GROWING WISER Will You Survive if a Disaster Strikes?
by Dorie U. Sugay
dorie@visitingangels.com
T
ornados, tsunamis, earthquakes – how can we be expected to think of them when we are enjoying eighty degree weather in the South County? If you want to be a survivor, how can you not? “I know I should do it” will be a phrase you’ll wish you didn’t say nonchalantly should a disaster strike. It is a fact that those who have a disaster sur- vival plan fare much better than those who don’t, when the unthinkable hap- pens. In this day and age, we have more than the earthquake to worry about; we need to be prepared for man-made disas- ters as well, so please – read this article and start to develop a plan.
ARE YOU READY TO BE TRULY PREPARED? For those who recognize the importance of having a fully developed plan pronto– go to
www.ready.gov/america. This site has a ton of helpful info. In this issue, we can just get you started.
WILLING TO AT LEAST START THE PLAN? For those who realistically tend to do things one step at a time, here’s how you can start:
Be in the know. If you or a loved one live in the Santa Clara County, you may want to register with AlertSCC. Go to
www.alertSCC.com. This is an easy, free,
confidential way for anyone in the Santa Clara County to get emergency warning sent to your cell phone, mobile device, email or landline. AlertSCC can reach you wherever you are to provide information and instructions should an emergency occur such as flooding, wildfires, post-dis- aster info about shelters, even public safety incidents that immediately affect your neighborhood. I would not suggest you register your senior parent for this; hearing about crimes that affect their neighborhood might cause anxiety but you might want to know what is happening in your Mom or Dad’s area!
If you are in the San Benito County, the reverse 911 will kick in and there are newly formed Certified Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in the area who will be “looking out” for communities they are assigned to. (More on this in future issues). An emergency AM/FM Weather Alert and GMRS radio is a great investment. This “all-hazard weather-alert radio” auto- matically notifies you of hazards or severe weather when an alert is issued. Target and Radio Shack sell them, or go to
www.first-
trustindustries.com Get a Kit. According to Gilroy’s Fire Captain Roy Shackel, my buddy and “go to” guy for this type of information, it is best to plan to survive two to three days
(ideally more) because it could take that long to get help. You could get help in hours, or it could take days or weeks. Basic services may be cut off for days, so plan to survive without electricity, gas, water or telephone service. Remember that a disas- ter is not on a schedule and it is just as like- ly to happen in the winter as it is in the summer. You can buy these kits from local ven-
dors. You can Google or check out the fol- lowing: Redcross:
www.redcrossstore.org; Readysmart:
www.readysmart.com or in Hollister, there’s First Trust Industries:
www.firsttrustindustries.com. Remember to personalize your kit to address special needs, if any. For as low as twenty dollars you can have a very basic survival kit. There is no reason not to have one! Your basic kit ideally would have water (1 gal. per person per day), non-perishable food, battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, whistle (to sig- nal for help), dust mask (to help filter con- taminated air) and plastic sheeting and duct tape to keep things in place, moist tow- elettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties (for personal sanitation), wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, can opener if you choose to have canned foods, local maps and cell
46 July 2011 • Out & About
www.outandaboutmagazine.com
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