Prepare |

Prepare

How prepared do you feel?

Here are a few questions that act as a gentle reminder to work on becoming prepared physically and emotionally in the event of an emergency.
1. Do you feel prepared?
2. Do you know how to find the emergency broadcasting channel on the radio?
3. In the past 30 days, have you seen ore heard any messages that encourage people to take steps to be prepared for emergency situations in your community?
4. In the last year, have you prepared a Disaster Supply Kit with emergency supplies like water, food and medicine that is kept in a designated place in your home?
5. In the last year, have you prepared a small kit with emergency supplies that you keep as home, in your car or where you work to take with you if you had to leave quickly?
6. In the last year, have you made a specific plan for how you and your family would communicate in an emergency situation if you were separated?
7. In the last year, have you established a specific meeting place to reunie ni the event you and your family cannot return home or are evacuated?
8. In the last year, have you practiced or drilled on what to do in an emergency at home?
9. In the last year, have you volunteered to help prepare for or respond to a major emergency?
10. Have you taken first aid training such as CPR in the past five years?———————————-

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Basic Sanitation

(from yourfamilyark.org)

The leading cause of illness and death in both natural and man made disasters is inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene practice, and contaminated and insufficient water supplies. Sanitation includes human waste, bodies, solid waste (trash, scraps, etc.), and liquid waste (produced by cooking and washing, etc.). Untreated raw sewage can pollute fresh ground water supplies, attract flies, and promote the spread of disease. It may not be fun to think about, but it is vitally important to your family’s survival.

In a disaster, water and sewer lines may be damaged. Sewer treatment plants may become inoperable and you may be prohibited from flushing toilets or using drains even if you still have water. Be prepared to function for a week or more without using a traditional toilet. Even if you have a septic tank, develop a backup plan in case it is damaged or you are required to evacuate. Our faithful garbage men may not be available for weeks. Be prepared to store garbage appropriately.

Remember that when a crisis occurs normal routines are disrupted. Fear, anxiety, illness, and changes in diet may adversely impact normal bodily functions. Prepare for sick family members who may be vomiting and suffering with diarrhea. Store extra supplies to maintain cleanliness and personal hygiene.

Some beginning tips:

Don’t think of your food storage as separate from your pantry–store what you eat, eat what you store.
Learn how to use whole foods–make your own mixes without additives
Calculate what you use now.
Learn the best ways to buy foods in bulk

Simply Living Smart

Water Storage Guidelines

Commercially bottled water in PETE plastic containers may be purchased. Follow the container’s “best if used by” dates as a rotation guideline. Avoid plastic containers that are not PETE plastic.

If you choose to package water yourself, consider the following guidelines:

Containers

Use only food-grade containers. Smaller containers made of PETE plastic or heavier plastic buckets or drums work well.
Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use. A sanitizing solution can be prepared by adding 1 teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach to one quart of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.
Do not use plastic milk jugs, because they do not seal well and tend to become brittle over time.
Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.

Water Pretreatment

Water from a chlorinated municipal water supply does not need further treatment when stored in clean, food-grade containers.
Non-chlorinated water should be treated with bleach. Add 1/8 of a teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach for every gallon of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

Storage

Containers should be emptied and refilled regularly.
Store water only where potential leakage would not damage your home or apartment.
Protect stored water from light and heat. Some containers may also require protection from freezing.
The taste of stored water can be improved by pouring it back and forth between two containers before use.

Additional Information

Note: The following links are provided as additional resource material:

www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/water

www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html

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