Emergency Preparedness - 14 tips to Help You Prepare

September is Emergency Preparedness Month. Most disaster preparedness experts recommend having enough supplies to sustain yourself, family and pets for a minimum of 72 hours - and more is better. The reason is this: Gas, water, electricity and phone service may be gone and not available for several days - you'll be on your own.

Plan and prepare now, so you're ready. Remember to follow the manufacturer's directions for the storage and use of all equipment. Here are some tips to get you started:

Clouds and Mountains in San Luis Obispbo, by Carole Jakucs, 2015. Image subject to copyright.

• Bottled water: The recommendation is to have on-hand at least one gallon per person per day. And don't forget to have extra for your pets.

• Maintain a supply of non-perishable foods such as MRE's  (Meals Ready to Eat) and protein bars.

• Learn CPR and First Aid. 

• Get First Aid kits for your home and car.

• Keep any prescription medications you use on a regular basis handy and in one location if possible so if you if you have to leave your home quickly - you can grab them on your way out the door.

• Have plenty of flashlights and batteries on hand - at least one set per person.

• Know where your water and gas shut off valves are located, know how to shut them and when to shut them - in the event of leaks/broken lines.  Keep the tools you need to shut them in a specific place.

• Get an ABC fire extinguisher, keep it handy and learn how to use it.

• Consider getting an emergency generator and again, learn how to use it in advance if needing it. You'll need extra fuel to operate it so bear in mind all safety precautions for storage.

• Important legal documents should already be stored in a waterproof/fireproof container that is easy to grab if you need to evacuate your home quickly.

• Review your emergency supplies on a regular basis, checking expiration dates and to confirm all equipment still works. 

• Plan ahead for communications: Have a battery operated radio on-hand for access to public safety announcements. Try to keep your cell phones charged as much as possible. Remember to keep a charger in your car too. 

• Create a plan to contact and reunite with family members

• Create plans for escape routes from your home, neighborhood and town. Plans for this will vary depending on what type of home you're in and where you live (near the beach or in the mountains, for example).

Review the CDC and Red Cross websites for more information. 

Emergency Preparedness, Are You Ready?

Last night, Southern California experienced unexpected high winds. When the winds hit here, subsequent power outages are inevitable. As my lights were flickering, I began to frantically look for working flashlights. I had several in the past, but could now only find one. My mind then went to my bottled  water supply; how much did I currently have?  Running water can become contaminated or cease to flow during power outages, as well during natural disasters. I used to be so diligent about having these extra items around the house especially when we had numerous earthquakes. My emergency plan went a bit by the wayside as we’ve not had any big quakes for a long time. Other parts of the country are having high winds too. Now is a good time to re-evaluate your stock of emergency supplies before more storms or other events are upon us.

Disaster preparedness experts recommend having enough supplies to sustain yourself, your loved ones and pets for a minimum of 3 days in the event of any power disruptions, natural disasters or terrorist events. Here are some highlights of what you should have on hand:

Bottled water: 1 gallon per person per day (have extra on hand for any pets).

Flashlights: 1 per person (and extra batteries).

Food: MRE’s (“Meals Ready to Eat”) which used to be termed “sea rations” or “sea rats”. These can be obtained from military surplus stores or online with various vendors.

Medications you use on a regular basis; whether prescribed or over the counter. Have an extra supply on hand or keep them in a small case that you can take with you if you have to leave your home fast.

Emergency Generator if necessary for anyone in your home that may use medical equipment that requires a power source.

Important Legal documents should already be stored in a waterproof/fireproof container if you need to evacuate your home quickly.

Know where your water and gas shut off valves are located and learn how to do it, in the event you have leaks from broken lines. Keep any tools needed in a centrally located area in your home and make sure everyone knows where they’re at.

Pick a day every month whereby you can take an inventory of your supplies and check expiration dates and functionality. Choose a date that has meaning for you such as your birthday, the 1^st or the 15^th of each month.

Have an ABC fire extinguisher on hand in your kitchen and make sure everyone in your home knows how to use it.

Research tips on how to prepare for and survive particular disasters relevant to where you live such as: earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, blizzards etc.  Check out the following U.S. Government websites for more information: http://emergency.cdc.gov/ and http://www.ready.gov/. These are both great resources on disaster and emergency planning for your home or business.