| Are you ready for an emergency caused by a | | | | blankets, soap, toothpaste, and the like should be |
| man made or natural disaster? | | | | packed away and ready to go. |
| Hurricane Katrina, closely followed by hurricane | | | | 6. If you or any family member require |
| Rita, should have taught us all a good lesson or | | | | prescription medicines be sure to keep at least a |
| two about the value of being prepared. | | | | few extra days supply on hand. |
| For one thing it is not wise to think that someone | | | | 7. A complete first aid kit is an obvious but often |
| else, especially "Big Brother", will bail you out, at | | | | missing item that should not ever be overlooked |
| least in a timely manner, should you be involved in | | | | in any household. |
| a true disaster situation. You may well have to be | | | | 8. Most importantly keep some reserve cash on |
| your own first responders. | | | | hand. Don't expect ATM machines to work in a |
| For another, unless you are well prepared for an | | | | severe emergency situation. |
| emergency well in advance, there is little hope | | | | 9. Don't forget that gasoline may well be in short |
| that you will be able to do much to improve your | | | | supply if evacuation is required. Be sure to keep a |
| situation immediately after disaster strikes. | | | | full tank of gas in your vehicle if there is the |
| Even taking a few simple steps to prepare you | | | | slightest possibilty that you may have to |
| and your family for an emergency may well be | | | | evacuate. Keeping a five gallon can or two of |
| the difference between life and death. While that | | | | extra gasoline on hand is also worth thinking |
| may seem to be a dramatic statement I expect | | | | about. |
| that those directly in the path of Katrina and Rita | | | | 10. Be sure to have access to a hand cranked |
| would readily agree. | | | | radio. |
| One of the most important things to do to be | | | | Plan To Be Self Sufficient For At Least a Week |
| prepared for a disaster is to have a written | | | | Following a Wide Spread Disaster. |
| emergency disaster plan in place for you and your | | | | In a disaster it is unlikely that you will have electric |
| family to follow in the event of an unwelcome | | | | power for at least a number of days. Having a |
| event occuring. This written plan will serve you | | | | hand cranked radio and being able to keep up with |
| well regardless of the cause of the emergency. | | | | weather reports, the latest news, and instructions |
| The plan should include the following items: | | | | from the authorities before electric power is |
| 1. A predetermined place to go should you be | | | | restored may well prove to be invaluable. |
| separated. | | | | I'm sure that you can think of other items to add |
| 2. ID bracelets or ID cards for all family members. | | | | to the short list above. No doubt that it is |
| This is especially important for small children. | | | | expensive and difficult to cover all of the bases |
| 3. A telephone number outside of your immediate | | | | when the nature and full extent of an emergency |
| area that is known by all family members. This | | | | may be unknown in advance. |
| number may be a willing relatives number or even | | | | However, even a modest amount of advance |
| an answering service. It is a good idea to include | | | | disaster planning can pay huge dividends for you |
| the number on your ID bracelets. | | | | and your family should disaster strike. In the |
| 4. Enough food and water stored in a safe place | | | | dangerous world we live in everyone should set |
| to last for at least a week. MRE's and bottled | | | | aside a little time and put together with your |
| water, plus water purification kits, are the best | | | | families participation a well thought out written |
| bet. | | | | emergency preparedness plan. |
| 5. An emergency supply of extra clothing, | | | | |