| Emergency (pl. -ies) - a sudden, urgent, usually | | | | - gas shut-off tool |
| unexpected occurrence oroccasion requiring | | | | - pocketknife, whistle, compass, waterproof |
| immediate attention. | | | | matches |
| About half of all Americans say they now have a | | | | - ax, shovel, pry bar |
| disaster supplies kit, the other half do not. In | | | | - escape ladder for every floor above first |
| which half are you? Less than half of all | | | | - smoke/evacuation hoods (one/person, 20 |
| Americans have an evacuation plan, more than | | | | minutes of air)o Be prepared for bird flu and/or |
| half do not. In which half are you? | | | | biological contaminates; all of the above plus: |
| There are 163,000,000 dogs and cats in the US, | | | | - N-95 (or better) face masks, preferably enough |
| yet 65% of their owners have no plan to keep | | | | for at least 2 weeks/person |
| their pets safe in an emergency. More people die | | | | - Tamiflu (see your physician) |
| in fires than in hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and | | | | - surgical gloves |
| all other natural disasters combined, yet 85% of | | | | - hand sanitizer |
| parents in a recent poll said they do not discuss | | | | - additional food & watero Evacuation Kit - |
| fire safety with their children. 72% of Americans | | | | one per person; can include some of the above, |
| think they have a 3-day supply of water, but only | | | | becreative, think ahead |
| 23% know that each person needs one gallon of | | | | - sturdy backpack |
| water per day in an emergency situation.* | | | | - substantial first aid kit |
| Begin to get the picture? Okay. Most of us are | | | | - 12-hour light sticks (1-3) |
| not really prepared for an emergency. Let's get | | | | - 36-hr survival candle |
| down to what it takes to survive an emergency: | | | | - flashlight & extra batteries or hand crank |
| preparation, preparation, preparation. The U.S. | | | | flashlight |
| Department of Homeland Security lists 30 Tips | | | | - portable AM/FM radio & extra batteries or |
| for Emergency Preparedness. | | | | hand crank |
| I'll summarize DHS's key tips and offer a few of | | | | - multi-tool or Swiss Army-style pocketknife |
| my own that should be on everyone's list:o Have | | | | - hand warmers (2-4) |
| a plan, write it down, make sure everyone has a | | | | - box of waterproof matches |
| copy, rehearse it: | | | | - food bars for 3 days (3600 calories) |
| - how to get out of the house or apartment | | | | - water pouches for 3 days (6-8 4 oz. pouches) |
| - where to meet nearby, where to meet if you | | | | - plastic cup (collapsible if available) |
| can't remain nearby | | | | - roll of duct tape |
| - choose an emergency contact person out of | | | | - 25' - 50' of nylon cord or rope |
| the area, store thename and number on your cell | | | | - 2 or more dust masks or N95 masks |
| phone(s)o Keep emergency supplies handy, | | | | - leather work gloves |
| enough for at least 72 hours | | | | - folding shovel |
| - important documents, credit cards, back-up cds, | | | | - toilet paper, toothbrush/paste, personal hygiene |
| money, coins | | | | items |
| - extra sets of keys (car, house, safety deposit | | | | - insect repellant, sting relief, sun screen, hand |
| box, etc) | | | | sanitizer |
| - flashlights/lighting, portable AM/FM radios; | | | | - waterproof bag for important documents |
| preferably self-powered | | | | - compass, whistle, signal mirror |
| - food and water (human & pet), emergency | | | | Sounds like a lot, but you only have to do this |
| distiller and/or filtration device(s) | | | | once and you're ready to deal with any |
| - extra set of clothing & shoes, extra | | | | emergency for the next five years or so. Call it |
| blankets/sleeping bag(s), backpack | | | | life insurance. Pretty good Insurance too. Ask |
| - first aid kit | | | | anyone who managed to survive a hurricane, |
| - pet first aid kit and thermometer | | | | flood, tornado, earthquake or fire. They didn't |
| - prescription and non-prescription drugs | | | | expect an emergency either. Catastrophe only |
| - portable toilet (preferably a dry toilet) and toilet | | | | happens to other people, right? Wrong. |
| paper | | | | Next time, I'll discuss how you should prepare for |
| - cell phone charger, preferably hand crank | | | | emergency survival in your car. |
| - evacuation kit(s) (see below)o Keep key survival | | | | * Harris Poll # 60; recent ORC International poll |
| tools handy (in or near evacuation kit) | | | | for the Red Cross. |
| - ABC type fire extinguisher(s) | | | | |