Yes, I got this info right from the internet so it has to be right. Now cleanup that coffee we just made a mess with . NO Virginia not everything on the internet is true, however this is . So I thought we would take a few lines to help get yourself and those in your care, prepared for emergencies and disasters. Those of us involved in ARES know that emergencies can happen unexpectedly in our communities. We’ve seen on the news: tornado outbreaks, river floods and flash floods, historic earthquakes, bus rollovers, tsunamis, and even water main breaks and power outages in U.S. cities affecting millions of people for days at a time. Believe it or not Police, fire and rescue may not always be able to reach you quickly in an emergency or disaster. I think self care is the most important step you can take in helping your local responders is being able to take care of yourself and those in your care; the more people who are prepared, the quicker the community will recover The websites recommend to prepare and plan in the event you must go for three days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket, or local services for several days. Here’s what they say..

Just follow these four steps:

• Stay Informed: Information is available from federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial resources. Access Ready.gov to learn what to do before, during, and after an emergency.
• Make a Plan: Discuss, agree on, and document an emergency plan with those in your care. For sample plans, see Ready.gov. Work together with neighbors, colleagues, and others to build community resilience.
• Build a Kit: Keep enough emergency supplies – water, nonperishable food, first aid, prescriptions, flashlight, and battery-powered radio on hand – for you and those in your care.
• Get Involved: There are many ways to get involved especially before a disaster occurs. The whole community can participate in programs and activities to make their families, homes and places of worship safer from risks and threats. Community leaders agree that the formula for ensuring a safer homeland consists of volunteers, a trained and informed public, and increased support of emergency response agencies during disasters.

I suggest that by taking those few simple actions, you can make your family safer. I would add to the lists “out there” for the public, for our Hams, batteries for the HT, a length of known to be good coax maybe 30 to 50 ft( whatever your plan dictates), a mag mount antenna for the HT and a copy of the manual for the HT, oh yes and the HT or a spare if that’s in your budget. For a longer list of ideas check the TECOARES website for go kit info.

September is National Preparedness Month. Let’s set a good example, get prepared and share your preparedness with others, who know you just might save a life.

For more information, check out: www.Ready.gov then browse the site for /be-informed, /make-a-plan, /build-a-kit or /get-involved.

73
Rick