Family
Emergency Preparedness - September 20,
2006
Bob Kenyon – K8LJ
One of the
Mini-training Tips presented a few weeks ago mentioned taking care of yourself
and your family first, before attempting to assist others. This series of tips
goes into more detail on that and is quite timely since September has been
designated “National Preparedness Month” by Homeland Security and is
targeted toward families.
Here are some tips to help you and your family to become
better prepared for an emergency.
Tip 1
Take a moment to imagine that there is an emergency, like a
fire in your home, and you need to leave quickly. What are the best
escape routes from your home? Find at least two ways out of each room.
Now, write it down — you’ve got the beginning of a plan.
Tip 2
Pick a place to meet after a disaster. Designate two
meeting places. Choose one right outside your home, in case of a sudden
household emergency, such as a fire. The second place you choose needs to be
outside your neighborhood, in the event that it is not safe to stay near or
return to your home.
Tip 3
Choose an emergency contact person outside your area because
it may be easier to call long distance than locally after a local/regional
disaster. Take a minute now to call or e-mail an out-of-town friend or
family member to ask him or her to be your family’s designated contact in the
event of an emergency. Be sure to share the contact's phone number with
everyone in the family. During an emergency, you can call your contact
who can share with other family members your location, your condition, and how
to contact you. Although they are dwindling in number, PAY phones will often
work when no other phones will.
Tip 4
Complete an emergency contact card and make copies for each
member of your family to carry with them. Be sure to include an out-of-town
contact on your contact card. It may be easier to reach someone out of
town if local phone lines are out of service or overloaded. You should also have
at least one traditionally wired landline phone, as cordless or cellular phones
may not work in an emergency. Visit www.redcross.org
or www.ready.gov
for sample emergency contact cards.
Tip 5
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but due to health
regulations, most emergency shelters cannot house animals. Find out in advance
how to care for your pets and working animals when disaster strikes. Pets
should not be left behind, but could be taken to a veterinary office, family
member’s home or animal shelter during an emergency. Also be sure to
store extra food and water for pets. For more information, visit
the Animal Safety section on www.redcross.org
or visit the Humane Society Web site at www.hsus.org
.
Tip 6
You
should keep enough supplies in your home to meet the needs of you and your family
for at least three days. Build an emergency supply kit to take with you in an
evacuation. The basics to stock in your portable kit include: water, food,
battery-powered radio and flashlight with extra batteries, first aid supplies,
change of clothing, blanket or sleeping bag, wrench or pliers, whistle, dust
mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape, trash bags, map, a manual can opener for
canned food and special items for infants, elderly, the sick or people with
disabilities. Keep these items in an easy to carry container such as a covered
trash container, a large backpack, or a duffle bag.
Tip 7
Go through your calendar now, and put a reminder on it —
every six months — to review your plan, update numbers, and check supplies to
be sure nothing has expired, spoiled, or changed. Also remember to practice
your tornado, fire escape or other disaster plans.
Additional preparedness tips will be presented during
subsequent ARES nets. Further information can also be found at this Web site:
http://www.ready.gov/america/npm/index.htm