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Emergency preparedness

Submitted by Rebecca Q. on Fri, 06/24/2011 - 8:48am

There has been a lot of news coverage of natural disasters over the last several months. Disasters like earthquakes, fires, and floods can be frightening and can cause damage and distress for those who experience them. Fortunately, there are steps we can all take to help prepare for natural disasters.

Having a plan and some basic supplies can help your family get through a disaster.

One part of a family emergency plan is to work out how family members will communicate in case they are not together during a disaster. It is a good idea to have an out of area contact person. This can be a friend or a relative – someone who doesn’t live in the area. If a disaster interferes with communication in the local area, family members will still be able to communicate with this out of area contact. At CPSC we have a sister school in New Jersey that acts as our out of area contact. If you don’t have one already, you can pick up a card with the contact information for this school at the front office.

During a disaster, cell phone networks may be disrupted. Text messages may be able to get through even if a phone call can’t, so consider using text messages to communicate with your family during a disaster.

Depending on the type of disaster, your family may need to evacuate, or you may need to stay indoors. Watch the news or listen to the radio for instructions.

You can prepare for the different possibilities by practicing what to do in different disasters. Consider the best routes out of your house in case of fire. Help children practice these routes, and where they should go to meet you once they are outside. Think about safe places in your house you could take shelter in case of an earthquake. One option is to get under a sturdy piece of furniture and to hold on to it. You can also crouch near an inside wall – make sure you aren’t near a window, a mirror, or other items that could fall on you. Help children learn what places are safe and to go to one of those places if there is an earthquake.

You can also put together some supplies to help your family get through a disaster, especially if it takes a little while for help to get to you. Here are some recommended supplies:

  • One gallon of water per person per day – enough for three days
  • Three day supply of non-perishable food for each person (remember a can opener if any of the food is canned)
  • Battery-powered or crank radio
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit, including a first aid book
  • Any prescription medications anyone in in your family might need
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Infant care supplies – diapers, formula, diaper wipes

    • Other supplies you might want:

  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask and plastic sheeting and duct tape in case of a shelter in place recommendation
  • Moist towelettes and plastic bags
  • If you have a pet, include food and water for the pet
  • Local maps
  • Copies of important documents, such as insurance policies, identification, bank records
  • Cash or traveler’s checks
  • Sleeping bags or warm blankets for each person
  • A change of clothing for each person
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches
  • Personal hygiene supplies
  • Plates, bowls, cups, utensils to eat with
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, and other activities for children

    • You can also put together a family disaster plan for each family member to carry. This can include family contact information, your out of area contact, and where family member s should meet if they are separated.

    For more information on preparedness and family disaster plan forms, you can visit www.ready.gov. They also have a section of their website that is designed to help children learn about how to prepare and what to do in case of disaster.