Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Being Prepared for a Sudden Emergency

UPDATED NOTE:Prayers for the Joplin, MO tornado victims of yesterday.
There is a significant difference in an emergency and a tragedy. This year has already taken "emergency" to the extreme.
We are witnessing the tragedies of earthquakes & tsunami in the news, millions of acres burning in Texas, record setting tornadoes in Alabama and other southern states, the Mississippi is flooding...and hurricane season is just days away. No amount of preparation will see us safely through all circumstances but it will help is through most of them.
Whether at home or away, with family or with family scattered, most emergencies happen without warning. In the immediacy of the moment, your mind will rush to a number of things: what is the phone number of the children's school, how much cash is in my wallet, what do we do for food, we only have the clothes on our backs. And, if the emergency leads to actual loss, contact information will be most needed and loss of family photos will be most heartbreaking.
Click HERE to access an entire section on Preparedness.
In the meantime, here are some basic preparation measures that all of us can take if we will only take the time:
An emergency kit in the family car:
  • Change of clothes/shoes for every family member
  • Water (gallons)
  • Blanket(s)
  • Food (MRE's or even protein bars)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Wet wipes
  • Personal needs (glasses, contact solution, inhalers, meds, etc.)
  • Cell phone charger
  • Flash light & extra batteries
  • Matches or cigarette lighter
Information to bury or hide securely to prevent theft:
(** indicates need for a hard copy as well)
  • Cash (a few hundred to a thousand dollars in $5's & $10's) Click HERE for 9 ways to make $$$ fast.
  • Flash Drive containing: Account & Phone numbers for Bank, Insurance, Utility & Services** - Contract & payment information** - Address Book** - Medical Information** - Photographs - Email contacts - Computer account(s) passwords
  • Individual photographs of family members w/ descriptions & contact information written on the backs
  • Several days of critical medications
  • Credit Cards not usually on your person

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