Emergency Preparedness

                                                     Emergency Preparedness - Article
The fact of the matter is that not one person knows just exactly are the specific problems that could eventually result during
a major and over all emergency. The best thing one could possibly due is make himself prepare for anything that could
happen. The following are some of the tips, advice and recommendation in order to amply prepare for an emergency. The
following are from the emergency service from the California office of the Red Cross.
Water is life, life is water: As much as possible, try to keep a water supply of a gallon for every person each day and one
that would be enough to go on for up to three to seven days.   Water should be kept in containers made of plastic. Also,
make sure that you also have filters and tablets for the purposes of purification ready and available when needed.
Store food for you and your family:   Food that is not as easily perishable should be stored for you and your family, and
such foods must be enough to last you, your family, as well as your pets, for three days up until one week. Examples of
such foods are canned goods, powdered juices, boxed vegetables and food.
Have an alterative: It is always a wise idea to have a cooking source that could serve as an alternative besides the usual
electric stove you may be used to. Having a ready barbecue stove or a propane stove on hand is the best recourse if in
case the electricity goes out or if gas becomes no longer available. However, if you are to utilize propane, ensure that the
tank is completely full and that an extra propane tank is also available.
Collect clothes: Have a ready and available stock of clothes for your kids and yourself as well as sleeping bags.
Collect wood: Having a steady supply of good wood is also a good idea as these could be used for those fireplaces or for
stoves that use wood for burning.
Have a light: A flashlight is the item that you simply could not do without especially during emergencies. Try to consider
using recharging through solar means as well as units that are cranked by hand. This is in order to avoid any future worries
on batteries.
Keep prescriptions: As much as possible, try to keep any prescriptions that you or your family member may have filled.
Also, try to maintain an added supply of medication both non-prescription and prescribed ones. Contact your healthcare
provider for any refill prescriptions in advance.
Have cash and some gas: Credit is good unless there is an emergency. Try to keep ready cash just in case the atm's fail
or the system of your bank is not working. Also, it is best if you keep the gas tank of your car half full. This is so to avoid
the long lines in gas stations.
Have books: During emergencies, it could be safe to have some books and some board games available to entertain
yourself during power failure.
Know thy neighbor: It is also better if you acquaint yourself with the neighbors you have in your area. There could be
instances wherein you may need each other's help if ever the basic services are some what interrupted.   All in all,
preparation is always the best cure against any unexpected circumstance that an emergency might bring.
                                          Prepare For A Flood The Best Way You Could
Believe it or not, floods are the natural disasters that is most common in America.   According to statistics, more than a
hundred people are killed by floods every year. Also, more than four billion dollars are the cost damages caused by floods.
All this is according to the Red Cross of the United States.
The following are few tips and advice you could do in order to prepare yourself for any flood inevitability.
Expect the expected - It is important that you clearly understand and that you are aware of any damages that a flood could
cause. Some of these in-evitabilities include boulders that are rolling, trees that are ripped right out from the ground,
buildings that are destroyed as well as bridges, sliding debris.
Do not be afraid to ask - It is also vital that you ask around your local zoning and planning office as to whether the property
you are on is below the level of the flood or above it. Also, it is always good to know if the area you are in has had a history
of being flooded. This knowledge helps a lot in the preparation of activities and tasks to do in case if a flood does hit.
Familiarize yourself - In your own community, it is best that you familiarize yourself in any or all of the warning signals or
signs whenever a flood does occur.
Learn, learn, learn - Know what are your community's plan for evacuation. This helps you prepare yourself as well as your
family and friends as on what to do as well as the step by step drill.
Have insurance - It helps if you have insurance that is tailored particularly when a flood occurs. Believe it or not, the
insurance usually associated with home owners will really not be able to reimburse any damages you may have that are
caused by floods.
Keep all vital documents - These documents include any policies for insurance, passports, birth certificates, etc.   All these
papers should – as much as possible – be kept in a box that is waterproof and one which could be accessed easily.
Move, move, move - If in case your fireplace, furnace, electricity panel or water heater is in the basement or 1st floor of your
house, you could consider moving it up the attic. In that way it will be a lot less probable for these to be damaged by raging
floodwaters.
Plug it all - Plugging all trap sewers you have in your house using check valves actually prevent any floodwater from going
into the drains of your house. During emergencies, using large stoppers or corks is also a good idea to plug tubs and sinks.
Check and build - Checking with the local codes of buildings is a good idea as this will let you know whether it is okay to
build walls for floods and to be used as barriers around your own house in order to prevent any floodwater from getting in
your premises.
