The fact of the matter is that not one person knows just exactly are the specific problems that could eventually result during a major and over all emergency. The best thing one could possibly due is make himself prepare for anything that could happen.
The following are some of the tips, advice and recommendation in order to amply prepare for an emergency. The following are from the emergency service from the California office of the Red Cross.
Water is life, life is water
As much as possible, try to keep a water supply of a gallon for every person each day and one that would be enough to go on for up to three to seven days.
*Water should be kept in containers made of plastic. Also, make sure that you also have filters and tablets for the purposes of purification ready and available when needed.
Store food for you and your family
Food that is not as easily perishable should be stored for you and your family, and such foods must be enough to last you, your family, as well as your pets, for three days up until one week.
Examples of such foods are canned goods, powdered juices, boxed vegetables and food.
Have an alterative
It is always a wise idea to have a cooking source that could serve as an alternative besides the usual electric stove you may be used to.
Having a ready barbecue stove or a propane stove on hand is the best recourse if in case the electricity goes out or if gas becomes no longer available.
However, if you are to utilize propane, ensure that the tank is completely full and that an extra propane tank is also available.
Collect clothes
Have a ready and available stock of clothes for your kids and yourself as well as sleeping bags.
Collect wood
Having a steady supply of good wood is also a good idea as these could be used for those fireplaces or for stoves that use wood for burning.
Have a light
A flashlight is the item that you simply could not do without especially during emergencies. Try to consider using recharging through solar means as well as units that are cranked by hand. This is in order to avoid any future worries on batteries.
Keep prescriptions
As much as possible, try to keep any prescriptions that you or your family member may have filled. Also, try to maintain an added supply of medication both non-prescription and prescribed ones.
Contact your healthcare provider for any refill prescriptions in advance.
Have cash and some gas
Credit is good unless there is an emergency. Try to keep ready cash just in case the ATMs fail or the system of your bank is not working.
Also, it is best if you keep the gas tank of your car half full. This is so to avoid the long lines in gas stations.
Have books
During emergencies, it could be safe to have some books and some board games available to entertain yourself during power failure.
Know thy neighbor
It is also better if you acquaint yourself with the neighbors you have in your area. There could be instances wherein you ay need each other’s help if ever the basic services are somewhat interrupted.
All in all, preparation is always the best cure against any unexpected circumstance that an emergency might bring.
Emergency Preparedness For a Hurricane
There is nothing anyone can do when nature decides to leash out its fury. There is no way to stop it so people should brace for the worse and seek shelter.
In order to minimize the loss of life, most towns and cities have created emergency plans. Sirens are placed in strategic locations to announce a major evacuation; the emergency broadcast system is in place in the event that power and electricity has been cut off as well as stockpiles of food, water and medicine.
Those who live in the coastal communities will usually be battered by hurricanes. This happens between the months of June until November in the Atlantic and from May to November in the northern Pacific Ocean.
When this is first spotted on radar, the forecaster will already inform the public about it. There is no need yet to panic here since the weather conditions may change in the next few hours but if there are no improvements, it is time to activate emergency procedures.
The hurricane may pack winds exceeding more than a 100 miles per hour that can make cars, pieces of metal or wood cause severe damage to the home. Households can board up the windows and doors of the house with hurricane shutters and plywood.
People will rush to the supermarket to stock up on food, water and other essentials. These include candles, batteries for the radio and the flashlight as well as fuel for the generator.
All of these things are necessary especially water to prevent dehydration so every possible container must be used including the bathtub.
The most important which must never be forgotten is a medical kit. This should have bandages and some antibiotics to be able to treat anyone who is ill or injured until the person can be brought out to a medical facility for better treatment.
Should the incoming hurricane be classified as a category 4 or 5, residents are advised to evacuate and seek higher ground. It will be a good idea to travel light so only a few pieces of clothing, food and water must be brought into the vehicle.
The citizens are also advised to drive slowly and avoid panicking since this could cause accidents on the road.
The hurricane will pass within a few hours. This is the only time that people will be able to go out or return to see how much damage was done.
It is only after assessing the damage that towns and cities can say whether the emergency preparedness procedures that were sent in place were effective or not. One indication that it works is if no casualties are reported. This is because a house or even a building can be repaired but the life of an individual can never be replaced.
The people who live in the household can rehearse the emergency preparedness plan to see if some improvements need to be made. This is because time is off the essence in order to be safe in this type of crisis.
Emergency preparedness is key to ensure the survival of everyone present. People who live through this annually know what to do but those who are moving into the community should learn fast to be able to survive the onslaught of the hurricane.