Emergency Preparedness

Create a plan:

Sit down with your family and come up with an escape plan. Make sure everyone understands where you will meet up outside the home in the event of a fire or inside in case of a blizzard, earthquake or tornado. If you live in an area where hurricanes are common, have an evacuation plan in place in case you need to leave the city. Know the disaster risks in your area and what to do in case they strike. Make a list of the things you will grab in a hurry.

Put together a Home Emergency Kit:

Create a kit that you know will get your family through 72 hours. We compiled a list of suggested items, use it as a guideline to decide what your individual family members will need for survival. Remember to change the items every six months or so as your family's clothing needs change sizes. Mark it on the calendar so you don't forget this important step.

Purchase a large container with a lid and keep it in a place where it will remain easily accessible. You may want to create one per family member.

Some items to put into your 72-hour kits:

• Water: 1 gallon (4 liters) per person
• Non-perishable food items in sealed packages such as granola bars, trail mix, crackers, cereal, canned meats (make sure they have the pop-top cans that do not require a can opener!), candy, gum, canned juices, etc.
• Clothing: Prepare one change of clothing per person, and don't forget any underclothing or socks. Also consider coats, jackets and rain ponchos.
• Bedding: Sleeping bags, blankets (emergency heat blankets that hold in warmth), and a plastic sheet in case of the need to keep out moisture.
• Fuel and light: Flash lights and lamps with fresh batteries and a change of batteries. Candles, flares, lighters, and water-proof matches.
• Tools: Can opener, dishes and utensils (camping supply stores carry "mess kits" that are compact), radio with fresh batteries (and extra batteries!), alarm clock that switches automatically to battery operation (extra batteries!), pen and paper, pocket knife, rope.
• Personal Items: First aid kit, first aid book/reference, toiletries (toilet paper, travel size shampoos and soaps, folding hair brush, tampons and other feminine products), dish soap, mirror, medications (three days worth of prescriptions, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children's tylenol, etc.)
• Vital Documents:

  (Keep these items in a fireproof box. You can easily find one at any department type store. Make sure you keep the key to this box on your main key chain at ALL times!)

  -Medical Information for each family member
  -Important Phone Numbers
  -Birth Certificates
  -Marriage Certificates
  -Wills
  -Other Estate Documents
  -Passports
  -Social Security Cards
  -Contracts
  -Immunization Records
  -Insurance Policies
  -Cash!
  -Credit Card
  -Pre-paid phone cards
  -Copies of religious or any other treasured papers

• Individual items: If you have an infant or family member with special needs, make sure you have the items they need ready to go as well. Remember to also pack a small games, toys, books to provide relaxation in stressful times.

How to create a food storage system:

Another really great idea for emergency preparedness is to simply prepare for "a rainy day" when money is tight. Don't ever let your family get into a situation where your children have to miss a meal. Create your food storage, little by little, when money is more abundant.

Each time you go to the grocery store, buy a few extra cans of food to put into your food storage. Every few months, be sure to rotate these items so they don't go too far past expiration dates. Use them in your regular kitchen cooking when they get close to their expiration and replenish your food storage as necessary.

Learn to can foods so that you will have wonderful homemade jams and fruits available in times of need.

Purchase MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in bulk from emergency preparedness stores or if you know someone in the armed forces with access to bulk discounts.

This food storage will also come in handy in addition to your 72-hour kits in large disasters, and you will rest easy knowing you and your family (and possibly your neighbors) will have everything they need for survival.