Preparedness

A disaster of any kind may interfere with normal supplies of food, water, heat and normal day-to-day necessities. It is important to keep a stock of emergency supplies on hand sufficient to meet your needs for a seventy-two hours (three days). Although you may not be directly in an area directly impacted by a natural disaster or terrorist event, utilities and other services may be affected.

Emergency Supply Kit

In an emergency, our first responders will be focusing on treating those who are injured or may need to be evacuated and it may take sometime to restore power or other services to you and your family. That is why an emergency supply kit is essential so that you and your family can take care of yourselves for a three-day period of time. It is not expected that disruptions would be that long, however, having the necessary supplies will ensure that you are cared for and our emergency workers can focus on those most in need.

Prepare Several Kits

If you are forced to remain in your house during a nuclear, chemical or biological release or some other natural disaster or event, adequate supplies could help you live through a period of danger without hardship. If you are directed to evacuate instead of sheltering-in-place, the emergency supply kit can be taken with you and used to ease the transition to a shelter. Ideally one should prepare two kits and store supplies in watertight containers. Keep one easily accessible in your home and one in the trunk of your car.

Update Your Kit Regularly

It is advisable to update your kit regularly. You should replace the water supply and any food that may have reached its use-by or expiration date. An easy way to remind oneself to update your kit is to use Daylight Savings Time. When you change your clocks, you should also change your kits. It is also a good time to check the batteries in your home’s smoke alarms and other household safety equipment.