Lyn Knoll Neighboorhood Association

Are You Prepared

Oct 03, 2003

In September most of the Northeastern section of the United States experienced a black-out that affected millions of its citizens. In October, the Central Eastern section of The United States experienced Hurricane Isabel that left some of its citizens without power for as long as two weeks after the actual hurricane hit the central coastal area. If a distaster was to hit our area, would you and your family be prepared? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that every family have an emergency preparedness plan in case of disaster. Here are FEMA's reccomendation on how to prepare your family.

1) Identify a place for family members to meet if separated by a disaster

2) Establish an out-of-town friend or relative to act as a point of contact for separated family members to call. Make sure everyone has the number.
3) Ask your local emergency management office about your community's warning system, evacuation plans and routes and the location of public shelters near your home, work or school.
4) Complete an emergency preparedness checklist and review it with your family.
5) Depending on the type of disaster, determine the best escape routes from your house, and find the safest place in your house.
6) Locate the main electric fuse box, water service main, and natural gas main. Teach responsible family members how and when to turn these utilities off. Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.
7) Post emergency numbers by the telephone. The National Neighborhood Watch Program offers phone stickers for this purpose.
8) Learn emergency first aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Contact your local Red Cross chapter for details.
9) Install smoke detectors on every level of your home. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Use the change over from daylight savings time to standard time at the end of every October to help you remember when batteries are to be changed.
10) Show each family member where the fire extinguisher is kept. Get training on how to use it.
11) Identify potential hazards in your home and take corrective action to help reduce the risk of injury. Secure large or heavy items that could fall and cause damage or injury.
Practice implementing your plan.

So start preparing your family today. Although to completely perform all 11 recommended task may take time and some effort. Completing some of the recommendations put your family at a much lower chance of risk than not completing any at all.