Over the last 12 months, our country has experienced more than normal flooding, tornadoes, wildfires, and hurricanes that have left hundreds of thousands of people stranded with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. The time for severe weather is once again approaching, so maybe we need to think about trying to prepare our families.
My family and I have lived through a house fire – one that incinerated everything we owned. We were at church at the time, so no one was hurt; however, I can’t begin to tell you the magnitude of the emotional problems devastation such as that causes a young family.
One memory that haunts me from that fateful night is one from my oldest son, as we stood on the street watching our house burn. My two boys and their dad were holding hands, and I was holding our 18 month-old youngest daughter. Only five years-old at the time, he turned and asked me, “Where are we going to sleep tonight? Our beds are burning.” We didn’t have so much as a toothbrush.
Well, we found a place to sleep (with all of the offers from friends and family), and we rose above the ashes of what was once our house and re-built our lives. But not without the help of insurance and incredibly helpful and kind neighbors and family.
However, not everyone gets through as blessed as my family. Some have no insurance. Some have no neighbors or family to help them because their homes have also been ravaged, such as with a tornado. Some struggle even worse with the loss of loved ones.
Having to regain your home life is a long and difficult process, both mentally and physically, and nothing you do today will make it easy to rebuild; however, you can make it “easier” with a bit of planning. And having a few personal items or medicine stored safely somewhere after a disaster can also give a sense of security, if just for a moment.
In the instance of a fire, if your house is totally engaged, then a supply of emergency items packed away somewhere isn’t going to help. However, you can always place a few items in an outdoor shed or in the console or trunk of your car. I would especially do this if there’s medicine someone takes on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be much– just enough to get through until a pharmacy can be contacted. This will also require you to keep the prescriptions rotated so they don’t expire.
You can usually find somewhere to store a few items– the attic, the garage, the outside shed, or a car – should you have an emergency. Look around your home and find the best place. Take into consideration all emergency events when locating the spot. Once you’ve found it, make sure every family member knows where it is, along with the survival plan.
Emergency preparedness isn’t only about supplies, but they are a big part of being ready when disaster strikes. According to www.ready.gov, the following is a list of essentials you should pack and store in a safe place. Check out their website for a more thoroughly planned emergency.
• Bottled water
• Non-perishable, low- or no-salt food items
• Can opener
• Clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, and a tent
• Toilet paper and baby wipes
• First aid kit
• Flashlights, a portable radio, and batteries
• Infant and pet supplies, if needed
• All medications
• Matches stored in a water-proof bag or box
• A battery-powered, or hand cranked, radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Cash
• Whistle to signal for help
• Also stock your car with an emergency supply of food and water, a first aid kit, jumper cables, flares, and blankets.
First Aid:
The following items can help stop bleeding, prevent infection, and assist in decontamination:
• Two pairs of sterile gloves
• Sterile dressings
• Cleansing agent, or soap, and antibiotic towelettes
• Antibiotic ointment
• Burn ointment
• Adhesive bandages in various sizes
• Eye wash solution
• Thermometer
• Prescription medications taken daily
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever