[Right_Writer]

Seeing all of the info on TV about Hurricane Katrina about to hit New Orleans, got me thinking. There is so much that we should prep for in the event of an emergency. Here are some tips:

Have all medications (a few days' supply) on hand and in their proper medicine bottles.
Have enough water on hand per person for 3 to 5 days.
Keep flashlights, candles, and matches in a safe, but easy to locate spot.
Have a plan for your pets in case you must evacuate.
Keep your cell phones charged.
Have a radio and batteries to get weather updates and the news.


If anyone has any other tips, please add on to this post.

[breharb25]

I have a few more tips for emergencies, such as a hurricane, that I know would have come in handy for us last year when we had to evacuate our home ( we live in Florida).

Try to save extra cash to have on hand especially for when you return if you need to evacuate, as the ATMs may be down due to loss of power.

Understand your evacuation routes and decide which is the best route for you and family ahead of time.

Make sure you have extra canned goods on hand ( when we returned home, the grocery stores were empty due to deliveries being unable to get in and people stocking up prior to leaving and it was several days we were able to get more food.

If you know you arent going to be able to evacuate make sure that you have located area shelters so that you will be safe if an evacuation order is put into effect.

Also, invest in a gasonline can before hurricane season and fill it when you fill up you car getting ready for evacuation. The last thing you want to do is run out of gas when you're stuck in traffic with the other thousands of evacuees.

[babydawn]

A few things that I have learned from my church.....try to get a years supply of food storage....and at least two weeks of water. It may only come in handy in the event of a lay off or what not, at any rate, its a good goal to be working towards. Also, they have taught us to have a 72 hour emergency kit on hand for each person in the family, with a change of clothes, food, water, and whatever else may be a necessity for your family, so in the event of a natural disaster or other unforseen things, you are prepared to evacuate immediately.

[annharth]

We live in a high risk cyclone area in the Southern hemisphere and I've been watching the pogress of Katrina. I know how difficult it is to evacuate and my heart went out to those people as they left their homes, not knowing what they would return to.

A couple of extra things that people may not have thought of. GAS is a big one. As soon as you hear of the threat, make sure all cars are filled with fuel. Another one is to grab a plastic water proof box and fill it with insurance papers, passports, all necessary paperwork that will be a pain to lose. As I work from home, I know how important it is to have all of my backed up computer files as well.

I've found that if you have the family, cash, fuel, food and a few vital papers you're set. Anything else is expendable.

[cocotbo]

Those are all great tips that everyone should make note of.
Whether you live in a danger zone or not, it pays to be prepared. The American Red Cross has some excellent information on preparedness and even has lists/handbooks that you can download to make your family's preparation easier. Check out their website at: http://www.redcross.org/services/pre...0_239_,00.html

[sfharper]

In our adult aging class, they recommended that you keep a list of medication names on your refridgerator in case the medics need to know. You don't really want to run around the house during an emergency looking for bottles. Also put the amount of the medication taken and how often and the doctor's number.
Bleach is good to have on hand in case your water gets stale and you have no power.
Extra propane for gas barbecues.
Candles -- both for warmth and light.

[seeemilywrite]

Have a plan as far as evacuation goes. If we get seperated we will all try to go to Aunt Myrtles in tampa...that type of thing. that way it can be easy to find everyone once the situation has passed. If everyone is also cntacting mytle to let her know you are ok, then you'll know about other family members faster.

[westbrook]

When an emergency happens be sure you and everyone in the family knows where the gas shut off valve is.
Know where the fuse box or circuit breakers are and know how to shut them off.

If a water pipe breaks know where the water main shut off valve is and how to shut it off. Also know how to shut off under each sink, behind the toilet as well as behind the washer in the event of a leaky pipe in the house.

Should you have to evacuate your home, have a back pack ready to grab and go. There has been much talk about these "go bags" or "72-hour bags" or "BOBs (Bug Out Bags)" in the news right after Katrina.

Each person in the house needs to have one of these go bags packed and ready at all times. They might be placed in the guest closet or somewhere close to the door your would leave by in an emergency.

