Emergency Preparedness
Resources:
Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide
Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
Welcome to Earthquake Country!
California Earthquake Authority
Don't forget your pets! Take a look at this 'Animal First Aid Kit' .
Emergency Survival Program
ESP Focus December Newsletter
One item highlighted for this month is "Neighborhood Resources".
"Prior to the next emergency its important to determine what skills you might be able to draw from your own neighborhood."
This is similar to CERT and their guidelines for 'knowing your neighborhood'.
Emergency Survival Program Brochure
Emergency Preparedness Checklists:
10 Essential Items
*NEW* Allstate Foundation & LAFD Brochure: You Can Prepare!
http://www.lafd.org/
Check out http://www.ready.gov and http://www.reallyready.org .. lots of useful information.
Yeah.. Our days are just too busy with the things we do to pay our bills, or just to have fun when we can.. but, I'd hate for you to imagine the thought of coming home, only to find out, not only do you not have one, but all your key papers and contact numbers were lost as well.
An ugly thought, but with the complacency we all suffer from on scary issues surrounding our safety and that of our family or friends in greater detail, the following information is an assist to being wisely prepared. My hopes are that you too face that possibility, however remote, and make use of the forms as well as share the attachments with your family and friends.
Bottom line hint, we are due for a large quake and face uglier possibilities for which "most" are not in the slightest bit prepared to deal with or even acknowledge as a possibility.
Question:
How prepared are you to survive or provide for family members or friends in the event you are stuck in your car for more than 5 hours and not moving?
Question:
How prepared are you on the home front to provide for your family or friends in the event of a major life effecting event like an earthquake or fire?
I ask you to think about these issues since after a major event, your only front line will begin with you (PERIOD!). 99 9/10% of the emergency services will already be out in the field should something happen, and based on the level of need, you will probably be responded to if the issue is critical. when they can respond, IF you can reach them.
The files will give you the peace of mind needed only if you fill them out, and keep duplicate copies (like in your car or with an out of state family member or trusted contact) so that the information is readily available to you. If you have more than one car, keep a copy there as well.
If you have a scanner for your computer, scan the completed files and burn them to a cd for safer private keeping in your car, safe-deposit box, an extended family or out of state friend. (By the way, you should have a mutual out of state contact number as the focal point for all your family members or close friends to check in with in the event of a major event when communication within the state is down! Why? Peace of mind is easier to find when the stress is lessened from a friendly voice that knows how or where everyone is!!)
Main two files come from an organization called Operation Hope ( Hope Coalition America): PDPG - (Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide) and equally as critical is the EFFAK - (Emergency Financial First Aid Kit) . Even with just these two sets completed, in the event of a major problem, information required for insurance or FEMA or personal history or family/personal comfort will be accessed quicker to aid in mitigating the stress such an event will bring about.
I don't send this to you lightly, and if you choose not to complete the forms and store them as suggested nor follow the suggestions for survival preparations, you have made the choice to be complacently comfortable like all the other Joe average Americans who won't be able to respond as needed when the shit hit the fan.
If you'd like other information I've gathered from the Neighborhood Preparedness Ambassador Program, just let me know and I'll share what I have or guide you to the links for information download.
As to the files, best is to just print it out, fill it out, make it safe and be prepared!
Maurece
Information from the Los Angeles Fire Department on Emergency Preparedness
Article from the New York Times on Emergency Preparedness
