A Personal Disaster Plan: The First Step Toward Safety
The heart-wrenching images of disaster on the Gulf Coast, of towns leveled and citizens rescued from rooftops, remind us that no one is immune from catastrophe, whether man-made or natural. In California, risks include wild fires, mudslides, floods, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks, all of which can occur without warning. The “unexpected factor” of our threats may lead some people to feel that no amount of planning will matter. However, the unpredictability of crises is precisely why we must plan and be prepared before disaster strikes close to home. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina underscores the importance of having a personal plan to survive emergencies until help arrives.
All levels of government have the responsibility to coordinate an effective response to catastrophes of all kinds. As President Bush said about Hurricane Katrina, “The storm didn’t discriminate, and neither will the recovery efforts.” Yet to be properly prepared in the case of an emergency is to realize that our safety also depends on our own actions. Local, state and the federal government will make every effort to avert and respond to disaster, but even before they act, individuals have great control over their wellbeing.
Much as we stretch before we exercise, we should be prepared before disaster strikes. Hurricane Katrina and past emergencies have shown that every family needs its own evacuation plan that includes a meeting spot both close to home and farther away. We each need an emergency communication plan with a point of contact outside of the danger zone. It is also critical to know emergency procedures at our place of work and especially the procedures for our children at their schools.
Experts advise keeping copies of important personal records, such as social security cards, financial records, and passports in a safe place outside of our homes. As a general rule, we should have enough water and food on hand to survive for three days, figuring on one gallon of water per person per day. Food should be ready-to-eat, such as canned tuna fish, canned vegetables, or dried fruit. Also advised are foods high in protein and calories, such as energy bars, peanut butter or trail mix. Other essentials for seventy-two hours include necessary prescription medicine, a first aid kit, and flashlights with extra batteries. Planning ahead can prevent paperwork headaches and even save lives.
If this all sounds easy, it is. But we can’t let the simplicity of planning make us complacent. Government will remain vigilant and on-call, and so should all of us. Disaster preparedness is deadly serious. Many more details, specific guidelines, and tips can be found at these websites:
www.ready.gov
www.redcross.org
www.fema.gov/kids/
www.labt.org/media/
www.lacofd.org/PDF/EmergencyPreparednessTips.pdf
www.sbcfire.org/oes/disaster_links.asp
We can’t always predict disaster, but we can be prepared.
