Preparing for Emergencies – TPW313

No one likes to think about an emergency occurring, but it's important to be prepared. Since September is National Preparedness Month, I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned about how to prepare for an emergency situation and ensure you and your family are safe.



How can we best prepare for emergencies?

Preparing for a possible emergency is not about panicking, but thinking ahead and investing a little time and money to help ensure that if difficult circumstances arise, you and those you care about will be ready. 

So what kind of emergency could occur? An emergency could be any event that might make it difficult or impossible for a period of time to get food and other supplies. For purposes of this episode, I'm not talking about evacuation but will link to some resources that give suggestions for preparing for that (e.g., having a go-bag, and what to keep in it). This episode will focus on preparing for an emergency or other situation that requires you to shelter at home and/or where you might not have access or funds to buy food and other supplies.

Some emergencies could include:


* another lockdown
* something weather-related, such as a hurricane or blizzard
* maybe even another national emergency
* a job loss, where you are going without income for a period of time
* an illness (yours or someone you're caring for)


These are all situations that could potentially happen, and something we should plan and prepare for.

Where do we begin?

One of the first places to start is to have enough food and other essentials on hand to sustain you for 2-4 weeks. There are people who prepare for even longer than that, having several months of food and essentials on hand. However, begin with 2-4 weeks and go from there. Depending on the size of your family, you may need more or less, so plan accordingly.

Start with the basics. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) suggest the following for a basic disaster supplies kit, stored in airtight plastic bags in a couple of easy-to-carry duffles or totes: 


Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation) 
Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food) 
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert 
Flashlight 
First aid kit 
Extra batteries 
Whistle (to signal for help) 
Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air) 
Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place) 
Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation) 
Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities) 
Manual can opener (for food) 
Local maps 
Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery 
Download the Recommended Supplies List (PDF) here! 


Important note: There is a difference between preparedness and hoarding. Preparedness--having a reasonable stockpile--puts you in a position to help n...