Author: Paul Faust

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Strategies for Winter Preparedness

The American Red Cross is doing all that it can to warn people about the importance of winter preparedness.  Beyond issuing a reminder that winter storms can present an unexpected emergency for those traveling, as well as power outages for those staying at home, the Red Cross has recommendations for winter preparedness:

Follow these tips to stay safe and warm during the storm:

  • Do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
  • Don’t forget your pets — bring them indoors. If you can’t bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water.

Avoid traveling by car in a storm, but if you must…

  • Have in the car an emergency preparedness kit, including ice scraper and brush, boots, gloves or mittens, blanket or sleeping bag, show shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, metal or plastic cup, first aid kit, jumper cables, granola or candy bars, sand or cat litter for tire traction, red-colored cloth to alert rescuers, flares, reflectors, cellular phone, and cell phone charger.

The list is a good reminder to think about your pets as well this winter. What extra steps do you need to take to ensure their safety if a winter storm comes your way? A pet survival kit is convenient and a good idea to have on hand for winter and other emergencies.

Source:

http://www.shakopeenews.com/news/general_news/tis_season_winter_weather_survival_tips-112

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Government Disaster Relief More than $1 Billion

People may take for granted just how much it costs for the government to help people in disasters. Take the state of Iowa. It cost more than $1 billion for that state to recover from tornadoes, flooding and other disasters that destroyed several communities last year. That’s just a fraction of the total amount that will ultimately go to the state for disaster aid, $3.6 billion at the end of the day.

“Disaster recoveries are very difficult, and they don’t necessarily move in a very timely manner. So I always say that disaster recoveries are marathons, not sprints,” said Lt. Gen. Ron Dardis, executive director of the Rebuild Iowa Office in Des Moines.

The largest category is $299 million spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide grants to the state, local governments and certain nonprofit agencies to quickly respond to and recover from major disasters.

Although the article doesn’t make the connection, you can be sure that part of that response includes providing stranded residents with basic supplies, such as food, water and medicine.  If every home was prepared, a good chunk of that $299 million would be reduced, and the costs to taxpayers would be far less. You can help your community by preparing yourself for emergencies, and being ready and willing to help those around you with extra supplies, and it costs a lot less than government aid.

Source:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091208/NEWS10/912080374/-1/NEWS04/-1-billion-spent-on-disaster-relief

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Red Cross Recommendations for Winter Preparedness

The Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross has put out a list of recommendations for winter preparedness. They recommend emergency kits for your home and vehicle, but also they provide specific recommendations for making plans and staying informed, including:

Make a Winter Storm Plan:

  • Be prepared to shelter at home in case of severe weather.  Have additional food and water stored to last seven to fourteen days.
  • Have extra blankets on hand.
  • Ensure that each member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, a hat, and water-resistant boots.
  • Have your vehicle winterized before the weather gets severe.
  • Decide how you would communicate with your family members should you be separated and unable to travel when a winter storm hits.

Be Informed:

  • Learn how you would receive information from local officials should hazardous winter weather affect your neighborhood.
  • Know the difference between a winter storm WATCH (a winter storm is possible in your area) and a winter storm WARNING (a winter storm is headed for your area).
  • Consider getting first aid and CPR training in case you need to respond in an emergency before professionals arrive on the scene.

You can incorporate many of these tips for your overall emergency preparedness plans. However, make sure that you have on hand what you need to stay prepared during the winter months.

Source:

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=11634052

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Family not Prepared for Fire

It’s sad to hear the stories of families who lose their homes due to a fire. One family in Greenwich, New York recently lost everything when their trailer caught fire, including the family pet, a puppy. The American Red Cross provided emergency shelter as well as food, clothing and winter apparel. The cause of the fire is unknown and the police are investigating. The Post Star reports:

The family of two adults and two children, ages 10 and 14, were provided with emergency shelter, according to officials at the Adirondack Saratoga Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Washington County Fire Coordinator Ray Rathbun said fire crews from Middle Falls, Greenwich and Easton responded to the fire, which started at about 11:58 p.m.

Note the time the fire started. That family probably wasn’t thinking about having to evacuate their home at that late hour because of a fire. It doesn’t say, but perhaps the children were asleep, if not everyone.

Preparing for fires is key and every home needs to be ready to leave or fight small fires that can easily be contained. If this family had a car kit with food, clothing, shelter and winter apparel, they would have what they needed to survive without the help of the Red Cross. It’s important to be prepared, because the Red Cross won’t be able to help everyone in the case of widespread emergencies. 

Source:

http://www.poststar.com/news/local/article_801549e0-e37c-11de-a148-001cc4c03286.html

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Businesses Need a Disaster Plan

The Red Cross is warning businesses to have a disaster plan after it recently suffered fire damages. Fire broke out in the restroom of The Chapter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This caused all services, including blood services, to be shut down due to ceiling damage and the restroom itself being destroyed. The Murfreesboro post reports:

Businesses should not risk operating without a disaster plan. While reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake. These shattered businesses were unprepared for a disaster and they had no plan or backup systems. A disaster plan should consider three subjects: human resources, physical resources, and business continuity.

“We were very fortunate the fire wasn’t any worse because it could have caused some major damage,” said Red Cross CEO Greg King. “Local businesses should definitely have a plan in place of how to continue operations after a disaster such as a fire, flood or tornado.”

Every business owner at the bare minimum needs an emergency kit in the workplace in case they need to evacuate or bunker down at work. Extra kits would be great to help employees and customers who are stranded at your business during an emergency. Following the purchase of office kits, you’ll need to formulate your plans for continuing the business after a disaster.

