With some hurricanes running around the Caribbean/Gulf/Atlantic, I'm reminded about emergencies not only during natural disasters, but on a smaller scale that might affect just one's own home.

Do you know where the utility shutoffs are for your home? Your main electric panel, subpanels, and the main electrical circuit breaker? The main gas shutoff valve and any secondary shutoff valves at the water heater, furnace, gas fireplace, and gas cooktop/oven/range? How about the main water shutoff valve (usually at the street curb) and the secondary shutoff valves for the sinks, toilets, water heater, as possibly one located in the garage or at an exterior hose bib?

Do you have a working fire extinguisher readily accessible?

Do you have a list of numbers to call in the event of an emergency (doctor, poison control center, utility company, plumber, electrician, etc.)?

Do you have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in your home?

Lastly, and perhaps most important, do you have an evacuation plan, including from your home, from your neighborhood, and, in some cases, from your city and state? If your family is separated, does everyone have phone numbers for everyone else? Do you have a meeting place set up? If phones are not working, do you have a way to contact other relatives to let them know where you are and that you are safe?

Planning now, before an emergency hits, can help prevent a lot of street and heartache if it does.

 

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Post is included in group: Everything California
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3 Comments on Are you prepared for an emergency?

AUG
30
2008
111,253 Points Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

The fire extinguisher is so basic, but there are so many houes that don't have them.
10:27am • #1
SEP
24
2008

Jim:    

More importantly than having some of the things you've already stated, most people do not have a kit together that will sustain them if they should need to leave their home.

I've been preparing and learning to be prepared all my life. We have always been taught that we need to have emergency kits readily available, including in our vehicles (24hr kit), and then the (72hr kits) in our homes, along with longer term storage that is rotated on a continual basis.

These kids include food, and water, along with a change of clothes, etc for each member of the family. They can be crammed into a large/med duffle bag and ready to go at a moments notice. If you should need to leave your home for an emergency what are you going to do? Most people dont think about that.

 

 
9:34am • #2
SEP
27
2008

we mentioned this in a meeting on Thursday of last week. It is so important and not happening. Thanks for the post.
9:15pm • #3


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