These bags would be packed with items you would need for at least 3 days. While I am an adult and can carry a rather heavy load, a 3 year old child would be limited to a few changes of underware and socks, their favorite (or second favorite) doll or stuffed animal, crayons and paper or coloring book, a coat for warmth, hat, gloves, maybe an extra pair of old shoes tied to the back, a change of clothing and then a bottle of water or can of food, cookies perhaps and most importantly... a copy of their birth certificate, parents information, address, phone number, family contact numbers, medical information and insurance card, then wrapped in a ziplock bag or laminated to keep waterproof. In the event that there was a seperation, your baby could find their way back to you with this information. I also recommend each person keep a family photo laminated and in with their papers.

The older children of course can carry a heavier pack and will also need the same kind personal information in their back packs too. Again a change of clothes, socks and underware, a game or toy, a book or two.

Have the older children carry two bed rolls. This can be something as simple as a fleece blanket. Fleece is warm and water resistant. There is no sewing needed with fleece and can be used to throw over your shoulder like a pancho or curled up in like a blanket. Here is a link to how to make fleece quillows. There is a pocket on the blanket so you can fold it up like a pillow and tuck into the pocket or open it up to a make a blanket. http://www.straw.com/quilting/articles/quillows.html
These fleece blankets are lightweight and each to roll and attach to a backpack.

In your pack you might want to make copies of all the childrens birth certificates, social security cards, your marriage license, drivers license, medical infoirmation, insurance cards, deed of trust to your home, and anything else you may think important.

While you tell your children this is an adventure and stay as up beat as possible, you also will want to create as much normalcy as possible. Try to stay in routine or create a new one. Children need routine when their lives have been turned upside down. So carry a few books to read to them, maybe create new games, tell them stories, go for walks, discover new things. If you panic, they will panic.

Since canned goods and water are both heavy and trying to carry 1 can per person per meal is more then one or two can carry. There is nutrition bars supplying you will all the vitamins and minerals you need in one bar. You will find these at your local Health Food Store such as GNC that targest the body builder. While these bars don't have the necessary calories needed for the day, it will provide your family with nutritioin and allows for 1 meal less cans to carry and lets you carry more water.

If you have a dog, make sure your dog is up on all of their shots and displaying a collor with license. There are saddle bags you can put on your dog and have your dog carry his own food and water in his 'go bag'. Make sure he has been microchipped so if he gets parted from you he can be identified and make his way back to you through a rescue shelter. (I carry fabric muzzles in my packs for my dogs) Also in the pack should be papers to get them back to their owners or to a family member.

Cats are a bit different, they will need to be caged, trying to carry a cat in a soft pack gets to be rather heavy, Find a back pack with wheels or a small travel suit case with wheels that can be both carried or pulled along. Tie the animal packs to these pull along cases. Small dogs can also be put in these packs and pulled along. The extra case offers you more storage for food and water. Cats should also have tags on collars with information to help get them back to their owners.

With pets both dogs and cats, you might also want to consider a 15 foot leash (training leash) to allow your pet some walking room rather then trying to keep them on a 6 foot leash or in a carrier. It is important for you to have well socialized pets.

westbrook

[sfharper]

One thing that no one has mentioned is "Check or turn off your Natural Gas". This maybe more appropriate to the Northwest or other areas where earthquakes occur. In those cases, the gas lines might rupture and cause fires. It was the first thing we were required to do at a restaurant where I worked, after the power went off. Natural gas can leak into your home and build up without you noticing, and given a spark, explode.

[mcmama]

That's an excellent suggestion. There was a big fire in my town last year due to construction and a gas leak that was undetected. The gas leached into the walls of the building next to the site from a ruptured line, and was undetectable by smell except in a few apartments. The line did not appear to be ruptured. Then there was an explosion. So if you have control over gas lines into your house or apartment, you should turn it off if anything unusual happens. If there is time that is, evacuating might just be the best thing to do!

This past week, the steam pipe explosion in midtown manhattan really exposed how many of us do not have a disaster plan, or the basic supplies/go bag/plans, etc, even in the most susceptible areas. Any disaster, whether natural or man made, renders us vulnerable to further attack or criminal activity.