Emergency Preparation

How can I
be prepared?
There are many ways in which to effectively
plan for an emergency situation in order to
ensure you are well prepared for the event.
Maximizing your level of organization will
ultimately result in effectively responding
to an emergency situation and will hopefully
aid in decreasing the damage caused by a
disaster.
To be prepared, you must firstly be aware of
disasters that may occur in the state or
country you reside in. Know danger and
warning signs and be familiar with local
procedures in the event of an emergency.
Being familiar with the types of disasters
that may occur in your area will ensure
sufficient knowledge with which to plan
emergency procedures for the disasters
relevant to you. It will also aid you in
preparing a disaster supplies kit.
There are a few factors that may prove
beneficial to know before disaster strikes.
Start by researching some of the disasters
that may be relevant to the area in which
you are living. You may find a significant
amount of information online or
alternatively you could contact the relevant
weather bureau and ask if they could send
you out appropriate information. Talk with
neighbors and friends to obtain their
opinion.
Once you have gained sufficient knowledge on
any relevant disasters you may begin
planning procedures for yourself and you
family to follow. The following will provide
you with some ideas on factors you should
take into consideration when planning for a
disaster:
1) Escape routes: Trace your house or draw
a floor plan in order to determine
appropriate points of exit for
different situations. Aim for two exits
from each different room.
2) Where to group: In the event of an
emergency, each family member might
find themselves exiting from a
different room. To ensure everyone
evacuates safely, designate an
appropriate area for everyone to
gather.
3) Communication: If disaster was to
strike, ideally it would be during a
time that the whole family is together;
unfortunately this is not the case, so
be prepared and organize a means of
communication or designate a meeting
place. Discuss how you will communicate
in a variety of different situations.
4) Existing Procedures: Also know any
emergency procedures that may be exist
in your work place or in your
children’s school. This may help you
organize a means of contact or a
designated meeting area.
5) Create a disaster supplies kit: This
will ensure you are fully prepared in
the event of a disaster and will
prevent you from having to search
around and obtain relevant items in the
midst of a disaster, when you might not
be thinking effectively due to the
resultant stress and anxiety. Refer to
chapter three for further information
on how to make and emergency supplies
kit and what items you will require.
6) Know how to turn off the water or gas
supply to your home. This might be
useful in the event of an evacuation.
7) Designating ‘shelter’ rooms: We often
hear about people having to take
shelter when we hear about disasters.
Taking shelter may refer to shelter in
ones home or shelter outside a
particular area. It is always
beneficial to plan ahead of time and
designate ‘safe’ rooms in the house for
a variety of situations. It is also
wise to plan external forms of shelter
(such as staying with a relative or in
a hotel, etc) in the event that you are
required to leave you home.
8) Insurance: Ensure you purchase relevant
insurance with which to provide a means
of replacing your possessions if a
disaster should cause damage to your
home or contents. For insurance
purposes, make an inventory of the
possessions you own; writing a list and
taking pictures or video are the most
effective means of doing so.
It may also be beneficial to purchase
health and life insurance.
9) Storage of important documentation:
Ensure all important documentation is
stored in a safe place away from the
home (e.g. in a safe deposit box). If
you are going to store the contents in
your home, look at purchasing a fire
proof safe. Be sure to put any
documents inside the safe into plastic
baggies in the event of a flood.
10) Make plans for pets: If you have pets,
it is advisable to make plans for their
care in the event of a disaster. Ensure
you have the necessary equipment and
supplies for your pet such as food,
water and an identification tag. It is
also advisable to ensure your pets
medical records are up to date (keep a
copy of these if possible), and that
your pet has undergone all relevant
immunization