Emergency Preparedness Planning

Emergency Preparedness Planning
September 23, 2005

September is National Preparedness Month, a join initiative between the Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross. The purpose of this annual reminder is to make sure that families are prepared for any sort of unexpected emergency. Given what has transpired in the Gulf States this month, it is well worth the time for all families to review emergency contingency plans.

Hurricane Katrina is a tragic reminder of the necessity of emergency preparedness. The point is to encourage Americans to take simple steps now to prepare themselves and their families for any possible emergencies. Families taking a few moments now to create an emergency plan have the best chance of survival in the event of an actual emergency.

The first step is to develop a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when an emergency happens, so create a plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. It's best to have critical information written down. It is important that everybody knows where to go under different circumstances. The plan must also contain out-of-state contacts in case local phone lines are jammed.

A Family Communications Plan should include the places where each member of the family spends the most time including work, school and other places. It should include the address, phone numbers and agreed-upon places to meet. It should include information on how to reach doctors, pharmacists, insurance, etc. Be sure to include family member's pertinent medical information, such as allergies, policy numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, and regular medications needed.

In addition to a Family Communications Plan, it is wise to have a "Ready Kit." You can purchase a complete "Ready Kit" from the Red Cross at its web site at www.redcross.org. Major retailers, including Meijer, Wal-Mart, and Sam's Club have begun selling all-in-one "Ready Kits." Target is selling a kit with a portion of the sales price going to the Red Cross. The kit Target sells is also available on its web site at www.target.com. These kits include all the supplies suggested by the Department of Homeland Security, with the convenience of "one-stop" shopping, but at a fraction of the cost of buying each item individually. Kits should be kept in the home, car and workplace.

"Ready Kits" should contain at least the following items: A backpack, a battery operated radio, battery operated flashlights, extra batteries, water (enough so each person has at least 40 oz. for 3 days), food (enough so each person has at least 800 calories per day), dust masks, first aid kits, a whistle, plastic bags and ties.

Some people may want to add additional items that are specific to their family's needs such as extra food and water, a water container, extra doses of personal prescription medications, a can opener, warm clothing, blankets, rain gear, glow stick, identification, cash, baby or children's clothes, items for the elderly, two-way radio or walkie-talkie.

Hurricane Katrina is a painful reminder that the best time to prepare for an emergency is before one actually happens. A few minutes of planning now could be the difference that helps your family survive, should an unexpected emergency occur. For more information on emergency preparedness go to www.redcross.org and www.ready.gov.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/9.23.05.shtml