Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Earthquakes. Floods. Fires. Winter storms. The warnings pop out of the blue, often with little to no notice. September is “National Preparedness” month – so ask yourself – “Are we ready?”
If you’re like most families, you likely have most of the tools and supplies for an emergency kit at home… somewhere. When an emergency happens, having those items together, and in good condition, will make all the difference. And, you must have a plan, in writing, ready for when disaster strikes. If it does, help may not come immediately so it’s important to be prepared and to make sure everyone is aware of what to do.
It happened to me last week. I was at the dentist, sitting in the exam chair when I thought I felt the floor shake. Was it an earthquake? As a Mom, my mind immediately went into triage mode. I first asked myself, “Where are the kids?” My mind began an instant home inventory of supplies we needed. Our Family Emergency Plan – everyone has that, right? I was so sure the earthquake was in progress. Then, an alarming realization- I’m not ready yet. The awful moment passed, with no real earthquake. This “wake-up” call was a blessing, if I take action. We need to get ready now.
Procuring your supplies for an emergency kit can be done a little at a time, and affordably. Clean, safe, and identified kits are essential for each person in your home. Special needs for family members and pets also need to be addressed. All members of your family and caregivers need to know where the kits are. Emergency kits are for emergencies, and should be separate from everyday supply cupboards. Inventory your kits routinely to keep supplies fresh and to modify for changes in your family’s needs.
Here are some of my favorite preparedness resources:
- Ready.gov is the premiere website for Emergency Preparedness. For you and for the kids, the information is there.
- The “Family Communication Plan” is a must for organizing contact numbers and identifying an emergency meeting place. There's a template for parents and a separate one for kids; print them, fill them out and distribute to each member of the family to have easily accessible when needed.
- Here are the instructions for building a kit. Consider all who you may be caring for and what they’ll need, with these tips. Download the emergency supply list for suggested materials to have on hand at home and check out these brochures with information for pet owners, seniors or people with disabilities.
- MonkeySee.com offers a series of short videos on emergency preparedness, prepared by a Red Cross Representative. These videos demonstrate great ideas and useful instructions.
- The Center for Disease Prevention has general ideas for building kits for your home, office and car. They also discuss preparedness involving children and your pets.
- Families are busy, and buying all of the supplies for a kit can be costly. I found a realistic Disaster Preparedness Calendar from the American Red Cross to guide you through the process of building a disaster supplies kit and developing a home disaster plan with weekly actions.
- For the kids, Department of Homeland Security's “Be a Hero” and Sesame Workshop’s “Let’s Get Ready” help families discuss preparedness.
As you’re getting your family ready for an emergency, connect with your neighbors and community. Get to know those around you, so you will know who might need help, and who might be of help during a disaster. Contact your local emergency management offices (county and state), to connect with notification systems and region-specific information.