Waterproof it all - In order to protect walls of basements, seal them using waterproof compounds so that floodwaters would
be unable to get in through any cracks.
Have a radio and some supplies - As much as possible, keep a radio that is operated by batteries if in case the power goes
off. Having supplies such as canned goods is a must as well as first aid kits. Do not forget a can opener of course.
All in all, preparation is always the best defense against floods.
                                                  Earthquake Emergency Preparedness
Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural disasters. What makes it more annihilating is the fact that there is no
precise way of predicting when an earthquake may occur. The most effective tactic to minimize the effects of earthquakes in
human lives is to make adequate earthquake emergency preparations. During an earthquake, you will feel the ground
shaking or rolling. If the movement of the Earth's crust is really violent, you might even hear the ground rumbling or roaring.
These earthquake characteristics may cause you to panic and eventually jeopardize your chance of survival. While strong
and devastating earthquakes seldom happen, even in places located in the Earth's ring of fire, it is imperative that you have
an emergency plan so that you and your family can stay safe. Here are a few pointers to remember to keep you prepared
for an earthquake.
Practice Makes Safety
The key to being safe during an earthquake is having quick reaction. As soon as the ground shakes violently, you should
know what to do as if by instincts. To be able to react fast during earthquakes, you must regularly conduct earthquake drills.
This will keep you on your feet when the real thing comes.
Plan Your Home Structure
If you are living in a place that is frequented by earthquakes, you must plan your home in such a way that it will not become
your deathbed. Use light materials for your home and provide ample exit ways to run to during emergencies. Collapsing
home and building materials commonly cause injuries and deaths during earthquakes; and to avoid this, you must make
sure that most of your home structure and appliances are not heavy enough to crush you. Make sure also that your place
has strong doorways or door frames; as statistically these places are the most likely places that can withstand earthquakes.
Fasten tall and heavy fixtures to the wall. And ensure that your cabinets have latches so that whatever they contain will not
fall out during an earthquake.
Plan For Everybody
Everybody in your office or home should know your emergency plan for an earthquake. Make sure that everybody
understands the procedures to perform whenever the big shaker happens. Coordination is an important survival aspect
particularly after the earthquake.
Know Your Place
Knowing where to run and hide for cover during an earthquake may save your life and limbs. Learn the safe spots of your
home or office. And practice going to these safe spots so that you can immediately react by going into these places during
an actual earthquake. Plan a meeting place for your officemates or family where all of you can gather yourselves up after an
earthquake.
Delegate Responsibilities
In your office or within your family, assign duties that everybody must perform during earthquakes. Earthquake preparation
should never be a one-man job. Your officemates and family members should be made to understand of what to do,
especially if you are not with them during an earthquake.
Have Emergency Kits On Standby
Finally, you must have a number of emergency kits ready in the office or at home. These kits must have the bare essentials
that can help preserve life during emergencies. From drinking water, food, to first aid materials, your emergency kits will be
your lifelines. Make sure that everybody knows where these emergency kits are kept.
                                                     Hurricane Emergency Preparedness
There is nothing anyone can do when nature decides to leash out its fury. There is no way to stop it so people should brace
for the worse and seek shelter. In order to minimize the loss of life, most towns and cities have created emergency plans.
Sirens are placed in strategic locations to announce a major evacuation; the emergency broadcast system is in place in the
event that power and electricity has been cut off as well as stockpiles of food, water and medicine. Those who live in the
coastal communities will usually be battered by hurricanes. This happens between the months of June until November in the
Atlantic and from May to November in the northern Pacific Ocean. When this is first spotted on radar, the forecaster will
already inform the public about it. There is no need yet to panic here since the weather conditions may change in the next
few hours but if there are no improvements, it is time to activate emergency procedures.
The hurricane may pack winds exceeding more than a 100 miles per hour that can make cars, pieces of metal or wood
cause severe damage to the home. Households can board up the windows and doors of the house with hurricane shutters
and plywood.
People will rush to the supermarket to stock up on food, water and other essentials. These include candles, batteries for the
radio and the flashlight as well as fuel for the generator. All of these things are necessary especially water to prevent
dehydration so every possible container must be used including the bathtub.
The most important which must never be forgotten is a medical kit. This should have bandages and some antibiotics to be
able to treat anyone who is ill or injured until the person can be brought out to a medical facility for better treatment.
Should the incoming hurricane be classified as a category 4 or 5, residents are advised to evacuate and seek higher
ground. It will be a good idea to travel light so only a few pieces of clothing, food and water must be brought into the vehicle.
The citizens are also advised to drive slowly and avoid panicking since this could cause accidents on the road.
