Emergency Preparedness for the Aftermath of Disaster
How to prepare your family for survival
In recent years, we’ve had more severe, natural disasters globally. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods to fires, the devastation comes to survivors who are left stranded and awaiting aid. So when you’ve done everything to prepare for safety, how prepared are you for that critical time after a disaster?
Get informed about what risks your community or region faces. Aside from knowing what to do during a natural disaster, you should know what your community’s evacuation and shelter plans are as well as any regional safe spots. Without getting too stressed, research what your regions history has been with natural disasters and how things were handled. Plan accordingly.
Look back on hurricane Katrina. Many survived the storm, but the after math was devastating and help could not arrive as quickly as people assumed it would. In California, we are earthquake prone and have had problems with fires in recent years. Assume the worst. If roads are closed off, help may not arrive as fast as we need.
Be prepared not only for natural disasters, but also for man made ones as well. Carelessness, honest accidents, and even possible terror attacks are never predictable and while these may seem unlikely, it’s still a good idea to have an emergency plan for these scenarios as well.
Making a plan:
Quiz and drill your family about where rendezvous points are, where to seek help, what to do, etc. Remember those practice drills in school? They may seem silly when you are a kid, but it is a good exercise to practice with your family every six months. Make sure your kids know how to evacuate safely in case of a fire, or how to avoid danger if caught in an earthquake or a storm specific to your region. (If you are in California, consider recent tornado activity in Riverside and Costa Mesa. While those were mild, it is still a good topic to consider.)
Consider your family’s special needs. Have kits readily available for each member of the family. If you must have something in the house, car, or workplace, let it be an emergency kit with everything you need to survive. Take into account any pets, livestock, and any important possessions or documents. We live in a materialistic society, but if disaster strikes, we need to know what is truly important.
Making a Kit:
As mentioned above, consider the needs of your family. If you have children, prepare a backpack with spare clothes in case you get stranded, a toy or something to keep your child comfortable and entertained, water, and items to meet other needs your child may have. If you have a teenager, consider sanitary items for girls.
Have the essentials in your kits. One gallon of water per person per day is ideal for your home kit. This may not be ideal in the car. Have at least one bottle of water in each car pack. First aid kits are essential for cuts and burns as well. Canned foods are great, but check every so often to ensure it’s not expired, dented, or bloated. Also make sure to have a can opener.
Other essentials include:
- Flashlights and batteries
- Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape to help in filtering contaminated air and to shelter-in-place
- A radio, either battery powered or crank powered
- Local maps (do not rely on your gps or cell phone; if you do, have a solar charger for them)
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation. Consider having a bucket as a porta-potty
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
These are basic, and of course there are more items that you can include that are useful. Consider that you may be stranded miles from home with no road access. Consider that cell phones and land lines may not work. Consider your own health and your family’s, and plan accordingly.
Follow the IPPK (Inform, Prepare, Plan, and have a Kit) guidelines for safety in the after math of any disaster.
For detailed information please visit
www.ready.gov