Ready for a Natural Disaster?

I have a confession: I’ve lived in California for a long time and have never assembled a fully supplied emergency preparedness kit. That is, until now. Maybe it was watching the bracing footage of the myriad natural disasters in the United States and abroad that finally got me to think, “How long until something happens in our area and I’m left shaking my head saying, ‘I meant to but never quite got around to it…’”

Planning ahead for an emergency such as a fire or an earthquake can mean the difference between coping with disaster and falling victim to it. Plus, I’m responsible for my two children, so the stakes are raised.

If a natural disaster struck today, would you be ready? If you don’t know where to start, there is a wealth of online information. The American Red Cross offers three steps to prepare for the unexpected:

• Assemble a disaster kit
• Have a plan
• Be informed

So I did it; I assembled my kit. First, I collected what I already had on hand. With a three-stop trip to the local dollar store, drugstore and grocery, I pulled the rest together. Everything but the blankets fits in one bin. My family’s disaster kit now includes:

• Lots of water: one gallon of water per person per day
• Non-perishable food to last at least three days
• A manual can opener
• First-aid supplies
• An extra pair of eye glasses
• Medical insurance cards
• Prescription medicines
• Cash
• A battery-powered radio
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Fire extinguisher
• Blankets
• Matches
• Plates, cups and cutlery
• Cooking pot and spoon
• Pet food (Fido and Fluffy will need their kibble)

When it comes to emergency preparedness, now I’m as ready as I can be. If I can find the motivation to build a kit, perhaps you can too and we can all be safe as possible together!