Every
location has the potential for disaster, whether man made or natural.
Ensure that you are prepared with these simple disaster preparation
tips. 1) Insurance To
come home from an evacuation and find that everything is gone is bad.
To know that you didn't have insurance, and cannot replace your
belongings is much worse. Many
people think of the big things-- jewelry, computers, major appliances,
vehicles-- but neglect to add up what it really costs to replace all of
his or her clothing, toiletries, bedsheets, kids' toys, cleaning
supplies, food, and so on. Even
if you rent, insurance is very worthwhile. Hopefully you'll never have
to use it, but if you do, it's there, and it will save you a lot of
heartache. 2)First aid In
times of emergency, 911 may not be available. Learning simple first
aid techniques could save a loved one's life, literally. A good first
aid kit is great-- know how to use each and every item in it. CPR
classes and first aid classes are often available through local
hospitals, and are quite inexpensive. 3)Know yourself-- and your contacts If
you have had to evacuate, it's vital that you know what medications
you're on and their doses, your allergies, your bank account and
insurance numbers, and the contact information of your loved ones. You
may not have access to a computer or to your cell phone, so it's a good
idea to have it memorized, or have a piece of paper with all of this
written down. No pharmacist can help you if you run out of medication
and go in looking for "heart pills", and no phone operator can help you
find your sister Jane who just got married and you're not sure of which
last name she uses. 4)Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, always keep a sense of humor During
a disaster, you will worry-- A LOT. Although it's extremely normal and
natural to worry, try to focus on some of the good things that are
happening in your life. If all of your family is safe and accounted
for, be thankful for that. If something funny happens, it's okay to
laugh. Sometimes, all you've got is the fact that you made it through
another day. Be happy about it. Be happy about everything you can be
happy about. 5) Be neighborly and civilized Share
what you can, and help when you can. It's everyone's responsibility to
help each other, especially during difficult times. Understand that you
have the power to make a situation better or worse-- and choose to make
the situation better.There is nothing to be gained by hoarding, looting
(It still amazes me that people were dragging big screen televisions
through four feet of water, and expecting them to work...) or even
rudeness. Everyone's tired, scared, and frustrated. There is no need
at all to make things worse. Even
if you have nothing material to share, a heartfelt "thank you" goes an
awfully long way to helping make someone's day better . |
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Categoriesaidanimals decency evacuation help humanitarian hurricane Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Other Saffir-Simpson Scale storms thankful trivia tropical storm
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