The recent
storms got me thinking about emergencies. Every person and family should have
some kind of plan in case there is a dramatic weather event, fire, blizzard or
any other type of emergency that might happen. Remember that earthquake?
According to the t.v. news, a lot of people did what you should do for a
tornado, which is not necessarily the right thing for an earthquake. Who knew?
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| Be prepared for electrical storms or other emergencies. |
During an
earthquake, you should stay indoors until the earthquake is over. Most people
who are injured, get hurt while going outside when the earthquake is still
ongoing. Stay away from big windows, large light fixtures, ceiling fans or
other things that might break and fall on you. If you happen to be in bed, stay
there and put the pillow over your head. Duck under a table if there is a
sturdy one nearby. There is not a lot of time during an earthquake to do much
of anything.
When there is a
tornado, head for the lowest point in the residence, the basement works well.
If there is no basement, go to a room with no windows, like a bathroom, closet
or hallway. Flying glass can be deadly, avoid it as much as you can. Usually
with tornadoes, you have a few minutes to get ready before it hits, unlike an
earthquake. If any big storm with high winds is expected, secure anything
around the house that might be swept away.
Young and
healthy people should have a plan for checking in with disabled or older family
members if a big storm rolls through. Don’t forget your neighbors who might
need help. If you live alone, I’m sure you know someone else who lives alone –
you can check on each other. Some people even have a list of people to call
just to make sure everything is okay.
Not only
should you have a checklist for people, there are some supplies you should
always keep on hand in case of an emergency. Often times the power goes out
during these situations, so you need to be ready beforehand. Unfortunately,
many of us got a taste of that recently when storms ripped through the area.
About half of the Baltimore metro area lost power, some people for several
days.
Supplies:
- Always have flashlights with spare
batteries. Headlamps, used for camping and spelunking, are great for
allowing hands-free lighting. Keep a stock of D batteries on hand because
most of the lanterns only take Ds.
- A battery operated NOAA Weather
Radio (or any radio) will allow you to get updates on storm watches and
warnings.
- Some paper and pens or pencils will
come in handy in case you hear about something important on the radio. You
could jot down emergency numbers or where cooling centers, ice
distribution centers or shelters are located.
- A first aid kit for any injuries is
very important. Don’t forget to check the kit at least once a year to make
sure nothing is expired.
- Your medications might be vital to
your survival. You should never completely run out of your medications.
Always keep at least a week’s worth on hand, if possible.
- Hand sanitizer comes in handy when
water is in short supply.
- Toilet paper and other personal
hygiene products are a must.
- If you have kids, it is really
important to store away some things to amuse them. Without computers,
sketchy or no cell service or no electricity, your kids will get antsy! Keep
them occupied with coloring or activity books, books to read, crossword
puzzles, anything that doesn’t require power. Don’t forget classic board
games. A deck of cards doesn’t take up much space and people of just about
any age can amuse themselves playing alone or as a group.
Food and
Drink:
- It is recommended to keep 1-3
gallons of water on hand for each person in the house. Three gallons are
appropriate for a multi-day disaster. Having Gatorade, Ensure or other
nutrient-filled beverage would be a bonus to have on hand.
- Foods that do not have to be
refrigerated usually have a long shelf life. If you have a lot of canned
food, make sure you have a manual can opener. Here’s your chance to get
your fill of beef jerky!
- Try to always have a week’s worth of
pet food on supply. You don’t want to share that beef jerky with the
family dog.
It might sound
silly, but businesses and families should practice fire safety. Fire drills
were always a chore in school, but when there is a fire, it is extremely
important to know what to do. Figure out how you and your pets can evacuate
quickly. Small children should learn what to do in order to stay safe. If
someone is disabled or elderly, knowing how to deal with them during an
emergency may be the difference between life and death for that person.
Have a great,
safe time and try to always be prepared. You never know when bad weather or
other emergencies are going to happen.
