ONE STEP AT A TIME
Emergencies can happen anytime of the day or night, every single day of the year. We understand that getting prepared for such an enormous impact to your life is overwhelming. So much so, it’s almost impossible to know where to start. We’ve compiled a list of resources that will help you down this important path.
As we look back on 2022 and look forward for 2023 we see the many challenges from a preparedness perspective. Last year and already this has brought out more active and intense hurricanes, horrendous and frequent wild fires, flooding in many parts of California and the country, while still dealing of the COVID-19 spread These events which are unfolding have certainly reminded us all about the importance of preparedness. The addition of preparedness into our day-to-day lives is crucial as the impact of a hurricane, pandemic, etc. may be less harmful to those who resolve to be ready. After all failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Check out this nice reminder checklist.
For CERTs in Los Altos we have gotten back to normal with in-person classes and drills. It’s time to do a review of our actions in the event of an emergency. For your convenience we have put together a one page summary of actions CERTs and hams should be taking. Please review the Emergency Preparedness and Response – for hams and CERTs.
Know your Household
Knowing your household is one of the best ways you can prepare to respond appropriately in case of an emergency. Aspects of your home you should think about:
Heavy objects hanging over beds that may fall during an earthquake
Being able to locate and shut off your main water line
Knowing where the main gas shut off valve is located
Being able to safely restart your furnace
What To Keep At Hand
One of the most important steps you can take to prepare for an emergency is to make sure you have important items nearby or safely stored. Some of these items are:
Duplicate keys
Copies of important insurance and other papers stored outside the home
Emergency cash
First aid kit
Shoes by your bed for quick access
Flashlight
Family Organization
In case of emergency, you want to know you and your family are on the same page about several issues.
Make sure everyone is aware of fire escape routes
Given the need to evacuate your home, establish a meeting place
Choose an out-of-state contact
Prolonged Emergency
Sometimes emergencies can last for days before help is available to you and your family. If an emergency lasted for 72 hours, it is especially useful to keep the following in mind:
Sufficient food, as well as water for drinking, cooking and sanitary needs
Supply of medications that you may need
“Be “”Red Cross Ready”” for an emergency by following our easy 3 steps to preparedness. We understand getting prepared may sound difficult or time consuming, but with a little help from us, it’s actually very doable. Learn by watching our video today! For more information on emergency preparedness, please visit http://www.redcross.org/prepare .
LESSONS LEARNED
PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES
Prepare, plan, stay informed
Prepare for all kinds of emergencies.
