Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is an extremely important aspect of day-to-day life that most people overlook. What would you do if you were trapped in your home for three days with no electricity or running water? During a natural disaster, such as a flood, emergency services may not be able to get to you in a timely manner so it is important to have a kit ready to shelter in place.

There may also be members of your household may not be prepared for disasters, as well as the aftermath. With the history of flooding in the Monadnock Region, it is important that every member of your household knows what to do in case of a flood or other disaster. Take time now to go through the safety precautions and protocols of flooding with them. What about a personal emergency, like a fire? Does your family have a meeting spot or a plan? Talk to them about these types of disasters as well.

In addition to making a plan, a collection of critical supplies is also required. Get started with some of these essential tips:

• Create an emergency water supply of at least 1 gallon of water per day for each person and pet for 3 days. A 2-week supply is better. Strongly consider storing additional water, for pregnant women, and for family members who are sick.

• Your emergency supplies kit is not a dumping ground for all the forlorn and forgotten things in your pantry. Take into consideration your family’s dietary needs, likes and dislikes, and—of course—any food allergies and medical conditions when choosing foods for your kit.

• Be prepared with an ample supply of medications and the devices and supplies necessary to take or administer the prescription for everyone in your household.

There are many resources through FEMA (www.ready.gov), CDC (emergency.cdc.gov) and ReadyNH (www.readynh.gov) to assist you in planning for emergencies, creating an emergency preparedness kit. You can also learn more about how to stay informed before, during and after an emergency.

You can also find resources to prepare for emergencies in your local community. Need some help getting started? Join a free, interactive webinar on Tuesday, July 27th at 1:30 p.m. (90 minutes in length) to gain skills and knowledge from emergency preparedness experts and create a plan to prepare for and respond to severe weather events and other emergencies. Participants who register first will receive a basic emergency preparedness kit and all attendees will have a chance to win an item like a weather radio/flashlight to enhance their kit. Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/SMLBBSN to pre-register.

The brief survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RGMMSZL, and should take less than five minutes to complete.