EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Being prepared for an emergency can offer peace of mind, reduce stress, and help you sleep better at night. All things that during a holiday season can be in short supply. There are 11 areas of preparedness that every home should consider.

1) Shelter. You can only last three to four hours in extreme conditions without adequate shelter. Maintaining your body temperature in hot or cold temperatures is vital for survival.

2) Water. Water is necessary for life and survival. A human body can typically only last about 3 days without water. Having a storage of clean drinking water and knowing how to safely treat more is vital to “be ready” for survival.

3) Food. Have a basic food storage supply for at least 72 hours or more to maintain your energy and health in an emergency.

4) Hygiene and Sanitation. After an initial disaster a major concern is disease outbreak. Improper hygiene and sanitation can lead to illness and disease. Having a storage of hygiene and sanitation supplies and knowing how to safely use them at home and away is vital.

5) Light and Power. Emergency lighting is necessary for safety and for emotional and mental health. Headlamps, candles, flashlights, can all come in handy. Keep the batteries charged and have them in an easily accessible place.

6) First Aid. In a disaster situation when emergency services are overwhelmed and professional medical care may be unavailable, it is vital to have a basic understanding of first aid and have necessary medical supplies on hand.

7) Communications. Accurate information allows you to make informed decisions. Communication is often the first thing lost in an emergency. Reliable and true information sources are essential during a disaster.

8) Safety and Security. Knowing what to do to increase your safety and security during an emergency will help you and your family “Be Ready” before, during, and after emergencies.

9) Cooking. Can you prepare food without your normal kitchen appliances? It’s important to know how to safely make meals when the lights are out and the gas is gone.

10) Important Documents and Money. It is important to have printed copies of documents for identification and reference during an emergency and to help in post-emergency recovery. ATM machines, banks, and credit card readers may be inoperable. Having cash on hand will help cover costs until normal services resume.

11) Transportation and Navigation. Having emergency evacuation plans with details about where to go and how to get there are important to any preparedness plan. “Be ready” with the plans, knowledge, and tools you need to get you safely from here to there, wherever here and there may be.

We wish you good health and
much happiness.