In a major disaster, it might be several days before vital services are restored.

The first thing that anyone who is getting ready to put a Preparedness program together needs one thing first... MAKE A PLAN!!..

A blueprint if you will of how and what you need where to get it and how to use it. I have done a little research and I have found some good ideas in various places..

The first part of your plan should be for you and your family...

Household/Family

Talk with your family about potential disasters and why it’s necessary to prepare for them. Involve each member of your family in the planning process. By showing them simple steps that can increase their safety, you can help reduce their anxiety about emergencies.

· Make sure everyone knows where to find your disaster supply kit and Go-bags.

· Have a flashlight and a pair of shoes under everyone’s bed in case there is an earthquake during the night. Use a plastic bag tied to the leg of the bed to keep these items from moving during an earthquake.

· Plan where to meet after a disaster if your home becomes unsafe. Choose two places, one just outside your home and one outside your neighborhood in case you are told to evacuate. Be sure your gas tank is always at least half full.

· Determine the best escape routes from your home. Try to identify two escape routes.

· Make sure each member knows who your family’s out-of-state contact is and instruct them to call this person and tell him/her where they are.

· Locate the gas main and other utilities and make sure family members know when and how to turn them off.

· Practice your evacuation routes, Drop, Cover & Hold and Stop, Drop & Roll drills.

· Teach each member of your family how to use a fire extinguisher.

· Create emergency response cards for each of your family members.

· Take into account the special needs of children, seniors or people with disabilities, family members that don’t speak English and pets.
Home Safety

During a disaster, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or damage. However, there are simple steps you can take to make your home safer. Start by viewing each room with a “disaster eye” and identify potential hazards – bookshelves that could tip over in an earthquake and block exits or heavy objects that could fall and cause injury.

· Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and change batteries every 6 months.

· Move beds away from windows.

· Move mirrors and heavy pictures away from couches or places where people sit.

· Clear hallways and exits for easy evacuation.

· Store heavy items on the lowest shelves.

· Keep an ABC type fire extinguishers on each level and know how and when to use them.

· Strap down your water heater and fit all gas appliances with a flexible gas supply line.

· Store flammable or highly reactive chemicals (such as bleach, ammonia, paint thinners) securely and separate from each other.

· Secure pictures and wall hangings and use restraints to secure heavy items such as bookcases and file cabinets.

· Know how and when to switch off your utilities.

· Ensure that all window safety bars have emergency releases.

· Be sure your home number is visible from the street so emergency vehicles can find you.

Children Plan:

· Include your children in family discussions and planning for emergency safety.

· Teach your children their basic personal information so they can identify themselves and get help if they become separated from a parent or guardian.

· Prepare an emergency card with information for each child, including his/her full name, address, phone number, parent’s work number and out of state contact.

· Know the policies of the school or daycare center your children attend. Make plans to have someone pick them up if you are unable to get to them.



· Regularly update your child’s school with current emergency contact information and persons authorized to pick up your child from school.

· Make sure each child knows the family’s alternate meeting sites if you are separated in a disaster and cannot return to your home.

· Make sure each child knows how to reach your family’s out-of-state contact person.

· Teach children to dial their home telephone number and Emergency 9-1-1.

· Teach children what gas smells like and advise them to tell an adult if they smell gas after an emergency.

· Warn children never to touch wires on poles or lying on the ground.

· Role-play with children to help them remain calm in emergencies and to practice basic emergency responses such as evacuation routes, Drop, Cover & Hold and Stop, Drop & Roll.

· Role-play with children as to what they should do if a parent is suddenly sick or injured.

· Role-play with children on what to say when calling Emergency 9-1-1.


Kit:

· Include a family picture and a favorite toy, game or book for each child in his/her Go-bag.

· Include your child’s emergency card and include information on reunification locations and out-of-area contact.

· Provide comfort food and treats for each child in your family disaster supplies kit.

· Keep a recent photo of your children in your Go-bag.


