Are you prepared?

This region is at risk for several disasters including flooding, interface fires, earthquakes and mudslides.

Are you prepared to take care of yourself, your family and your pets for 72 hours?

If you said, "no", you're not alone.

According to one USA Today Article,

The non-profit Council for Excellence in Government developed a Public Readiness Index as part of its report, rating people's preparedness on a one-to-10 scale based on answers to 10 questions. The questions range from whether people know about their community's disaster plan and how to find the emergency broadcasting channel on the radio to whether they've prepared a home disaster kit and established a meeting place for family members.

The average score on the index was 3.31.   

And a survey conducted by Qorvis found:

Though nearly half of Americans say they believe a major natural disaster or terrorist attack is likely to occur in their area in the next five years, more than three quarters (77 percent) admit they are ill-prepared, according to a national survey conducted by Qorvis Communications’ iQ Research & Consulting Practice and HOPE Coalition America, the emergency preparedness and response division of Operation HOPE (and partner with FEMA).

www.72hours.org explains how to prepare for a disaster, including Making a Plan, Building a Kit and Getting Involved.

Make a Plan

After a major disaster, it is unlikely that emergency response services will be able to immediately respond to everyone’s needs, so it’s important to be prepared to take care of yourself and your family. Plan to be on your own for at least the first 72 hours.

Build a Kit

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location.  Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.

So, a core part of your disaster preparedness is your Emergency Kit. A comprehensive kit will help you survive in the event of a major disaster.

Read on to learn more about what belongs in an Emergency Kit...

~Dave Brown