Source:

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/red-cross-suffers-fire-issues-caution-for-others-cms-20797

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State Tells Citizens to Bunker Down

The state of Wisconsin is expecting blizzard-like conditions over the upcoming days. In response to the storm, emergency officials are warning citizens to bunker down and stay home:

State emergency officials want people to stay home. People who must travel should prepare an emergency supply kit for their vehicles and monitor their local media for storm updates.

They are predicting winds to be as fast as 40 mph to 50 mph, which could be dangerous for car travelers. Hopefully, many people in Wisconsin have taken the steps they need to bunker down at home. Could you do it? Do you have all that you need for at least three days?

It’s one thought to bunker down in a home with the electricity still turned on, running water coming through the faucet and extra food in the refrigerator. What if that was not available for three days, which has happened many times and could happen again in some places?

You don’t have to wait for your state to tell you to bunker down before you start thinking through emergency preparedness. Take a weekend to experiment with the idea of living in your home successfully for three days, despite any power outages. Write down a list of needed supplies that you were missing, and then let 1800Prepare.com help you fill in the gaps.

Source:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-winterstorm,0,4100179.story

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Would the Red Cross Approve of Your Disaster Kit

Many people are do-it-yourselfers when it comes to everything, including putting together a disaster kit. However, this may be an area where not doing it right could cause you pain and suffering in an actual emergency. One news reporter gave his home survival kit to the Red Cross to examine and give him a grade on how well he did. He got a C.

Kate Rhoads is the Volunteer and Disaster Coordinator for the Adams County Chapter of the American Red Cross. She told Chad his disaster kit was off to a good start, but is far from complete.

“What you do have here is meals. The negative is you have two meals here. Your disaster kit should have supplies for a minimum of three days,” says Rhoads.

She also pointed out Chad was missing water. He told her he has a few five gallon jugs at his house to use in case of a disaster. She reminds everyone to have enough water on hand, which is one gallon per person per day.

The list went on with ways for Chad to improve his kit. At the end of the day, it would be much easier and more affordable to buy one of our kits that’s already assembled, which includes what he needs in an emergency, according to the American Red Cross and government standards.

Source:

http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=387125

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Snow Emergency Preparedness

Cities across America are gearing up for snowfall, and warning citizens to prepare for snow emergencies. Primarily, city officials are concerned with residents moving their vehicles so that the city can plow the streets in order to continually provide police, fire and other services. Public Works Director Mark White in Spencer, Iowa had this to say about their snow emergency declaration:

“By ordinance, we only have to give a four-hour notice, but we always try to give the citizens as long as we can to get their vehicles moved,” White said. “When we pull the plows in because of really bad weather, there’s certain routes that we run continually to try to maintain service to the town — by the fire station, by the police station and nursing homes,” he said.

Iowa is under a storm warning and expects widespread blowing snow. In these situations, you can expect school cancellations and sometimes it’s difficult to make it to work. This winter presents a great opportunity to consider your plans for snow emergencies.

You’ll need to make sure you have a well-stocked car kit in case you get stuck in the snow. The kit should include warmers to keep you warm, emergency blankets and food and water. High calorie energy bars are great to have on hand. You also want jumper cables and other car tools so that someone can help you get your car started again if it dies down.

Source:
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/1593032.html

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The Gift of Emergency Preparedness

Not sure what gifts to get family, friends, co-workers, your boss or teachers? Some state governments are recommending that you give the gift of emergency preparedness. For example, the state of Illinois has this suggestion:

The office of the State Fire Marshal and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency released a list Monday of safety-kit ideas. Gifts could include weather-alert radios with extra batteries; home or dorm-room items such first-aid kits, bottled water, nonperishable food, blankets, flashlights and batteries; or automobile accessories such as jumper cables, flashlights, blankets, sand and small shovel.

These are great suggestions for gifts and it’s even better when you can buy pre-made home, school, office and car kits that are ready to go, which we have for sale here at 1800Prepare.com.

Why give kits as gifts as opposed to electronics, books or something else? The truth is that many people aren’t thinking about emergency preparedness, even though they should. They need to be nudged a bit, and you may the only one who can get them to take the first step, to move in the right direction with a kit or two. Your gift could be the most precious one they’ve ever received in the face of a crisis.

Source:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-safetygiftideas,0,6571045.story

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What Jobless Rate Has to Do with Preparedness

Natural and man-made disasters aren’t the only circumstances that should concern you as you prepare for emergencies. A lingering financial crisis should also be factored into your plans for preparedness. As the economy continues to sour, prices on needed medical, food and water supplies may go up dramatically. In an economic depression, these things may become scarce.

The Miami Herald reports that one financial indicator to keep an eye on, to let you know that things may really be getting bad, is the jobless rate in the United States:

One million workers could lose their benefits in January without the extension, according to a new report on the stimulus act unemployment benefits, written by several labor advocacy groups. “This is a lifeline,” said Jim Garner, the secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor.

Garner was one of eight state labor officials who appeared at a news conference alongside labor advocates. Though last week’s economic report showed hopeful signs, “We are facing a real catastrophe,” said Christine Owens, the executive director of the National Employment Law Project, one of the co-authors of the report.

At least you can see the possibility of this catastrophe coming, and therefore act now before things get worse. Emergency preparedness must be grounded in sound financial planning. Get the emergency kits and other items you need while prices are still affordable.

Source:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1370659.html