Pets Plan

· Keep a collar, current license and up-to date ID tags on your pet at all times. Consider having your pet micro-chipped.

· Make sure your pet is comfortable being in a crate, box, cage, or carrier for transport.

· Keep an updated list of trusted neighbors who could assist your animals in case of an emergency.

· Tighten and secure latches on birdcages. Fasten down aquariums on low stands or tables.

Kit
Make a Go-bag for each pet. Include:

· Sturdy leashes and pet carriers. A pillowcase is a good option for transporting cats and other small animals. Muzzles for dogs. Food, potable water and medicine for at least one week

· Non-spill bowls, manual can opener and plastic lid

· Plastic bags, litter box and litter

· Recent photo of each pet

· Names and phone numbers of your emergency contact, emergency veterinary hospitals and animal shelters

· Copy of your pet’s vaccination history and any medical problems

· Portable fencing or baby gates


Respond

· Remember that animals react differently under stress. Keep dogs securely leashed and transport cats in carriers or pillowcases.

· If your pet is lost, contact the nearest animal shelter to report your pet missing. When it is safe, return to your neighborhood to search and distribute “Lost Pet” posters; include a current picture of your pet.


Evacuation

Locate all your animals and keep them with you. Be aware that shelters will only allow service animals. In a large-scale disaster, animal shelters will be set up when possible. Animal Care and Control’s (ACC) facility at 15th and Harrison will be an animal sheltering resource.
If you must leave your pets behind:

· Inform animal rescue workers of your pets’ status: On your front door or in a highly visible window, use chalk, paint or marker to write the number and types of pets in your residence. Include their location in your home and the date that you evacuated.

· Leave plenty of water in a large, open container that cannot be tipped over.

· Leave plenty of food in timed feeders to prevent your pet from overeating.

· Do not tie up your pet in your home.


Utilities

Natural Gas | Electricity | Water | Sewer Service

Natural gas leaks can cause an explosive and flammable atmosphere inside a building.
Gas

Natural gas leaks can cause fires and explosions inside a building.

· If you smell gas, hear gas escaping, see a broken gas line, or if you suspect a leak, shut off the main valve and open all windows and doors.

· Never use candles or matches if you suspect a leak. Do not turn on electrical switches or appliances.

· Identify the main shutoff valve, located on the gas line coming into the main gas meter. This is usually on the exterior of your home or building, or in an external closet. Your main valve may look like this:






· To turn gas off, give the valve a quarter turn in either direction. When the lever crosses the direction of the pipe (see above) the gas is off.

· Keep a crescent wrench or gas shut-off tool nearby to turn the lever.

· Never attempt to turn your gas back on. Wait for your utility company to do it. This may take several days.

Electricity

Electrocution can result from direct contact with live wires or anything that has been energized by these wires.

· Locate your main electric switch, which is normally in the garage or outdoors. The panel box may have a flip switch or pull handle on a large circuit breaker.

· Shut off electricity when:

· Arcing or burning occurs in electrical devices.

· There is a fire or significant water leak.

· You smell burning insulation.

· The area around switches or plugs is blackened and/ or hot to the touch.

· A complete power loss is accompanied by the smell of burning material.

Food

When a disaster occurs, you might not have access to food, water and electricity for days, or even weeks. Store enough emergency food to provide for your family for at least 3 days.

· Store food items that are familiar, rather than buying special emergency food. Consider any dietary restrictions and preferences you may have.

· Ideal foods are: Shelf-stable (no refrigeration required), low in salt, and do not require cooking (e.g. canned fruit, vegetables, peanut butter, jam, low-salt crackers, cookies, cereals, nuts, dried fruit, canned soup or meats, juices and non-fat dry milk).

· Mark a rotation date on any food container that does not already have an expiration date on the package.

· Include baby food and formula or other diet items for infants or seniors.

· Store the food in airtight, pest-resistant containers in a cool, dark place.

