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What You Need to Know About Emergency Preparedness

Potential weather disasters like Tropical Storm Irma (formerly Hurricane Irma), winter storms, supercell thunderstorms and more can — and do — occur in west Georgia and east Alabama.

That’s why that old Boy Scouts of America motto still rings true: “Be prepared.” When disasters occur, you often have very little (if any) time to prepare, and the things you need to be ready may be in short supply (like trying to find a loaf of bread ahead of a snowstorm).

During natural disasters, county and state resources may become overwhelmed. It may take much longer than normal for emergency services to respond to you and your family. Being prepared is essential to protecting your health and the wellbeing of your loved ones during a disaster.

The Basics

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has responded to disasters throughout the nation since the late 1970s. In that time, the agency has learned a lot about what individuals and families can do to help ride out a disaster.

One of the first considerations for any household should be food and water. FEMA recommends having enough on hand for 72 hours (a three-day supply).

Water

Water is one of the most critical resources to have available during a disaster. As events regionally in recent years have shown, municipal water supplies can be susceptible to a range of issues: floods can wash out pipes, power outages can impact treatment plants and droughts can dry up reservoirs.

FEMA recommends having a minimum of one gallon of water per person, per day, on hand. This amount may vary depending on circumstances — for instance, you may consume more water during hot weather.

You can purchase sealed gallons of water at most grocery stores. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers bottled water to have an indefinite shelf life, so long as it remains sealed. Water stored in unsealed or unregulated containers may grow bacteria. Sealed water should be stored in a cool location away from direct sunlight.

Food

The trouble with food is often spoilage — when the power goes out, so do the refrigerator and freezer, and their contents become hazardous.

That’s why it’s important to have three days’ worth of food on hand for everyone, consisting of canned foods, freeze-dried foods and others that do not require refrigeration. You don’t have to stock up on these all at once, but you can add to your supply over several grocery trips by buying extra items here or there.

Also be mindful of what would be required to prepare the food, since a power outage also means the microwave and electric stove will not be options. Do you have a safe way to prepare your food without increasing your risk of a fire or carbon monoxide exposure? Can your food be safely consumed cold, right from the can or package?

First Aid

An injury during a disaster can become a disaster itself. It’s important you have some rudimentary supplies on hand to respond to basic injuries and illnesses.

A store-bought first aid kit is a good starting point. Keep in mind that you may need to add to it depending on the size of your family. You can expand the kit as necessary depending on the size of your family. Keep it stocked with bandages, first aid ointments and over-the-counter pain relievers. Check it regularly to ensure all the contents have not expired, and discard and replace any that have.

Medications

If you or anyone in your household takes medications regularly, make sure you have enough to get through at least three days without a refill. Not taking a prescribed medication can lead to a medical emergency, and some medications can be dangerous if they are suddenly discontinued.

Make a Plan

During a disaster, things happen quickly. You should have a plan in place before disaster strikes and make sure your loved ones know what they should do.

Meeting Location

Disasters can be large, regional events or personal tragedies. Decide ahead of time where your family will meet in the event of an emergency within your home, such as a fire (the tree in the front yard by the road, for instance) and outside of the home (an aunt’s house in a neighboring town).

Emergency Contacts

You may not always have your phone on you, and during an emergency, cell towers and landline phones could be impacted.

A friend or relative who lives out of town may be easier to reach during a disaster. He or she could be your contact to help coordinate with you and your loved ones. Check in to let him or her know you’re OK, where you will be and how you could be reached. He or she can let you know updates from your other loved ones.

Since you may not have your phone (or the phone may be dead), make sure you and your loved ones have a card in your wallet, purse or school bag with your emergency contact information on it.

Senior/Homebound Neighbors and Loved Ones

While you’re making plans for your own household, it’s important to be mindful of others around us who can be most vulnerable to a disaster. If you have an elderly or homebound neighbor or relative, check in with him or her and see if they have any needs you can help with prior to and during a disaster.

Pets

Along with yourself and your loved ones, you must consider your pets’ needs during a disaster as well. Make sure you have enough pet food and water on hand to last three days. If you need to evacuate, check ahead to ensure that your destination is pet-friendly. Keep your pet carrier(s) clean and ready to be used quickly if necessary. If your pet requires medication, you’ll want to make sure you have at least a three-day supply of that on hand as well. Owners of livestock and other large animals should discuss disaster management plans with their vet.

Are You Ready?

Use this helpful checklist to make sure you have the supplies you need should disaster strike.

  • Water (for three days)
  • Food (for three days)
  • First aid supplies
  • Can opener (non-electric)
  • Camp stove with fuel (propane or kerosene)
  • Matches, lighter and fire starter
  • Books, board games or other entertainment for kids
  • Baby supplies (if needed)
  • Pet food (if needed)
  • Complete change of clothing
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Blankets and sleeping bags
  • Important paperwork
  • Cooking supplies (including plates and flatware)
  • First aid manual
  • Candles, flashlights, lantern
  • Batteries
  • Bleach (for sanitizing/disinfecting)
  • Radio
  • Cash (if ATMs or debit machines are down)
  • Local area map

Important Contact Information

Emergency: 911

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): 1.800.621.3362
Twitter: @FEMA and @Readygov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fema
Web: fema.gov

Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA): 1.800.436.7442
Twitter: @GeorgiaEMA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GEMA.OHS
Web: gema.ga.gov

Alabama Emergency Management Agency (Alabama EMA): 205.280.2312
Twitter: @AlabamaEMA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaEMA/
Web: ema.alabama.gov

Check Your Region

Many counties and cities also operate local emergency management agencies. Contact your local city or county government or search online to find and follow social media accounts run by local emergency response agencies; often, these agencies can provide you with relevant, localized information during a disaster.

Emergency Care




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