one or two on hand you don't need to worry about dead batteries. Some can even charge your cell phones.
- Do you have a Compass, Local Map, Whistle, and good shoes in case your car
breaks down and you have to walk?
- Do you have Handkerchiefs,
dust masks or gas masks with filters? These and Ear plugs are good to have on
hand in case a Mt. explodes or there is some kind of other disaster.
- Have good shoes for walking or
hiking available. You may need to hike out of some areas depending on the
Emergency. (Extra Socks and Moleskin for blisters is a MUST. You may also want
some foot powder on hand too.)
- Having an out of state
contact is good in case phone lines are tied up or down. It is always good if
this contact can be your, out of state meeting place also.
- Does your family have a meeting place close to home, at school, and at
work? Most Emergencies will happen when you are not together.
- If there is an evacuation do you have a plan of when to leave, where to regroup (Locally and out of State)? Are you going to another town or leaving the state? Do you have your routes
marked on a map in different colors, back roads, rest stops, and place’s to
refuel?
- A good Rule of Thumb is; When going to family/friends along the way; store some food and supplies
with them. This will help them out and you as well, in the long run. "You Can Never Be Too
Prepared!"
- Money - when Emergencies happen banks may be unavailable or card machines
may be down. If these things were to happen you will have to fall back on Cash!
It may be hard with the economy but keep at least $500 - $1000 on hand just in
case.
- When you are saving your extra monies (cash) in case you can't use your
cards. You should keep your money in small bills. Anything over a $10 or $20
may draw attention in an Emergency. Also if you do have $500 - $1000 saved in
small bill at home make sure it is not all in the same place. Have several
hiding places and remember where you those places are!
- Protection - Telling you the best protections to have is not my place, but
I can say it is the MOST IMPORTANT thing to have. Everyone has an opinion on
guns, knives, or any other form or protection.
People's domineer will change when there is an Emergency. For more info
in protection go to survivalblog.com.
- Emergency Communication Plan
- This sheet has the addresses of your Home, School, Work, Daycare, your In state and Out
of state contacts. This should be kept under the phone or in an easy place to get to.
Remind the sitter and your children where your Plan Sheet and supplies are, each
time they are home alone.
- Want to Prepare your kids for Emergencies, and have fun too? Do some drills
this summer. Set a timer for 15-30 minutes, tell your family they have to grab
their emergency stuff and be in the car ready to go before time is up. The more
practice for a Fire, Earthquake, Volcano, Flood, etc. The better and faster you
will be when the time comes, plus everyone should be calmer since they would
already know what to do.
- Every 3-6 months when you
change your clock batteries, think about doing family refresher drills. Fire,
earthquake, flood, and even minor first aid. Everyone should know where your
Water, Gas and Electrical shut offs are. The more you go over things with your
family the easier things will go when it comes to a real Emergency.
- Make sure your kids and other family members
have a Family Emergency Contact Card on them at all times. When Emergencies
happen it is easy to forget a phone number or the people you need to call.
Laminate them and have on/in your child’s backpack, your car, purse, wallet, or
anywhere else it maybe be handy!
- Don’t
be in a hurry or panic. Try to stay
calm not only for your kids but for your own safety. There are going to be a lot of scared
unprepared people willing to do anything to get away from whatever situation
may occur. The more prepared you are the
better you will handle yourself and the better you will take care of your
family!
- Be grateful!! Be grateful
that you and your family are safe, prepared, knowledgeable, and have been able to survive whatever may have happened.
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