The hurricane will pass within a few hours. This is the only time that people will be able to go out or return to see how much
damage was done. It is only after assessing the damage that towns and cities can say whether the emergency
preparedness procedures that were sent in place were effective or not. One indication that it works is if no casualties are
reported. This is because a house or even a building can be repaired but the life of an individual can never be replaced.
The people who live in the household can rehearse the emergency preparedness plan to see if some improvements need to
be made. This is because time is off the essence in order to be safe in this type of crisis.

Emergency preparedness is key to ensure the survival of everyone present. People who live through this annually know
what to do but those who are moving into the community should learn fast to be able to survive the onslaught of the
hurricane.
                                             The Imperfect Storm: Emergency Preparations
If you live in a storm-prone area, you should be used by now on what to do, where to go and what to have to be prepared
for bad weather. However, if you're not used to getting pummeled by high winds and hard rain, you probably don't have an
idea how best to face a storm situation. For starters, storms do not just come without a warning. Weather stations monitor
the atmosphere day in and day out. If a storm is possible, they will issue two types of warnings:
Storm watch – is issued when there is a possible storm in your area. You probably will be experiencing a dark, cloudy sky,
an unusually windy day and some rain. The storm may or may not come, but this is the time to keep tuned to your local
radio for news and updates.
Storm warning – is issued when a storm is headed toward your area. Try to stay indoors as much as possible. Or if
residents are advised to evacuate to a safer place, go as early as you can. Don't wait until the last minute to leave your
house. By that time, the streets could be flooded and traffic is bad. You don't want to be caught in your car in bad weather.
Blizzard – usually occurs in winter and means heavy snow, strong winds and wind chill. When a warning is issued, avoid
traveling as much as possible and stay indoors. There is no use exposing yourself outdoors where you could get trapped in
traffic or in locations where you will be difficult to reach or worse, find.
For all our technology, no one can stop a storm from coming. The only way to survive it is to be prepared to face the
emergency. Things don't always go bad during storms, but weather is unpredictable and anything can happen. To help
you prepare for a storm emergency, here are a few tips:
Dress up. Wear enough clothes to keep yourself warm. Heat may not be available in your house so get extra coats and
blankets to maintain your body temperature sufficiently. Have your mittens, gloves, hats, socks and boots ready as well.
Have food ready. Emergency provisions are a must during storm emergencies. Make sure you stock on no-cook food,
canned food, some candy and other non-perishable items. And don't forget can openers, scissors or utensils. If the storm
gets too bad and the streets are flooded, you will have a difficulty going out to the grocery shops. Besides, stores might be
closed.
Keep bottles of water handy. Clean water may be hard to come by during really bad conditions and the worst thing you can
do is suffer from dehydration because you were not prepared. Keep a supply of at least one gallon for every person per
day that will last for 3 to 4 days.
Fill the tub. You'll need more water for washing and flushing the toilets. When the power is out, your water pump won't
operate, so best fill your bath tub, water containers and pails with water. If you have small children in the house, take
precautions by covering deep containers and keeping children away from the bathroom unless necessary.
Emergency kit.   Have a medical or first kit ready and make sure it's freshly-stocked. It should contain disinfectants, gauzes,
cotton balls, Q-tips, medicated plasters and necessary medicines. It's also a good idea to have another kit in your car.
If anyone in your family is under special medication, make sure you have enough supplies to last until after the storm is over
and drug stores are open.
Lights off. Expect power outages during storm emergencies. You won't have any electricity, so stock on candles, flashlights
and emergency lights. Have extra fresh batteries and matches in case you run out. If you can't turn on the TV, have a
battery-powered radio tuned in to a station that covers your area. Media will monitor the storm and will keep you updated.
You might need hot water during the period when power is not yet available, so keep a small tank of gas around just in
case. Your outdoor gas grill will do nicely.
Get an alternate shelter. If you think your house will suffer considerably, it's a good idea to consider an alternate shelter. It
could be an evacuation center or another house or building that is safer. Make sure you have enough gas in your tank in
case you need to get out of the house and move someplace. Keep to a higher ground where you have better chances of
being safe and dry.
                                                      Tornado Emergency Preparedness
Every year, weather disturbances wreak havoc in different parts of the world. In the coastal communities of the United
States, residents will often experience hurricanes. In the northern areas, snowstorms and blizzards. But in the continental
plains, there are tornadoes.
What is a tornado? This is a act of nature where a funnel of spiraling air comes out of nowhere and tears anything in its
path. Most of these are a half kilometer wide and will disappear almost immediately just like how it popped into the air.
