Disaster Preparedness
It’s natural disaster season in the South—the time when hurricanes are due to hit and winter storms are due to bury us all under freezing temperatures. This is the time of year when getting stranded or stuck without power proves to be the most dangerous. In acknowledgment of this time of year, the Huntsville Utility companies have come out with a list of ways that you can prepare for emergencies.
Clothing:
Huntsville Utilities advocates dressing in layers. This doesn’t have to mean panty hose inside of tights inside of leggings inside of jeans. While some might feel better about going to these extremes, dressing in layers is for practical purposes not just keeping warm. When you wear layers you can take off or put back on clothing to help keep you feeling comfortable. You don’t want to make yourself look like the little brother from A Christmas Story. You want to be comfortable and prepared.
Test Test Test
Test your home’s smoke detectors and invest in a carbon monoxide detector as well. The winter months lead to more use of fireplaces and other things that produce carbon monoxide. Make sure your detectors all have fresh batteries. Check the batteries in your flashlights every couple of days (this only has to be a quick flick; you don’t have to leave them on). Test the batteries in your transistor radio. Check, test and double check everything.
Stock Up
Those people who run to the store and bring home cases of bottled water and batteries as soon as disaster season starts are not paranoid. They are prepared. You don’t have to build your own bunker, but you do want to have a large supply of bottled water, batteries and food that will not spoil—canned foods, jarred foods and dry foods are best. Food that you can put into a box and not have to worry about whether or not it has expired. It is also a good idea to keep some dried milk on hand and extra baby food for any pets that will need feeding.
Make a plan
Have a designated place for everything that you will need and practice having to get to those things in the dark. Run your family through drills where you exit your home via a variety of escape routes. Keep a map of your home posted somewhere that everyone can see. Make sure that these escape routes and supply locations are memorized and that utilizing them is second nature. That way you won’t have to worry about what to do next in the event of an emergency.
When we were kids we learned all about being prepared and that need for preparation does not go away as we get older. If anything it gets more important because we will have our own families depending on us for leadership and survival. Make sure that you know what to do, how to do it and how to make sure that others are safe as well. You’ll be glad you took the time to work everything out ahead of time!
For more information on preparing for disasters, visit http://www.huntsvillemicroblog.com and http://www.alabamamicroblog.com.
About the Author
Joyce De Witt for Undie Leggs Pantyhose 1982
