Pick up any newspaper or go on any news web site
and you will see an article identifying some sort of disaster or large scale
emergency. Terrorism, wildfires, flooding and disease are all disasters. Some
disasters are larger then others but to those who are experiencing the
disaster, the size of the event is irrelevant if the loss is great.
As a whole, we are a people who choose not
to think about disasters because we are either afraid, ignorant, or have
become complacent. Disasters occur all the time whether from natural events or
manmade; large scale or personal. It is true that history has a way of
repeating itself and we are in perpetual cycle of disasters. Knowing this the
smart thing to do is to make some preparations in advance within reason.
Planning is cheap. Take the time to think
about what would happen if you lost electricity. Could you heat your house?
Could you cook? Could you use the bathrooms? You could possibly get along for
a few days by flushing toilets with buckets of swimming pool water, cooking on
the gas grill, and using your fireplace for the first time in many years, if
you have one.
Other issues are also important. How close
is the supermarket? (If its too close they may be without power as well and
their food might spoil from the power loss.) How will I get gas for my car if
the pumps do not work? Do you own a generator? Do you have gas? When was the
last time you ran it? Will it start? Are the sump pumps working? How much
money is in the checking account?
That last question is really important. And
if your account is low how good is your credit? How secure is your job? If you
take off too many days to manage a home disaster will you lose your job? Are
you an essential employee that is required to go to work during a large scale
disaster? Whos protecting your home and kids?
Start by sitting down with our family and
discussing emergency issues such as where to go if mom and dad are not
immediately available. Include the grandparents both as a resource and as
someone who will need help from you. Get to know your neighbors and let them
know that you can also help them if they need assistance. Its important to
know that eventually everyone experiences some sort of emergency and having
someone to help you makes all the difference in the world.
Disasters require planning to help avert
them or if they are already here, to manage them so the loss is minimized. You
may not yet be convinced that going to Home Depot and spending $500 on a
generator is for you. But remember, planning is cheap, wise and you will be
glad you made some emergency plans. Spend some time and get yourself an
emergency plan for your family.
The information in these articles are the opinions of our staff or the writers and
though we are confidant this is accurate information Safety First and its writers are not held
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