January 1, 2011
Happy 2011! At the start of this new year, consider these 11 easy ways you can prepare your family for an emergency:
- Know Your Risks
Plan for the disasters that are most common where you live. Maybe it’s a snowstorm over a hurricane or an earthquake instead of a tornado. Know your area and don’t forget about flood preparation – the most prevalent natural disaster in the U.S.
- Plan Ahead
With focused and strategic shopping, you are more likely to get exactly what you need and save money. Prices can skyrocket before a hurricane, wildfire or other imminent emergency.
- Budget For Preparedness
Consider emergency supplies as a standard expense. Even $20 a month can go a long way to help you be ready. Simply buy one preparedness item each time you go to the store.
- Personalize Your Kit
You may not need everything included in ready-made 72-hour kits and there may be extra items you require based on your family situation. Don’t forget personal medication and pets.
- Check and Test Regularly
Don’t just replace your kit items annually, consider cycling through items that have a shelf life (food, batteries, etc.). As with smoke alarms, test your radio and flashlights at least once a year to make sure they are in good working order.
- Store Your Own Water
Forget about buying expensive bottled water. They can be handy for short-term needs, but not for long-term survival purposes. Store your own water in large, safe, disinfected containers.
- Get Practical With Gifts
Give and request emergency kits and supplies as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas. What if your friends and family gave you gifts that could save your life? Don’t forget to help them by sending emergency gifts their way, too.
- Manage Your Coverage
Review your insurance policies annually and make any necessary changes. When emergencies strike, you want to be confident your coverage will help you sufficiently recover. Renters should also have policies to cover personal property.
- Prepare To Communicate
Keep your contact records current. Maintain an accurate list of emergency contact numbers, family, friends and neighbors. Consider buying short wave radios to communicate when cell phone towers go out.
- Get Creative With Expenses
Trade one night out to fund a 72-hour kit. A nice dinner, a movie, and a babysitter will often cost between $70-$100.
- Cover Your Bases
Don’t forget to have kits and supplies in your car and at work. The average American spends more than two hours per day in the car and many more at work.
Preparedness = Peace
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably already well on your way to being prepared. Remember, the more you prepare, the less there is to fear.
September 7, 2010
Back to school. You shop for new clothes and school supplies for your kids. You make arrangements for them to safely travel to and from school each day. You worry that they’ll fit in, make and keep good friends, and stay safe while you’re away from them each day.
Safety at school is important. And most schools take it very seriously. Most schools require you to fill out an emergency contact card to help them account for your child(ren) and react appropriately after a natural disaster or emergency. They prepare and conduct emergency drills with your kids. Most importantly, they stock emergency preparedness supplies and/or require your child to bring a school emergency kit.
But, what they can’t do for you is prepare a family plan. While many schools have strict rules to managing a crisis, history has told us that in major disasters, mayhem takes over. Communication can be spotty or non-existent. Cell towers are toppled or overloaded. Even trusty text messaging can fail.
A good family plan starts with at least two meeting places:
- Pick a simple obvious location at or near the school.
- Then, determine a backup location in case the school is inaccessible, too dangerous, or in complete disarray. Select a nearby park or a shopping center parking lot – an area free from buildings and distractions.
Everyone’s circumstances vary. How many kids you have, where you live and many other factors will affect your plan. What matters most is that you think it through and communicate it ahead of time to your family. “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” (Benjamin Franklin). Happy planning.
August 12, 2010
Yes, you read that title correctly. A recent study shows that relationships improve your odds of survival by a whopping 50%. The data comes from a study of 308,849 individuals, followed for an average of 7.5 years. Metaphorically speaking, that’s just as important as the items you choose to include in your emergency survival kits.
Of course, most of us can relate to our own families, but relationships are not limited to family ties. They extend to friends, colleagues, neighbors and members of our communities. Professor Holt-Lunstad, one of the authors of the study, says “when someone is connected to a group and feels responsibility for other people, that sense of purpose and meaning translates to taking better care of themselves and taking fewer risks.”
To help illustrate the impact of the findings, the study listed these examples of how low social interaction compares to more commonly known risk factors:
- Equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day
- Equivalent to being an alcoholic
- Twice as harmful as obesity
So what does this all mean for my family and I?
Reaching out and socializing more often with friends, neighbors and community members gives us:
- more purpose to live
- a larger physical support system when emergencies strike
- a stronger emotional support system in the aftermath of a disaster
So, invite your close extended family members over for dinner more often, say “hi” to that quiet neighbor across the way, and introduce yourself to another parent on your child’s soccer team. You just might live longer. And you’ll be thankful for the extra helping hands when you’re faced with an emergency.
February 9, 2010
While the responsibility should rest on your employer to take care of you in the aftermath of an emergency, most are unprepared or have miscalculated the needs. In other words, don’t count on it.
So if you agree it’s a good idea to be prepared at work, where do you start?
- Start first by understanding what your employer has planned. Ask the “man” for his plan. Some businesses are required by law (OSHA) to have an emergency action plan. This usually includes an evacuation plan, designated meeting places and safe areas, communication procedures, and more.
- Next, find out what emergency supplies are readily available. Hit up HR or your boss with questions like:
- Do we have an emergency office kit? Where?
- How much water and food do we have in case of an emergency?
- How often is it replenished or reviewed?
- Finally, take matters into your own hands. Even if you’re employer appears to be prepared, consider having your own plan and supplies. If you’re one of approximately 80% of Americans who drive to work, ensure you have a car survival kit (like we covered in this post about survival in your car). This is quite appropriate if you’re job requires heavy driving. But even if you’re cooped up in a cubicle all day, your car will be within walking distance after a disaster.
Office Survival Kit Example
Most of us spend 30-40% of our “awake” time each week at work. We labor nearly 1/3 of our lives. So next time you’re taking a break at the water cooler, give this topic a little more thought. It just might save your life.
December 23, 2009
Emergencies, disasters, and accidents happen when you least expect them. This is no surprise to most of us. But what may surprise you is that the average American spends more than two hours per day in the car. That equates to more than 10% of your daily schedule. If you commute to work, shuttle kids around all day, or work in a field that requires frequent travel, you are likely spending even more time behind the wheel.
Below are ten items (in no particular order) you should have in your car at all times to be prepared:
- water (or water filtration bottle)
- food
- blanket (or survival sleeping bag)
- flashlight
- radio (hand-crank radio if possible)
- cash (small bills)
- waterproof matches (or lighter)
- distress signal (whistle or signal mirror)
- walking shoes
- first-aid kit
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