Preparing for Disaster with Small Children

Everyday we are faced with challenges, some minimal and some larger than life. It is important to know what to do should you face a challenge, such as a natural disaster. Like many American families, you may have small children at home, so it is important to take necessary precautions to prepare yourself for the worst.

Natural disasters include, but are not limited to Tornados, Hurricanes (see Preparing for a Hurricane), Earthquakes, Fires, Floods, Tsunamis, Volcanic Eruptions, Wildfire, Landslides, and even Terrorism.

To prepare yourself, the first thing you should do is create an Emergency Supply Kit. When putting your kit together, it is important to remember that in case of an evacuation, you may be away from home for a short to long while, and so you should have an adequate amount of supplies. Following is a short list of necessities:

-Drinking Water

-Food (if you are packing canned food, be sure to pack a can opener as well)

-First Aid Kit

-Clothing (keep in mind that weather conditions vary and so it is advisable to pack long-sleeve items, jackets, etc.)

-Medications (if you have a family member with a disability, handicap, or illness, be sure to pack medications and supplies accordingly.)

-Blankets

-Money

-Important papers

As part of your preparation, you should devise a Plan of Emergency, complete with details regarding escape routes, meeting places, ways of communication. If your children are in school, inquire as to whether or not the school has an Emergency Plan should an emergency arise and what this plan entails.

However, most importantly, REMAIN CALM. Your children will look to you for strength and support during a frightening situation.

Quick Tip! – Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross to find out which hazards can possibly strike your community and what risks or effects may result from it.

Southern California becomes the target of wildfire…

Malibu California, known for it’s sandy beaches and home to some of Hollywood’s A-List celebrities is devastated this past Monday as Wildfires engulf the alluring land. Due to hills of dry grasses and it’s boundless forests, California is especially vulnerable to these types of catastrophic wildfires.

Thousands upon thousands of acres of woodland were devoured early Monday morning, with firefighters putting forth exemplary efforts to keep the disastrous wildfire from spreading and attempting to douse the flames.

Sadly enough, it has been recorded that some 1.2 million acres of this country’s woodland burns every year, leaving homeless residents behind, both human and animal.

The recent wildfires in California remind us of an all too common battle, one between man and Mother Nature. And although wildfires can be volatile, as is the case with any natural disaster, it is important to do as much as humanly possible to protect our homes, our family, and ourselves.

Safeguard yourself and the ones you love by keeping an Emergency Supply Kit on hand. Create and practice your family emergency plan, and possibly, the most important thing is to remain informed.

With the daily nuisances of life, it is easy to forget about the uncertainties of the future, however, it is our responsibility to our communities to prevent, plan, and prepare.

[Fact #1: Distressing but true, it is a fact that 4 out of 5 wildfires are caused by humans.]

[Fact #2: Wildfires often begin unrecognized. They spread almost instantly, igniting brush, trees, and homes.]

[Fact #3: Wildfires are described using three specific terms- Surface Fires which burn along the forest floor, moving slowly, Ground fires which are commonly started by lighting and Crown Fires which move quickly along tree tops and spread by wind.]

Things You Can Do Around Your Home to Prepare for Disaster

• Know where the gas, water and power shutoffs are and have the tools near by to be able to shut them off. It is also a good idea to write down where the shutoffs are so that another family member or neighbor can shut them off if you are not home.

• Make an emergency plan and escape route for your home and practice it with your family. It is also a good idea to make sure children know how to contact 911.

• Fasten shelves and heavy pictures or mirrors securely to walls, and don’t place them over beds or couches.

• Keep plenty of aluminum foil on hand, it can serve many purposes in an emergency. Also very useful are zip-seal plastic bags, these have many first aid uses, use for insulation, padding, to stop a sucking chest wound. Even if they are not being re-used to hold things after emptied. Remember, depending on the size of the disaster, your supply line may fall apart, and simple things we take for granted may not be available . After a disaster, think twice before throwing something away you might be able to put it to use if you can think out side the box!

• Make sure you have a few large fire extinguishers in your home type ABC, and that everyone knows how to use them.

• Keep a 5 gal. pail with seat/cover, in it store some garbage bags and several rolls of toilet paper. This can be stored easily in a garage or basement and makes an excellent emergency toilet if your home is damaged or there is no water supply.

• Strap gas appliances to walls or the floor, especially the hot water heater. Your water heater is a very good, large source of drinking water. They are also very heavy, if it were to fall it would break the glass lining of the hot water heater and ruin your water for drinking. If it fell, it would also break the gas lines. Gas appliances are the cause of most fires after an earthquake or hurricane.

• Replace solid gas lines with flexible lines for gas dryers, water heaters, stoves and any other gas appliances. (Check with local building codes)

• Install emergency lighting, as well as making sure that you have plenty of portable light sources available

• Keep bleach and ammonia products in separate areas. If they combine they create a very deadly gas.

Know the difference between Hurricane “Watches” and “Warnings.”

• Hurricane/Tropical Storm Watch—Hurricane/tropical storm conditions
are possible in the specified area, usually within 36 hours.

• Hurricane/Tropical Storm Warning—Hurricane/tropical storm conditions
are expected in the specified area, usually within 24 hours.

• Short Term Watches and Warnings— These warnings provide detailed information
on specific hurricane threats, such as flash floods and tornadoes.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale:

(Category) (Sustained Winds MPH) (Damage) (Storm Surge)

(Cat. 1) 74-95 Minimal: Untied mobile homes, vegetation and signs. 4-5 feet

(Cat. 2) 96-110 Moderate: All mobile homes, roofs, small crafts, flooding. 6-8 feet

(Cat. 3) 111-130 Extensive: Small buildings, low-lying roads cut off. 9-12 feet

(Cat. 4) 131-155 Extreme: Roofs destroyed, trees down, roads cut off, mobile homes
destroyed. Beach homes flooded. 13-18 feet

(Cat. 5) >155 Catastrophic: Most buildings destroyed. Vegetation destroyed.
Major roads cut off. Homes flooded. >18

Will You Be Prepared For A Tornado?

It’s important that you pay close attention to the news and to weather alerts when inclement weather occurs. However, no one can stop a tornado from occurring. Ultimately, proper emergency preparedness is the best choice for you to do for both yourself and your family!
Before a storm know what you will do and where you will go if there is a threat of a tornado. If you have small children, be certain they know the plan as well in case the plan must take place very fast. Having a weather radio as well as backup batteries is desirable and relatively cost effective for singles and families alike.
Ultimately, emergency food and emergency survival items are abundant, however knowing who to trust when purchasing these items is imperative. Having a first-aid kit and other disaster kits on hand is a responsible choice especially if you have children. Lower your risk of injury by staying away from windows. If you are caught on the road and/or outside during a storm, stay within a ditch or somewhere the ground is lowered.
A variety of survival kits for the home are available for various natural disasters from Survival Gear Source. Items such as 72 hour survival kits and first aid kits are must-have for every home. Survival kits include a variety of things:
- Water
- Emergency Food bars
- Radio w/batteries
- Rechargeable flashlight
- Candle & Matches (lighter too)
- Sleeping Bags
- Body Warmers
- Tube tent w/rope
- Ponchos
- Knife, gloves, dust masks
- Hygiene Kits
- First Aid Kit
- Paper & Pencil
- Playing Cards
- Trash Bags
Ultimately, emergency preparedness is important and staying alert and informed is the first step to staying safe. Next, preparing by purchasing a variety of disaster relief items and having them on hand makes the chance of surviving a natural disaster even more likely. Don’t take a chance, purchase survival kits today!