Are You Prepared?

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-05-22 12:07:56.368479-04:00

Make a Disaster Plan
Disaster can strike without warning forcing you to evacuate your home or even confine you to your home for a period of time. Are you prepared if basic services—water, gas, electricity or telephones—were cut off?

Though hurricanes and other disasters are hard to predict, being prepared will help to mitigate the damage to your home, your family, and your life. Creating a disaster plan will give you a sense of control in a chaotic and frightening time. When you share your plan with your friends and family; everyone will be reassured in case of an emergency.

Your disaster plan can be simple and should include a plan in case you need to evacuate, a plan if you might shelter in place and a family communications plan. If you or any of your family members have special needs, be sure to think these issue through as well.

Evacuating—Listen to Your Local Authorities
The decision to evacuate or shelter in place can be a difficult one. Your local news will provide regular reports on the status of any pending storms as well as instructions for weather emergencies. It is very important that you follow any evacuation orders and do not wait until the last minute to leave your home when evacuation routes could be very congested and movement could be slow.

If possible know your evacuation route in your community before a disaster strikes. These can be found by contacting the county where you live.

When evacuating think about the following things:

  • What items from your home will you bring? Family photos, valuables, keepsakes?
  • What medications will you need? Are your current prescriptions filled? Is it possible to get an advanced supply of your medications? Are there any over-the-counter medications you will need? Do you have a basic, first aid kit?
  • What documents will you need? Be sure to take medical insurance cards, homeowner and car insurance policy information, financial documents, social security cards, etc.
  • What vehicle will you take? If you do not drive, who will drive you in case of an evacuation? Be sure the car is filled with gas before the storm hits, lines at gas stations can be very long and fuel can run out during an emergency.
  • What will you do with your pets? If you plan to take them with you, be sure to plan food and water for them. Also research what hotels allow pets and/or identify pet hospitals and boarding services available in the areas that you are most likely to evacuate to. If you must leave them behind, be sure they have identification tags and don't tie them up. You don't know how long you will be gone.
  • Where will you go? Do you have friends or family in a safe area where you can stay? Do you have money for a hotel? Know where the emergency shelters are in your area. If you're headed for a shelter you should be prepared to stay for several days, if necessary with bedding, clothes, personal ideas, food and water.
  • Who needs to know that you are OK? Be sure to take the phone number of loved ones that you may want to contact. Plan a meeting place in advance if you are hoping to meet up with family members during or after an evacuation.

Shelter in Place
If you decide to stay home and weather a storm, be prepared. Make sure your home is sturdy enough to protect you during a storm. Seek shelter in an inside room, preferably one without windows. Be prepared for power outages; if you have medications that need to be refrigerated, be sure to have an ice chest prepared before the storm hits.

It's a good idea to prepare a kit of emergency supplies and keep it on-hand during hurricane/ tornado season.

  • Water; one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.
  • Food; at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries. You can also buy a crank radio that doesn't require batteries.
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First Aid Kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask or cotton T-shirt to help filter the air
  • Moist Towlettes for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or Pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can Opener for food
  • Plastic sheeting and duct tape to cover damage windows or roof
  • Insect repellant

Being prepared is about being ready to handle life's everyday emergencies head-on and coming out safe and sound.

AARP has several publications that deal with disaster planning and recovery. Contact 1-888-687-2277 to receive free copies. Some of these publications are also available online.

Dealing With Disaster

For more information on Disaster Preparedness:
Texas Emergency Management
Ready South Texas
The Social Security Administration
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Texas Workforce Commission
The Red Cross

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