Emergency Preparedness - 10 Questions - Part 1

Today’s topic is EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. Peace of mind when it comes to more adverse circumstances is part of the battle to getting through those circumstances.

Suppose an announcement is made that you need to evacuate your area in the next 15 minutes...

Suppose a fire breaks out and it seems uncontrollable...

Would you know what to take? Would you know where your important documents are? Would you have to search through a drawer of bag filled with all kinds of stuff to get your birth certificate, passport or marriage certificate. Do you have a kit packed with essentials that you can just grab and go.

We don’t look forward to anything happening to us but it is wise to be prepared and have a plan in place if you were to face an emergency situation. I am going to share some information with you that will hopefully help you to have peace of mind in emergency situations. I am going to walk you step by step by asking you ten questions that will help you think through what you need to do. The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens.

Here are the first 5:

1. Do you have a plan for getting out of the house? Does everyone know it ? Do you have an emergency bag of food and water for your family? Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.

2. If you have pets, are your pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets to safety? Do you have some pet food in portable sizes to take with you?

3. Do you keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a family member's home? Do you have picture albums in one place ready to grab and go at a moments notice?

4. Do you have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank or other safe place and only keep copies at the house? This keeps you from panicking. If you have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!

5. Are your medications easily accessible to take with you? Don't forget the ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Do you have a small ice chest and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go? If you have babies; remember their formula or medications.

On Monday God willing we will cover the other 5 questions. Take the next few days to think about and take care of these first 5 things as much as you are able. Take baby steps and do what you can. The resulting peace is oh so worth it.