Disaster can strike at any moment, but being prepared in the event of an emergency can make it easier to put your life back together. Many families do not have emergency preparedness plans that can help eliminate the feeling of confusion and complete loss and can help save lives. An emergency plan for your family should be created, discussed and practiced several times to ensure everyone knows their role.
While emergency preparedness plans can be as simple or extensive as your family needs, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) gives four tips to help start the formulation of your plan: get an emergency kit, make an emergency plan, be informed, and get involved.
An emergency kit should consist of enough water, food, a radio and any other basic needs for survival to last at least three days. To see the CDC’s suggestions on items to gather for an emergency kit, please click here.
An emergency plan can be created by discussing with your family the importance of working as a team and sharing responsibilities. To see the CDC’s suggestions for creating an emergency plan please visit the CDC’s Emergency Preparedness and You website.
Being informed is an integral part of being prepared and is simple to do with today’s technology. Checking websites, listening to the radio and watching your local and national news can help you keep a constant watch on upcoming weather and possible emergency situations. Local emergency preparedness resources and information can be found for your state and city by visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.
Getting involved in emergency preparedness can make you a central asset to your community. Learning first aid and emergency response training will allow you to help your neighbors in the event of an emergency. Citizen Corps coordinates community emergency plans and anyone can get involved. For more information about Citizen Corps, please visit their website.
