Planning for an emergency can seem overwhelming, so the “Do1Thing” nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to making emergency preparedness more doable. It breaks it down to taking one small, easy step per month toward improving your emergency preparedness.
Planning for an emergency can seem overwhelming, so the “Do1Thing” nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to making emergency preparedness more doable. It breaks it down to taking one small, easy step per month toward improving your emergency preparedness.
According to federal data, only 48% of people have a plan if an emergency strikes.
But there are plenty of resources and step-by-step guides available to help you get started. A comprehensive guide can be found at www.ready.gov/plan.
“Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area,” the website states. “Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.”
Key steps are planning for emergencies and building an emergency kit.
Planning includes things like:
1. How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
2. What is my shelter plan?
3. What is my evacuation route?
4. What is my family/household communication plan?
5. Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit?
While planning, keep in mind:
• Different ages of members within your household
• Responsibilities for assisting others
• Locations frequented
• Dietary needs
• Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
• Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
• Languages spoken
• Cultural and religious considerations
• Pets or service animals
• Households with school-aged children
The second step is creating an emergency kit. Basic supplies should include:
• Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
• Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
• Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape (to shelter in place)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
• Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
• Manual can opener (for food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery
Additional considerations: Medications, hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes, baby or pet supplies, cash, important documents, extra clothes, sleeping bags.
Planning can seem overwhelming, so the “Do1Thing” nonprofit organization has dedicated itself to making emergency preparedness more doable. It breaks it down to taking one small, easy step per month toward improving your emergency preparedness.
This story originally appeared in “Fire in the Gorge: Emergency Preparedness,” a special publication of Columbia Gorge News with presenting sponsor Washington Department of Natural Resources.
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