Unfortunately, weather forecasters are not able to predict when this will happen. These move similarly to hurricanes and
when one appears, people should hunker down and wait till its over. Before that happens, here are some tips that can aid
in tornado emergency preparation.
1. People who live in tornado prone areas should have a silo built a few feet under the ground. Studies have shown that this
natural calamity can easily destroy the home so this is the best place to stay when disaster strikes.
2. The silo should have an amply supply of food, water, medicine and other necessities. It will take time to rebuild everything
if the home sustained a direct hit and insurance companies won't shoulder the repairs.
3. There may not be time to run to the silo if the tornado suddenly appears. When this happens, the person should find a
place to hide until it is safe to come out. Family members who are separated must go to the assigned meeting place and wait
there until the other members arrive.
4. The best way to recover from this will be to have hidden stash of money at home or in the bank at all times. Some call this
the emergency fund and this will be one of those times that victims will be happy knowing that everything will be all right.
5. The community will probably not have power, water and communication with the outside world if all the lines went down.
Having a portable radio and a set of batteries will keep the people informed of what is happening outside since emergency
services will also be out to assess the damage.
6. If the parents are not home and the tornado strikes, someone must be designated as the leader until the elders get back.
This individual must be ready to handle the situation and make sure that everyone stays together until help arrives.
7. The family should also hold tornado drills so everyone will know what to do when it happens. Setting a standard like going
into the silo in less than 5 minutes will help prepare everyone for the real thing.

The tips mentioned regarding tornado emergency preparation should be taken seriously because this can happen at
anytime. It is better to be prepared than caught unaware of what is going on which could mean someone getting injured or
even killed. There is no way to escape a tornado should the home be directly in its path. Everyone should just stay inside
the silo and wait until the all-clear signal has been given for everyone to come out. Afterwards, this is the time to try and get
in touch with those that are not home to make sure he or she is all right.
                                               Preparing Your Family For Fire Emergencies
Hundreds of people die every year because of fire-related incidents, especially during the Christmas season. Thus, it is very
important for us to be prepared for such emergencies. Each member of our family should know what to do in case of fire.
More importantly, all of us need to know what to do to prevent fire.
Plan Ahead
One of the most important things that parents forget to teach their children is to prepare for emergencies, such as fire. Even
at a young age, children should already be taught how to prevent fire and what to do in case there is fire. Fire drills have
often been conducted in buildings and schools to help prepare building occupants and students in case of fire, so why can't
you have a fire drill in your home? The first step is to check your house for possible fire exits. See if the windows and doors
in your house are big and tall enough to be used as possible fire exits. Make a floor plan for each room, ensuring that there
are at least two ways to get out of the room to escape fire. In making the floor plan, you need to include crucial details, such
as stairs, windows and hallways. After devising a floor plan, you should meet your children and discuss your fire escape
plan. You should also make sure that your family has devised a way of warning other members of fire, such as bells, door
tapping, etc. It would be best if each bedroom of your house has a flash light and a bell. Lastly, select a safe place outside
the house where everyone will go after escaping the fire.
Preparing your family for fire emergencies
It is wise to act out your evacuation plan with the whole family. Teach your children how to stay close to the ground while
escaping and is possible, let them memorize the way. Sometimes, the smoke caused by fire would make it very difficult to
see the way, so it would really be wise if you and children know the way by heart. You and your children should also know
that during fire, you should feel the door first before opening it. You should not open the door if it is hot. Instead, find
another way you could escape your room or house. If the clothes of your children or any family member catch fire, tell them
to fall to the ground and roll. This will help extinguish the fire.
Make your house safe from fire
Make sure that emergency numbers are placed near telephones. Such numbers should always be accessible and visible so
that you can call authorities immediately when a fire breaks out. You should also ensure that smoke detectors are installed
in key places in your house. Once smoke detectors are installed, you should check their batteries once in a while. Usually,
the batteries of smoke detectors should be changed yearly. Place fire extinguishers in key locations. If your house has
several floors, ensure that there is at least one fire extinguisher per floor. It would really be best if smoking is prohibited
inside the house because many incidences of fire are caused by improperly discarded cigarettes. However, if smoking
cannot be helped, make sure that nobody smokes in the bed. Furthermore, let everyone know how to properly discard
cigarette butts.
No matter how many times you have taught your children that matches and lighters are dangerous, some will still play with
them. Thus, it is advisable to keep all lighters and matches in places that your children cannot access. If possible, put them
in locked drawers or cabinets.
