Disaster Planning - Are you ready?

With the number of hurricanes marching down on the Gulf and Southeast I started thinking it was time to review our Disaster Planning. Since I am a firefighter and had my first home in the middle of earthquake country, this was something we always did. Everyone should give some thought to the type of disaster they have and how to prepare. A little bit of thought and preparate will go a long way to helping you help yourself. Please, please don't depend on fire, police, national guard or FEMA to come rescue you. All these services get inundated with requests that they must prioritize. During a disaster you must decided whether you need to shelter in place or evacuate. This is best decided way before the storm hits.

What Shelter-in-Place Means:
You are going to stay in your home and ride it out. This assumes that your home's construction is solid enough to withstand the event. Your home should also have a "last refuge" which is usually a small, interior room, with no or few windows. If you are going to shelter-in-place then you should also have food, water and medications for at least 5 days.


Evacuate:
The obvious method is by car and its fairly simple to throw everything you need into the SUV but what if the road is out or the traffic is backed up so long that you run out of gas? You need to be prepared to move on foot during an evacuation. Every family member should have there own backpack with their own items including some food and water. In addition you may want a rolling bag with food, water, bedding etc. If you have a pet you also have to think about food for them.

    *   Medical supplies: prescription medications and dentures.
    * Disaster supplies: flashlight, batteries, radio, first aid kit, bottled water
    * Clothing and bedding: a change of clothes and a sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow for each household member
    * Car keys and keys to the place you may be going (friend's or relative's home)

Since you are leaving your home don't forget about important papers:
    *  Driver's license or personal identification
    * Social Security card
    * Proof of residence (deed or lease)
    * Insurance policies
    * Birth and marriage certificates
    * Stocks, bonds, and other negotiable certificates
    * Wills, deeds, and copies of recent tax returns

A little thought and preparation goes a long way in a disaster. We all saw the Katrina pictures of the folks who were caught in the middle of it. However the majority of the people who did evacuate early on did it safely and without incident. The news usually doesn't focus on those prepared because its not news.

Here are some links you might find helpful

Pacific Crest Disaster Planning

The Lists you need for Disasters

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections

NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764