January/February 1987
By Nora Sue Walker
Advance preparation can disarm disaster.
RELATED CONTENT
By Nora Sue Walker
Tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, mud slides, power outages, toxic leaks—no area of the country is immune to disaster. All of us, countryfolk or urban dwellers, should acquaint ourselves with the types of emergencies most likely to occur where we live, and make some advance preparations.
Preparedness for long-term catastrophies, such as famine, drought, or nuclear war, requires more extensive information and planning than I'll cover in this article. I'm going to focus here on short-term, yet potentially life-threatening, emergencies that last from a day to a week.
Getting prepared for such situations is not expensive. With the exception of food, warm clothing, and a good first-aid kit that we already had on hand, my husband and I obtained our emergency gear for less than $70 by buying a kerosene heater and lamp, propane cookstove, fuel tanks, a battery-powered AM-FM radio, and insulated underwear at yard sales and flea markets.
EMERGENCYStore one gallon of water a day per person in plastic jugs.
Learning From Experience
Disaster preparedness means becoming well informed, establishing a plan, and accumulating items for basic comforts ahead of time. This paid off for us in the late winter of 1983 when we spent two days without electricity during a huge snowstorm that crippled the Southeast. We closed off all rooms and moved into the kitchen during the day, where our second-hand kerosene heater kept us a toasty 72°F, even at its lowest setting. Our two-burner propane cookstove provided quick, hot meals, and the kerosene lamp was a blessing when darkness fell. We listened to weather reports on our batterypowered radio, played cards, and read.
But not one of the neighbors in our quiet residential community was prepared for even this small, short-term emergency. We opened our home to them for warmth, while our propane cookstove moved up and down the block. If this had been a more serious situation lasting a week or longer, it would have been impossible for us to provide enough facilities for all our neighbors—and some of the less healthy retirees could have been in trouble.
Two Types of Planning
Preparing for the unexpected falls into two categories: emergencies that permit you to stay at home and those requiring immediate or delayed evacuation. To be ready for the first situation, you'll need to have the following on hand:
Food: Have enough for at least one week, preferably two. Canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and instant food requiring minimal preparation are best, particularly those that can be eaten unheated if necessary. A supply of multivitamins can help you maintain adequate nutrition.
Page: 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Next >>