                                                    Tsunami Emergency Preparation
In 2004, a tsunami swept over certain parts of Southeast Asia, which extended up to Africa. More than 200,000 people
perished with some bodies never identified or recovered. The incident is not the first but one of many that have happened
over the centuries. It is not only in the Pacific but also in the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, which makes it everyone's
concern. History shows that tsunamis have occurred dating from 1600 B.C until the present with the latest in July that killed
more than 600 people in the island of Indonesia.
Until now, the exact location where tsunamis will strike cannot yet be predicted. Once an underground earthquake occurs,
an alert is sent to coastal communities that something could go in that direction. Since the Pacific is known throughout the
world as the ring of fire due to the numerous underwater volcanoes, it is only right that a tsunami emergency alert system is
in place to prepare people for the worse.
The tragic event that took place almost two years ago never had such a system. It was only after that regional governments
decided to come up with one to prevent it from happening again.
The alert system is made up of four things. This is namely information, advisory, watch and warning.
When an underground earthquake has been detected, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii will issue the
news to the countries in the region. Since the impact is not yet known, an advisory will be sent about possible areas that will
be hit. There is a saying that goes, " it is better to be safe than sorry." The prediction may not happen but this is better than
having a lot of casualties because the no warning was reported. The after effects of the underwater earthquake may take
hours but everyone knows that the tsunami is coming. This is the time that people in the coastal communities should watch
over the water. If it recedes, then a warning will be given to everyone that a mandatory evacuation must begin.
A siren is usually used to inform everyone. This will sound at different times starting from three hours before impact until half
an hour before the tidal waves are supposed to hit the beach. During this time, residents should already begin moving out
of the danger zone. People can go deeper inland or run to the hills. It will be a good idea to bring water, food and clothing.
Packing a light transistor radio will also be helpful to be able to stay informed when it is safe to come down.
The tsunami emergency preparation does not end when the reports predict that it is on the way. People will still be there
monitoring the situation to issue a warning cancellation if nothing happened or if it is safe to return.
Countries that live in the Pacific Rim of Fire must coordinate with each other to minimize the loss of life. This is because it is
much easier to rebuild and impossible to replace someone who died. Community leaders should hold exercises to time how
long it takes to evacuate the area so that everyone will be ready when the real thing hits the shores. A headcount can be
done to find out if there are any people still missing should the inevitable strike.
                                                          War Emergency Preparation
During the height of the cold war, the government made various programs to prepare its citizens for a nuclear holocaust.
This included making bomb shelters hundreds of feet from the ground as well as teaching children to stay under the table in
the event of an attack. In 1989, the Cold War ended and this is no longer considered as a threat. Unfortunately, after 9/11,
America is facing a new enemy. It is no longer a country that has a vast army capable of invading another nation. This foe is
now fighting a guerilla war by conducting terrorist attacks both here and abroad.
There has not been a major strike on US soil since September 11th 2001, also known as 9/11.
The intelligence communities of various nations have foiled such attempts even though there have been attempts such as
unique plans to bomb transatlantic flights from various countries around the world..

Can anything be done to prepare for the next world war? Preventing the next biggest conflict is difficult but not impossible.
Thermonuclear is just one way an attack will be carried out but the use of chemical and biological weapons is a bigger
threat. Many people may perish but following some tips for war emergency preparation may ensure the person's survival.
1. People go to the supermarket each week to replenish the food that was consumed. It wouldn't hurt to buy a few extra
canned goods every so often because it will not spoil until it is opened.
2. Aside from food, having an amply supply of drinkable water will prevent dehydration. Plastic jugs can be purchased from
the supermarket but if it is unsafe to go out, the people will have to get this from the faucet. It will be a good idea to add a
purification tablet and boil this first to make sure it is safe to drink.
3. Having a first aid kit is always useful to treat wounds. The individual should check that it is complete at all times because
no one can tell when this will be needed.
4. If people have to evacuate, it will be a good idea to bring food, water, a few extra clothes, flashlight, compass, matches,
candy and an identification card. Everything should be packed in a backpack so everyone can move quickly to the nearest
evacuation center.
5. The last tip for war emergency preparation is to be familiar with the disaster plans that have been made by the federal
government and city. Some states already have contingency plans in place. This has been announced on the Internet and
on television and if this should happen, people should stay calm and slowly evacuate.

The tips mentioned are not only useful in the event of war but also when faced with a hurricane, an earthquake or any other
natural calamity. This is because people who want to live through the crisis will do anything to see another day.

When the first plane crashed into the world trade center, everyone first thought it was an accident. As the second plane hit,
everyone knew it was something worse. There has not been a major conflict in over fifty years but it does not mean that
people are safe. There are elements in the world that want to do harm and people have to be prepared for it.