Where to go, how to plan for emergency situations.

Be more self-reliant. If nothing else Katrina should have taught us self-reliance by maintaining two weeks worth of supplies for ourselves in case of tsunami's, earthquakes, or other disasters (natural or man-made).

(These tips should not be considered a total list of what you may or may not need. They are in fact just helpful reminders to get you thinking about you and your family's well-being before a crisis occurs).



Emergency Tips:


1.Build an emergency kit and keep it in an easy-to-reach spot..

Medications, compact radio, a wind-up flashlight, blanket, non-perishable foods; and other such bare necessities. Most important is to make sure you build a kit that meets every family member's needs, then teach them where it is kept and when it's to be used.



2.Always have at least two weeks of needed medications/essentials on hand in your kit..

Remember to rotate the stock in your emergency kit so the medications, or other perishables don't expire. If you don't keep that amount on hand currently, ask your physician if increasing the amount in your prescription is reasonable and possible.



3.Stay Calm no matter what..

In an earthquake or tsunami, if the sirens go off and you don't feel the earth move, you probably have enough time to listen to the radio for reports. It is not necessary to call 911 to alert us about the issue (we most likely know) or ask what to do (See #4.). Listen for instructions on the radio or television, or if it makes you feel better about the situation, calmly head towards high protected ground and await instructions (remember the radio in your kit?). If you feel an earthquake, move calmly to the highest ground possible taking the minimum essentials with you. Remember, everyone else will be doing the same thing as you, so keeping order will make things run smoother and most likely save more lives.



4.Practice your escape plan; Practice, Practice, Practice..

Nothing's better than knowing what to do as a matter of routine; if you have other family members, make sure everyone knows what to do, who to look for and where to meet in case you get separated.

5.If you have Children or Adult Dependents..
Few things are worse than "If Only's"; For those family members that can't take care of themselves; are too young, have special needs or are in special care facilities, Ask your care providers, school representatives, even your baby sitter what their emergency plans are; their meeting places, provision plans, etc. That way you know where to find your family members and you also know those who care for your loved ones have a plan in place.