Emergency Preparedness:
Home and Family Planning
Being prepared for an emergency or disaster situation is one of the best investments you can make in your family’s future and well being. Natural, as well as manmade disasters can strike at anytime, often without any type of warning, and it is important to be prepared.
Emergency
Supplies
For any category of disaster, one of the most important elements of being prepared is having supplies to last you and your loved ones at least 72 hours. The best time to start preparing one of these emergency kits is “now.”
Some additional items to add to your emergency preparedness kit are plenty of batteries, flashlights and a battery operated radio. The radio will be very valuable if you find yourself in a situation where all communications are cut off. The next items to add to your kit are at least one blanket for each person and a change of clothes for each person. Absolutely do not forget a first aid kit and an extra supply of any prescription medication that anyone in your family may be taking regularly.
Aside from your 72 hour emergency preparedness kit, some additional steps you can take to assure your family’s safety is to always keep at least half a tank of gas in your vehicle, and designate a contact who is out of state. Everyone in your family should know who this person is and contact them to let them know their situation. This is especially important if people in your family should happen to get separated.
It today’s society it is fact that there is frequently a large window of time in which family members are separated by responsibilities such as work, school or errands. There is just as much of a chance, if not more of a chance that your family members will be scattered when a disaster hits and this should be factored into your emergency preparedness plan.
If you do have advanced warning of an impending disaster it is essential that you follow instructions, including evacuation. If you had no advance warning, listen to your battery powered radio for information about what has happened and instructions.
Being prepared is not hard, and the benefits could save the lives of your family..
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