By Janine Hansen
· EMERGENCY KIT: The Red Cross has an excellent pamphlet entitled “Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit” for a 3-day emergency kit for home and car. See www.redcross.org or call the local office.
· WATER: The most important consideration in preparedness is water. You should have a minimum emergency supply of 1 gallon per person per day for two weeks for drinking and other purposes. Use food grade containers like soda pop & juice bottles to store water. Store unscented Clorox or other water purifiers. Label all containers by content and date.
· SANITATION: If the water is not running what sanitation arrangements have you made? You should have disinfectant, a port-a-potty, baby wipes to clean your hands, extra underwear and socks, water for washing dishes, plastic garbage bags for disposing of wastes, and plenty of disposable/or regular diapers and plastic pants. Toilet paper is always at a premium during disaster situations. Store plenty of water for short and long term. Consider keeping old phone books for sanitation use. They’re free and better than nothing.
· FOOD: You should have food in the initial stages of an emergency that does not have to be cooked. Store things you will eat. Long-term storage should include bulk grains, beans, powdered milk, cooking oil, salt, sugar or honey and dehydrated foods. Learn how to use them. If you store wheat you need a non-electric grinder. Date all storage.
· HEALTH: You should have extra prescription medicines on hand, an emergency first aid kit, extra supplies and some knowledge of first aid. Extra vitamin C and multi-vitamins, herbs and natural remedies may prove useful. Does your family have special needs, like an infant or an elderly?
· ELECTRICITY: Consider what you would do if you had no electricity. You need flashlights with extra batteries. Consider a solar battery re-charger. You should have alternative sources of heat, light, and cooking. Fire places, wood stoves, kerosene heaters and lanterns, candles, camp stoves are possibilities. Have fuel and matches on hand. Kerosene stores well for several years. A kerosene lantern will work for 5 hours a day, for one year on 12 gallons of kerosene. Solar and battery lanterns work well.
· COMMUNICATIONS: You need a radio preferably that has battery, solar, and hand crank power possibilities. You need a plan to get in touch with your family. See Red Cross pamphlet “Your Family Disaster Plan.”
· CLOTHING & SHOES: In a disaster you may need special clothing like, ponchos, boots, extra socks, underwear, and warm coats. If you are considering long-term preparedness ask yourself, “Could I get along for a year on the clothing I have? Most adults could get by with just a few extras, but what about growing children. Consider getting bigger sizes they can grow into at garage and rummage sales and thrift stores. If you have a baby you’ll need cloth diapers, pins and plastic pants.
· SHELTER: In case of an earthquake or other disaster you may need a tent sufficient for a temporary shelter. The Japanese spent literally months in makeshift tents after the Kobe earthquake. You should have at least 3 extra blankets per person or a good sleeping bag and pad.
· MONEY: During the Northridge quake in Los Angeles the banks, ATM’s, and stores were closed for at least 3 days. You need to have cash on hand in small denominations and lots of change. Consider what you would do if the disaster lasts longer than a few days or a bank holiday is declared.