Disaster Preparedness Information

The newest additions to the emergency supplies, courtesy of the Swine Flu:





There was a good question from Enola in the comments of the last post. "What is a good disaster preparedness list? I need to update my stockpile." Here is one list I found that looks pretty good.

http://www.h-gac.com/taq/hurricane/supply/default.aspx

More info here: http://www.fema.gov/



One thing that many people forget in the event of the need to evacuate is the condition of their vehicle. The beginning of hurricane season is a good time to do routine maintenance. It is also a good idea to make sure you have a gas can, a spare tire, a jack, a tire iron, and an emergency triangle in your vehicle. It would be terrible to be prepared to evacuate only to end up broken down on the side of the road. Those with older or unreliable vehicles should check with their county's emergency management office to find out where emergency shelters are. Your county office of emergency management is a valuable source of information in preparing your disaster response. Some counties also offer bus services to evacuate the area in an emergency. Find out if services like these are available in your county in an evacuation. Don't wait until there is a hurricane to find out where you will go or how you will get there. This is especially important for those who are disabled or live in low-lying areas or mobile homes. Know where you are on your county's evacuation map and know the basics about where you are going and how you will get there if you need to evacuate. Assemble your emergency kit and make a plan that includes some flexibility to accomodate changing circumstances. Don't rely on FEMA or The Red Cross to come running in to dig you out of the rubble. They may not be able to get to you right away! You can help yourself to a certain extent just by planning ahead.



A basic list must include:

non-perishable food
three day supply of water
flashlight and batteries
portable radio and batteries
necessary medications
basic hygiene items
change of clothing
infant items
contact number for insurance claims



I like to include these items, too:

extra cash in small bills
garbage bags
bleach
extra pairs of cotton socks and underpants in a ziploc bag



And I also think it is a good idea to prepare for the absolute worst. Nothing wrong with keeping some rope, an axe and some life jackets in the attic in case you end up trapped in your home in rising flood waters. If nothing else you can hack your way out through the roof and have a shot at not drowning.



The FEMA site in the second link at the top of the post is also a good resource for disaster preparedness plans for situations other than hurricanes. Probably everyone in every area of the country should have some kind of emergency plan in place should a disaster strike their area. Here is another good link for the Department of Homeland Security: http://www.ready.gov/