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We cannot always control mother nature but we can prepare ourselves for disasters. In order to be prepared, everyone should do three things: prepare an emergency supply kit, make an emergency family plan, be informed about the different types of emergencies that occur and the appropriate responses for each one.
Get a Kit
A basic emergency kit should include:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- Additional items to consider including in your emergency supply kit:
- Prescriptions medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, indentification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler's checks and change
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding for winter months or if you are evacuating to a cooler climate.
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper - When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Fire Extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Create a Family Emergency Plan
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes so it's important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how and where you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.
Some important things to consider in developing a plan:
- It may be easier to call someone long distance rather than locally in case of emergency. Make sure each member of your family knows the number and has enough change or a pre-paid calling card in case they need to use a pay phone to make the call.
- Inquire about the plans at places your family spends a lot of time: school, work, day care.
- To print out an emergency plan form from ready.gov, click here.
Be Prepared for Specific Emergencies
For more information on specific emergencies, visit the Georgia Emergency Management Agency or click on one of the links below:
For more information, contact my office or click below for your county's emergency management agency:
For a history of natural disasters in Georgia, click here.
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