Survival Tips
Disaster
Assistance - How Does it Work?
The First of many links on Survial
Preparedness
The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National
Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) has issued several
on-line "Prevention Guides"
Knowledge
and Preparation
"Knowledge
and preparation" are the keys to survival in the event
of a catastrophe, from an annoying power outage to TEOTWAWKI
(The End Of The World As We Know It).
Do
you want to be prepared? Or do you want to be surprised? Make
disaster preparations at home. Survivalism is
a state of mind.
The
Red Cross offers tips and information about natural disasters.
Red
Cross Preparedness Check List
Disasters
happen anytime and anywhere. And when disaster strikes,
you may not have much time to respond. A highway spill
or hazardous material could mean evacuation. A winter storm
could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood,
tornado, or any other disaster could cut water, electricity,
and telephones-for days.
After
a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on
the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You
could get help in hours, or it may take days. Would your
family be prepared to cope with the emergency until help
arrives?
Your
family will cope best by preparing for disaster before it
strikes. One way to prepare is by assembling a Disaster Supplies
Kit. Once disaster hits, you won't have time to shop or search
for supplies. But if you've gathered supplies in advance,
your family can endure an evacuation or home confinement.
Prepare
Your Kit
Review
the checklist below.
Gather
the supplies that are listed. You may need them if your
family is confined at home.
Place
the supplies you'd most likely need for an evacuation in
an easy-to-carry container. These supplies are listed with
an asterisk (*).
There
are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food,
first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency
supplies, and special items. Keep the items that you would
most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry
container--suggested items are marked with an asterisk(*).
Possible
Containers Include-
Water
Store
water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles.
Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such
as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person
needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot
environments and intense physical activity can double that
amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will
need more.
Store
one gallon of water per person per day.
Keep
at least a three-day supply of water per person (two quarts
for drinking, two quarts for each person in your household
for food preparation/sanitation).*
Food
Store
at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select
foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking,
and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can
of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight.
*Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster
Supplies Kit:
Ready-to-eat
canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
Canned
juices
Staples
(salt, sugar, pepper, spices, etc.)
High
energy foods
Vitamins
Food
for infants
Comfort/stress
foods
First
Aid Kit
Assemble
a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. A first
aid kit* should include:
Non-Prescription
Drugs
Aspirin
or nonaspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea
medication
Antacid
(for stomach upset)
Syrup
of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Laxative
Activated
charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
Tools
and Supplies
Sanitation
Clothing
and Bedding
Special
Items
Remember
family members with special requirements, such as infants
and elderly or disabled persons
For
Baby*
For
Adults*
Entertainment
Games
and books
Important
Family Documents
Keep
these records in a waterproof, portable container:
- Will,
insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds
- Passports,
social security cards, immunization records
- Bank
account numbers
- Credit
card account numbers and companies
Inventory
of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
Family
records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Store
your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.
Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supplies Kit in
the trunk of your car.
Keep
items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water
supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace your
stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family
needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes,
etc.
Ask
your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription
medications.
General
Disaster Preparedness Materials for Children
"Disaster
Preparedness Coloring Book" (ARC 2200, English, or ARC
2200S, Spanish) for children ages 3-10.
"Adventures
of the Disaster Dudes" (ARC 5024) video and Presenter's
Guide for use by an adult with children in grades 4-6.
To
get copies of American Red Cross Community Disaster Education
materials, contact your
local Red Cross chapter.
This
brochure is also available in other languages from the Red
Cross Website. The translations were provided by the Humanitarian Resources
Insititute.
Arabian
Cambodian
Chinese
English
Farsi
Hmong
Japanese
Korean
Laotian
Russian
Spanish
Tagalog
Vietnamese
From "Disaster
Supplies Kit." developed by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency and the American
Red Cross.
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