The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has paired down the process to four steps:
1. Get a Kit.
2. Make a Plan.
3. Be Informed.
4. Get Involved.
But what do these steps really mean and how can we make sure we are applying them to our own lives?
Get a Kit: This means to make sure each member of your family has a 72 hour kit that meets each individual's needs. Each kit should include the basics like food, water, and hygiene items. But each kit should also contain any medication you may need; something to help quell the boredom of sitting at a shelter for hours/days (especially important for kids) - coloring books, game books, cards, etc; change of clothing; and anything else specific to the individual. There is no right or wrong way to put your kit together - the important thing is to have a kit with the basics. Click here for a great list of suggestions from Be Ready Utah to help get you started.
Make a Plan: Does your family have a plan for communicating during a disaster? Chances are your cell phone won't work - what will you do? Do you know phone numbers if you don't have your phone with you? Where will your family meet if you aren't together when the disaster strikes? Where do you keep your important documents? Does anyone in your family have needs that require special consideration? These questions will be extremely difficult to answer if you have not thought of the answers, made a plan, and practiced it with your family ahead of time. Again, there is no right or wrong way to plan, what is important is that you take the time to make a plan and make sure everyone in your family is familiar with it. Click here for some great info from Be Ready Utah to help get you started.
Be Informed: Do you know what hazards and disasters your family faces - natural and man-made? Utah is susceptible to earthquakes, wild fires, floods, mud slides, and more. Do you know what to do before, during, and after any one of these events? Do you know what alerts your community uses to keep people informed during/after a disaster? Do you know where your local shelters will be located? Take the time to become better informed about your community. Click here for some great tips and info from Be Ready Utah.
Get Involved: The majority of communities in the Nation participate in Emergency Preparedness programs on some level. There are lots of opportunities to become involved. One great way to not only help build your preparedness skills, but also to be trained to help during/after a disaster is to become a member of your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Most likely during a disaster there will not be enough local response personnel available to help everyone in need. The members of the CERT team work together to help support local emergency response personnel in the community. Both Weber and Davis Counties have active CERT programs, click on the county name for more info and to learn how you can get involved.
Bottom line - preparedness is IMPORTANT, but it is something YOU have to do for yourself and your family. Preparedness doesn't have to an elaborate thing, doesn't have to cost you a ton of money, and shouldn't be impractical - it should be done in a way that meets your needs and the needs of your family, so when the disaster does strike, you have one less thing to stress about.
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