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| Emergency Preparedness |
| Emergency Preparedness: Your
Responsibility
By Leon Chaddock While there is always blame to go around about who should handle emergency preparedness, there is little doubt that everyone needs to play their own role in preparing themselves for emergencies. Everyone can look back and see that there are problems and fingers to point, but it is essential that each individual prepare themselves for the terrible things that can happen. While we want to be able to have others be there, it just makes sense to have your own safety in mind. Emergency preparedness starts at home. Here are some things every individual can do: • If you do not have a good deal of money to purchase extra foods all at once, simply buy an extra can of food each time you shop. This extra can, can easily be stored away for when you need it. Purchase a large storage container with a lid to store extra food in. You’ll want to plan for enough food for each member of your family for at least three days. • Water is also crucial. Same thing here, though. If you purchase bottled water already, simply put a few into the container each time. You will need at least a gallon of water a day for each member of your household for three days. • You’ll also always want to make sure that you have enough of your medications as well. For many life saving prescriptions, they will allow you to fill
the next prescription at least a few days in advance if not longer.
Never allow yourself to get down to just a few pills. • Make sure that
part of your emergency preparedness is a family evacuation plan. This is
important in any emergency. How will everyone get out? Who is
responsible for the younger children and pets? And, where will you meet
to know that you are out safe? All of these things are the starting of a
good emergency preparedness plan. Your safety is in your hands at least
for a while so make sure that you prepare now. |