Are you really prepared??

If a natural disaster were to strike today would you really be prepared? If the answer is yes, then  CONGRATULATIONS!  9 times out of 10 a household is not prepared for a disaster. After my last blog, I wondered if I was prepared for a disaster. Living in California our teachers and parents prepared us on what to do in case of an earthquake.

“DUCK AND COVER.”

To be honest “duck and cover” is all that I am prepared for, which isn’t saying much. Here is a helpful list to get you and your family prepared!

Please go through this list and make sure that all of these items are in your emergency kit. You never know when an emergency can strike you or your community!

• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3 ­day supply for evacuation, 2­ week supply for home)
• Food—non­perishable, easy­to­prepare items (3­ day supply for evacuation, 2 ­week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Battery­-powered or hand­crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7­day supply) and medical items
• Multi­purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

Consider the needs of all family members and add supplies to your kit. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

• Medical supplies (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Games and activities for children
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Two­-way radios
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Manual can opener

Additional supplies to keep at home or in your kit based on the types of disasters common to your area:

• Whistle
• N95 or surgical masks
• Matches
• Rain gear
• Towels
• Work gloves
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Plastic sheeting
• Duct tape
• Scissors
• Household liquid bleach
• Entertainment items
• Blankets or sleeping bags

The Danger of not having a Emergency Kit:

Though most households are located in reasonable proximity to an emergency respondent, access to an emergency kit is often critical in securing the health and safety of residents before help arrives. For those located a significant distance from emergency assistance, or homes that contain injury-prone children or older adults, an emergency kit is non-negotiable.

Now ask yourself are you prepared for a natural disaster to strike?

-Denea Duran

Content Credit: http://www.redcross.org

Disaster Supplies Kit Checklist for Pets

Particularly during September, National Preparedness Month, we hit on topics such as how you can be prepared for an emergency, what you need in your home emergency kit, what to do in quarantine situations, etc. What rarely gets covered, though, is how to keep your pets healthy and happy. Take a look at what you’ll need to get the whole family through an emergency situation.

[ ] Food and water for at least three days for each pet, food and water bowls and a manual can opener.
[ ] Depending on the pet, litter and litter box or newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items, and household bleach.
[ ] Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container, a first aid kit and a pet first aid book.
[ ] Sturdy leashes, harnesses and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets cannot escape. A carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for hours. Be sure to have a secure cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate smaller pets. These may require blankets or towels for bedding and warmth and other special items.
[ ] Pet toys and the pet’s bed, if you can easily take it, to reduce stress.
[ ] Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated, and to prove that they are yours.
[ ] Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems and the name and telephone number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

Content Credit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/

Photo Credit: http://browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com/post/9702231083

Sandy Hayden