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Emergency Preparedness Should Not Be a Disaster

Posted: Thursday, July 10, 2008

by Lorrie Streeter
Survival Street

Natural disasters (or acts of nature) are considered to be the consequence of a natural hazard which affects human activities. They are termed a disaster if they cause financial, environmental or human loss due to lack of planning or lack of appropriate emergency management.

Acts of nature come in many varied forms. Land movement diasters include avalanches, earthquakes, lahars, landslides, mudflows and volcanic eruptions. Blizzards, droughts, hailstorms, heat waves and cyclonic storms (incuding hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons) are all considered to be water disasters. Other disaster situations include fire, health and disease (including epidemics and famine), and space (impact events and solar flares).

Natural disasters are often related. Drought can lead to famine and disease, tsunamis are caused by earhquakes under the ocean, and volcanic eruptions can result in lahars and fires ravaging the land. All of these natural disasters can cause environmental emergencies. They can strike quickly and without warning. They can force you to evacuate your neighbourhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services--water, gas, electricity or telephones--were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.

Emergency management or disaster management involves preparing for a disaster before it happens. You cannot put an emergency on hold. Effective emergency preparation relies on a well thought out plan of action that will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency situation. Every household, school and business needs an Emergency Plan.

As part of your emergency plan you should consider the following guidelines:

Safe exits from your home, school, place of business and neighborhood
Meeting places to reunite with family members, roommates, colleagues, etc.
A designated person to pick up your children if you are unable to do so
A place for your pet(s) to stay
Contact person(s) close by and out-of-town
Pertinent health information for you, your family and pet(s)
Location of fire extinguishers, water and gas shut-off valves, electrical box and floor drain
Possible risks in your area

What you have on hand when a disaster happens could make the difference between surviving or not surviving the emergency. Plan to store enough supplies for everyone in your household for at least 72 hours (3 days). It is important to have an emergency survival kit that contains all the products families (schools or businesses) would need to comfortably stand firm against an emergency situation. Emergency kits should be kept in the home (near the front door if possible), car and workplace for unexpected emergencies such as power outages, break downs, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, earthquakes and other potential disasters.

Some items to consider for your survival kit should include:

easy-carry backpack or duffel bag
emergency food and water for 72 hours (3 days)
first aid kit, medications (if required)
flashlight(s) and batteries, emergency whistle
heavy-duty leather work gloves, disposable vinyl gloves
FM radio and batteries or crank radio (no batteries required)
tooth paste and toothbrush (one per person)
disposable razors (double-blade), antibacterial deodorant soap
paper tissues and toilet paper rolls, terry towel(s)
multi-purpose scissors, note pad(s) with pencil(s) and pencil sharpener
rain poncho(s), tube-tent, emergency blanket(s) to retain body heat
camping stove - can also be used as heat-source
waterproof matches
pocket warmers, comfortable shoes, extra clothing
some extra cash

By having a minimum of the suggested 72-hour (3 day) supply of food, water, first aid, shelter and other survival gear in your disaster preparedness kit, you will be able to take care of yourself and your family in an emergency situation.

Lorrie Streeter, the lead partner in http:www.SurvivalStreet.com, a website offering high quality emergency survival kits, gear and information, has been involved in Emergency Preparednessfor over 25 years. She originally became interested and involved in it through a program offered by her church.

Mrs. Streeter, desiring to raise her family in a safe environment, realized the need for emergency survival preparedness when she was first introduced to the idea. When health issues demanded she quit her job outside of her home, an internet business involving emergency preparedness seemed to be a perfect fit for her. So Survival Street was born.

Lorrie's motto: Be Prepared - Before Disaster Strikes! - is one she continually strives to live by. Through her website http://www.SurvivalStreet.com Lorrie continues to assist others in achieving this same goal.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)

» left by Sandra E. Graham
3 years 214 days ago.
247 fans.

Informative article. Great advice and suggestions. Well written and easy to read. Thanks for Sharing. Sandra

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