The simplest thing to do is have awareness of your local situation. Disaster response always starts locally and involves the Federal government if necessary.
Basic Preparedness Checklist
- What would you need if you had no cell phone and no power?
- What would you need to keep your family safe and comfortable for several days without amenities?
- Can you remember the phone numbers of your family members without your cell phone directory?
- Do you have a meeting place in case of emergency that everyone in your family knows?
- Do your children know your full name and street address?
- Do you have an evacuation plan and a paper map?
- Does your car have a spare tire and a full tank of gas?
- water-tight, sealed plastic bag with important documents
- 3-day supply of foods that don’t require refrigeration or cooking
- 2 gallons of drinking water per family member per day
- first aid supplies
- 7- to 14-day supply of medications
- hygiene items
- comfort items
- clean air supplies like an N-95 mask fitted to you
- plastic sheeting & duct tape
- flashlight
- portable radio powered by batteries or hand crank
- whistle
- cell phone chargers
- basic tools
- supplies for special needs in your family
Local response teams always collaborate with local news affiliates. Check your local radio and television stations. FEMA and the National Reserve will find you if the disaster is big enough. News stations will tell you where to go if you need help.
Join your local medical reserve corps if you want to volunteer during an incident. You will be trained for free and able to respond if you like. You’ll also be in the know about local disasters.
Listen as Dr. Julie Martellini joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how you can be ready if disaster strikes.
Resources
knowwhat2do.com
www.ready.gov
www.redcross.org
Dr. Julie Martellini obtained her doctorate of biomedical sciences from the University of Central Florida's college of medicine.