· Most canned foods can safely be stored for at least 18 months. Low acid foods like meat products, fruits or vegetables will normally last at least 2 years. Use dry products, like boxed cereal, crackers, cookies, dried milk or dried fruit within six months.

· After a power outage, refrigerated food will stay cold longer if you keep the door closed. Food should generally be consumed within 4 hours. Food in the freezer will normally remain safe for 2 days.
Water

In a disaster, water supplies may be cut off or contaminated. Store enough water for everyone in your family to last for at least 3 days.

· Store one gallon of water per person, per day. Three gallons per person per day will give you enough to drink and for limited cooking and personal hygiene. Remember to plan for pets.
If you store tap water:

· Tap water from a municipal water system can be safely stored without additional treatment.

· Store water in food grade plastic containers, such as clean 2-liter soft drink bottles. Heavy duty, reusable plastic water containers are also available at sporting goods stores. Empty milk bottles are not recommended because their lids do not seal well and bottles may develop leaks.

· Label and store in a cool, dark place.

· Replace water at least once every six months.
If you buy commercially bottled “spring” or “drinking” water:

· Keep water in its original container, and don’t re-store a bottle once it’s been opened.

· Store in a cool, dark place.

· If bottles are not marked with the manufacturer’s expiration date, label with the date and replace bottles at least once per year.
Treating Water after Disaster:

If you run out of stored drinking water, strain and treat water from your water heater or the toilet reservoir tank (except if you use toilet tank cleaners). Swimming pool or spa water should not be consumed but you can use it for flushing toilets or washing.
Treatment Process:

Strain any large particles of dirt by pouring the water through layers of paper towels or clean cloth. Next, purify the water one of two ways:

· Boil – bring to a rolling boil and maintain for 3-5 minutes. After the water cools, pour it back and forth between two clean containers to add oxygen back; this will improve its taste.

· Disinfect – If the water is clear, add 8 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of water. If it is cloudy, add 16 drops (1/4 teaspoon) per gallon. Make sure you are using regular bleach— 5.25% percent sodium hypochlorite— rather than the “ultra” or “color safe” bleaches. Shake or stir, then let stand 30 minutes. A slight chlorine taste and smell is normal.


First Aid

In any emergency, you or a family member may be cut, burned or suffer other injuries. Keep the following basic first aid supplies so you are prepared to help when someone is hurt.

· Two pairs of disposable gloves

· Sterile dressings to stop bleeding

· Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect

· Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection

· Burn ointment

· Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes

· Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant

· Scissors

· Over-the-counter medicines such as Aspirin or other pain reliever, laxative, anti-diarrhea medication

· Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine, or asthma inhaler

· Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose monitoring equipment or blood pressure monitors

Go-bag

A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly. Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

· Flashlight

· Radio – battery operated

· Batteries

· Whistle

· Dust mask

· Pocket knife

· Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls

· Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat

· Local map

· Some water and food

· Permanent marker, paper and tape

· Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes

· List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers

· List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food

· Copy of health insurance and identification cards

· Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items

· Prescription medications and first aid supplies

· Toothbrush and toothpaste

· Extra keys to your house and vehicle

· Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

· And one item left of of all other lists I have seen is a hand gun. It is better to have one and not need it.. than to need one and not have it. Be Prepared for every eventuality.

One person... One year....

Here is a basic list of food items that are needed for one year for one person.  

Food, per person, for one year:   (Divide by 12 for 1 month)

     Wheat - 300 lbs.

      Rice - 100 lbs.

      Beans, Peas, Lentils, 50 lbs. each

      Honey or Sugar - 60 lbs.

      Salt - 3 lbs.  (Get 6 lbs to be sure) (See below)

      Cayenne Pepper - 1 large can

      Herbal Seasonings

      Dried Milk - 80 lbs.

      Peanut Butter - 50 lbs.

      Dried Fruit

      Canned food, or dried (ready to mix) food

      Oatmeal - 50 lbs.

      Alfalfa Seeds - 10 lbs.

      Sprouts 

      Canned Sardines, tuna, salmon