Is your family ready for an emergency? If you had to leave your home and evacuate your local area, do you know what you would take, where you would go, or how you would get there? When we plan for contingencies, we allow ourselves the opportunity to feel empowered, to feel  in control. If a storm of epic proportions approached your home, that little, tiny feeling of control just may make the difference between calm and hysteria for you and your family. It never hurts to prepare for emergencies. Hopefully you and your family will never need this information but, if you ever do, wouldn’t you feel better if you were prepared?

Have a Plan

The first thing you’ll need to do is have a plan and discuss it with your family. Here are a few questions to consider when devising your plan:

Transportation

Do you have reliable transportation? If you do, do you always keep the gas tank full? If you don’t, then you should consider doing so or at the very least, keep enough cash on hand to do so in the event of an emergency. If you do not have reliable transportation, is there someone nearby with whom you and your family could ride with in the event of an evacuation?

Money

When the people in an area are asked to evacuate, the first thing they’ll do is go to the nearest automated teller machine (ATM) for the cash to do so. Don’t count on being one of the first ones to the ATM. Have a small amount of cash tucked away at home for such an emergency.

Communication

Contact

Communication is the third thing to consider. Do you have a cellular phone? If so, do you have a spare battery that you keep charged? Do you have a mobile battery charger for it? When a disaster hits, you’ll want to contact family and friends. A cellular phone will be invaluable since you may lose electricity and you home phone will be inoperative and public phones may not be available or operational. If you do have a cellular phone, have you programmed ICE yet? ICE means “In Case of Emergency.” If something should happen to you, the paramedics and other emergency services personnel will look for identification on you but they’ll also look for an ICE listing on your cell phone. By programming the name and phone number of your “next of kin,” they’ll be able to contact them quickly and let them know where you are.

Information

The second part of the communication equation is also very important. Do you have a small battery operated radio? You’ll want news of what’s happening and this will be the most reliable way to get it if you should lose electricity. Have that radio and some extra batteries ready in a handy place in case of emergency.

Point of Contact & Rendezvous

When considering your communication plan, designate a friend or relative who does not live in your local area to be a point of contact just in case you and your family get separated. That way, if you can’t contact each other, you can each contact Aunt Mildred in Detroit and she can let you know where any lost family members are and if they are alright or not. (It is always best to let Aunt Mildred in on this plan too.) As well as having a point of contact, you should designate a rendezvous point. If you and your family are separated and can’t contact anyone, you should have a designated location for everyone to meet at. Remember that this can’t be within your local area, so the neighborhood park or the back yard is out of the question. Aunt Mildred’s house might be worth considering.

What to Take with You

Pets

Do you have pets? If you do, you are responsible for them and they depend upon you for their safety. You’ll need to consider their needs and at least try to take them with you. Some things to consider when evacuating with pets are:

• Are they properly identified with collars and tags?
• Do they have traveling cages/kennels for their own safety in a vehicle?
• Do they have bedding or a blanket that can be taken with them to provide them with a sense of security?
• Do they have a special toy that may help them cope in a stressful situation?
• Do they need any particular medication and do you always keep enough on hand?
• Do you have covered airtight bowls to store food and water for them?
• Do you keep enough pet food on hand to take with you in the event of an emergency?

Remember that pets are very much like people. When things get crazy, they get stressed out. Small animals can even die from excessive stress. The better prepared you are, the less stressed both you and your pet will be.

The “Go Bag”

Soldiers who are placed on alert always have a “Go Bag.” Civilians who may need to evacuate at a moment’s notice should have a “Go Bag” as well. This should be a bag or suitcase that contains the following: a clean change of clothes, extra socks and underwear, toiletries, a first aid kit, a blanket, a flashlight, personal identification complete with correct address and any important documents you may have such as deeds to property, insurance policies, a will, living will and powers of attorney.

If you are a gun owner, be sure that your guns are locked, whether they are left in your home or you’ve decided to take them in your automobile. Gun safety is paramount in the event of an emergency. High stress levels, uncertain situations and guns can be a recipe for disaster.

Considering those high stress levels, be sure to pack items that may help children cope such as books, toys and/or a favorite pillow.

Toiletries

When packing toiletries, consider the basics only. Taking a steamer trunk full of makeup will be absolutely unnecessary in the event of an emergency. Consider packing the following:

Sanitary Pads/Tampons: Whether you are a woman or not, sanitary pads can make an excellent emergency dressing on a bleeding wound.

Deodorant: You’re likely to work up a bit of a sweat in the event of an emergency.

Hand Cleanser: Water may not be available and even if it is, it may be full of germs as in the event of flooding.

Baby Powder: This is excellent to have in quantities. After several days of not bathing, a little baby powder on the scalp will help to keep that greasy hair not so greasy. It is also great for keeping feet dry and healthy. If your feet are exposed to long periods of wetness, “jungle rot” can develop. Keep your feet as dry as possible.

Baby Wipes: Whether you have a baby or not, baby wipes can be very refreshing when you find yourself without clean water for bathing.

Diapers: These are a necessity of you have a child who needs diapers. In the event of an emergency, you may not be able to stop at the local grocery store for diapers. They also make an excellent emergency dressing on a bleeding wound.

Toothpaste/Toothbrush: You’ll just feel better.

First Aid Kit

First aid is important in the event of an emergency. Paramedics and hospitals may be overflowing with people who need assistance. You’ll be much better off if you can take care of your own small injuries until help is available. Consider packing the following:

• Band Aid Liquid Bandage and assorted adhesive bandages
• Elastic type ACE bandage
• Gauze pads
• Rubbing Alcohol/Peroxide: To clean and disinfect cuts or wounds.
• Antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin
• Tylenol, Aspirin and/or Motrin
• Large Bandana: This can be used as a sling, a tourniquet or to wrap a wound.

Provisions

Lastly, you’ll want to consider provisions. Water and cooking facilities may not be available, so it will pay for you to be prepared. The first thing you’ll want to pack is fresh, clean water in an airtight container. In the event of an emergency, you’ll want to use it sparingly. Don’t use if for bathing, just for drinking, and make sure that everyone in your family drinks enough. When people become dehydrated, their thinking becomes muddled and hysteria can set in. These are things you do not need in the event of an emergency. Always be sure to have drinking water available. At least one quart per person, per day is a modest estimate of what you’ll need.

When considering foodstuff, remember to keep it non-perishable, healthy (you’ll need your strength) and make sure it doesn’t need water for preparation. Consider the following:

• Beef or Turkey Jerky
• Dried Fruit
• Saltines or Crackers
• Peanut Butter
• Beans and/or Canned Soups
• Canned Tuna, Ham or Chicken

You’ll also want to be sure you have a can opener and utensils packed to go with these items. If you’ve set aside enough water, you may want to pack along the following just to keep you and your family comfortable:

• Powdered Milk/Tang
• Tea
• Instant Coffee
• Sugar/Dry Creamer

If you aren’t averse to roughing it military style, you can always consider a little Sterno Stove and Meals Ready to Eat (MREs).

Remember, planning for an emergency will help you to feel a little more in control when disaster strikes. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your plan, but just knowing that you have it may help you to sleep better at night and feel a little better when the Weather Channel gets scary.