Ann Priddy asked:
Disaster preparedness is important wherever you live. Since a disaster can occur with little or no warning, it is important to have a plan for yourself and your family and to have survival supplies on hand, ready to use.
FEMA has set out some guidelines to help us all be as prepared as possible to handle an emergency or disaster. Here are some of FEMA’s suggestions along with my suggestions.
ESCAPE ROUTES
Draw a floor plan of your home and make sure that all family members, including children, understand it. Mark two escape routes from each room. Post a copy of the drawings at eye level in each child’s room. If you have a multi-storied house, be sure that you have fire safety equipment such as a fire ladder in case the stairs are blocked as a means of escape.
Decide on a place to meet in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Post the locations by your floor plan drawings. For example: Near the home- Meet at the next door neighbor’s driveway. Outside the immediate area: Meet at the neighborhood grocery store parking lot.
FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS
Since your family may not all be together, plan how you will contact one another. Pick a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify that they are safe.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Store important documents such as insurance policies, deeds, property records, and other important papers in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box, away from your home. Make copies of these important documents and keep them in a fire proof storage bag for your disaster supplies kit.
SURVIVAL SUPPLIES
If a disaster strikes, you should be prepared to care for yourself and your loved ones for at least 72 hours. Because it can take emergency personnel some time to get to you, a three day survival kit is the suggested minimum to keep on hand. Make sure that it has water, food, first aid supplies, and survival equipment. If you have a survival kit assembled by professionals, you can be sure that you have the right supplies and the needed amounts to get you and your loved ones through those first hectic hours and days following a disaster.
Disaster preparedness is important wherever you live. Since a disaster can occur with little or no warning, it is important to have a plan for yourself and your family and to have survival supplies on hand, ready to use.
FEMA has set out some guidelines to help us all be as prepared as possible to handle an emergency or disaster. Here are some of FEMA’s suggestions along with my suggestions.
ESCAPE ROUTES
Draw a floor plan of your home and make sure that all family members, including children, understand it. Mark two escape routes from each room. Post a copy of the drawings at eye level in each child’s room. If you have a multi-storied house, be sure that you have fire safety equipment such as a fire ladder in case the stairs are blocked as a means of escape.
Decide on a place to meet in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Post the locations by your floor plan drawings. For example: Near the home- Meet at the next door neighbor’s driveway. Outside the immediate area: Meet at the neighborhood grocery store parking lot.
FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS
Since your family may not all be together, plan how you will contact one another. Pick a friend or relative who lives out-of-state for household members to notify that they are safe.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Store important documents such as insurance policies, deeds, property records, and other important papers in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box, away from your home. Make copies of these important documents and keep them in a fire proof storage bag for your disaster supplies kit.
SURVIVAL SUPPLIES
If a disaster strikes, you should be prepared to care for yourself and your loved ones for at least 72 hours. Because it can take emergency personnel some time to get to you, a three day survival kit is the suggested minimum to keep on hand. Make sure that it has water, food, first aid supplies, and survival equipment. If you have a survival kit assembled by professionals, you can be sure that you have the right supplies and the needed amounts to get you and your loved ones through those first hectic hours and days following a disaster.
