3 Step Disaster Plan
Step 1: Collect disaster supplies
The devastating hurricane Katrina is graphic evidence of
just how disruptive natural disasters can be. Those
affected are without electricity, water, stoves, phone
and even shelter. To be prepared, collect the following
items and store them so that you can find them easily in
an emergency -- but not so easily that you end up raiding
and depleting the supplies without realizing it. Some
people store these items in a section of the basement or
a closet that is used infrequently. Decide what will
work best for you.
* Disaster-supply list
* Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day; three-
day supply ideal)
* Cash (ATM and credit cards may not work or be
accepted by businesses)
* Cell phone (with nonelectrical charger)
* Clothing and underwear
* Contact information (phone numbers of friends and
family)
* Documents (driver's license, passport, birth
certificate, etc.) in a waterproof container
* Dust mask (one per person)
* Eating utensils (plastic or disposable)
* Emergency numbers of local, state, and federal
agencies
* Financial inventory (a list of bank and investment
accounts, mortgages, and loans, including account
numbers and location of original documents)
* First-aid kit (see "Your first-aid kit," below)
* Flashlight with extra batteries
* Food (canned goods and other nonperishable items
that don't require cooking)
* Masking tape, duct tape
* Medical information (list of your medications, any
chronic conditions, and medical history)
* Medications (three-day supply of all daily
medications)
* Paper towels, toilet paper, and sanitary products
* Pet supplies and carrier (include food, water,
leashes, records of shots)
* Plastic sheeting
* Radio (battery-operated) with extra batteries
* Scissors
* Sleeping bags or blankets (one per person)
* Toiletries (soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, etc.)
* Tools (can opener, knife, pliers; a Swiss army knife
may suffice)
* Trash bags
Kits for sale
The American Red Cross sells first-aid kits and
emergency preparedness kits for home use, and a basic
disaster-supply kit especially designed for the
workplace. Order online at
www.redcross.org or obtain
through your local Red Cross chapter.
Step 2: Create a portable supply kit
In case you have to evacuate your home, it is good to
put the supplies you think you would need the most in a
portable container. Some people try to fit all of the
supplies listed above in a large rolling trashcan with a
lid or a large rolling cooler. Another option is to
store the items in several small coolersor boxes. Think
about what supplies you need, what you can reasonably
carry or store in your car, and how many people will be
available to help you transport the supplies.
Step 3: Develop and practice an emergency plan
All the planning in the world won't do much good if you
don't practice ahead of time. Not only does this enable
you to go through your plan while calm, so you can think
clearly, but it also enables you to fine-tune the plan
before you have to put it into action.
* Identify emergency evacuation routes and shelters in
your community and near your workplace.
* Decide where family members should meet if you are
separated in an emergency.
* Identify a backup location to meet at, in case the
first location is impossible to reach.
* Identify a point-person in the family who will serve
as the central contact to call in case of confusion.
* Choose an out-of-state friend or relative to serve
as a backup contact, in the event that local lines
are tied up or out of service.
* Provide every member of the family with a cell phone
or prepaid phone card to make sure they can make a
call in an emergency.
* Consider family members with special needs while
making plans. (For example, who will help someone in
a wheelchair?) Don't forget your pets, either. (For
example, where can you leave pets if you have to
evacuate to a hotel that does not allow them?)
* Practice the plan at least once a year.
When disaster strikes
* Listen for official news and instructions on what to
do next.
* Communicate with family members according to your
plan.
* If the disaster takes place near your home, follow
instructions on whether to evacuate.
* Check on neighbors, especially those who are elderly
or have young children.
* If you have gas appliances such as a stove or water
heater, smell for gas leaks. Do not light matches,
candles, or turn on electrical switches if you smell
gas. Open windows and doors and leave the house
immediately.
Your first-aid kit
Minor injuries can be treated at home if you have the
right supplies on hand. You can purchase most of these
items at your local pharmacy or supermarket, and then
place them in a sealed container to keep them clean. A
fishing tackle box, for instance, would work well as a
first-aid kit. Remember to store your first-aid kit in a
location you can reach quickly in an emergency.
Wound care
* One roll of absorbent cotton
* Gauze pads (4 inches square)
* Adhesive tape (1 inch and narrower)
* Adhesive bandages in various sizes
* Butterfly bandages to hold gashed skin edges
together
* Wound cleansers (soap, gels, or wipes)
Medications
* Analgesic, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (in
adult and child doses) or aspirin (for adult use
only)
* Antihistamine for allergic reactions
* Antiseptic ointment or cream (such as bacitracin or
triple antibiotic ointment)
* Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream (1% for
rashes
* Activated charcoal for inadvertent overdoses
* Saline eye drops
* Antacid for stomach upset
* Antidiarrheal medication
* Oral glucose preparation for low blood sugar
Other supplies
* Ace bandages
* Cold/hot packs
* Cotton swabs
* Flashlight
* Scissors and safety pins
* Surgical gloves (disposable)
* Thermometer
* Tweezers