Are You Prepared for a Disaster?

From Newark Police

Almost weekly we hear of another disaster, sometimes in our country and sometimes a world away. These are all reminders of what can and does occur. Being prepared for an unexpected natural (or human-caused) disaster is what can make the difference between surviving or becoming a part of the disaster. 

The safety of your family begins with having an emergency family plan.

If each family member were in a different location at the time of a disaster, would everyone know what to do and where to go?

Certainly, you would be concerned for the welfare of each other and that worry would grow with every minute out of contact. Expect that in some disasters you may not be able to make contact via phone, at least not directly to one another.

Set up a plan to have the affected family members, when able to use phones, call a designated family member who lives out of state and report their status. That way, as each family member calls in, they can get an update on one another and leave messages or other information. 

Prepare to take care of yourself! In a true disaster, as seen during the many natural disasters of the last few years, emergency services are stretched very thin and residents must rely on their own supply of food and water. Storesupplies in a secure place with plenty of water (an average adult needs approximately 1 gallon of water per day) and food to sustain all family members for no less than three days (for an evacuation event) and up to a two week supply for disasters in which you will remain in your home. 

Keep a battery powered radio and extra batteries so that if the power supply is impacted, you can still hear instructions from emergency services through public radio broadcasts. 

The very best rule of thumb is to imagine a situation where you are not able to receive any food, water or other supplies for several days; what would you need to survive and do you have it available? Don't forget to check your emergency supplies regularly to ensure they are still edible and able to be used.

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