Countdown to Preparedness

Think about how much time each member of your family spends outside the home. Work, school, socializing—often it seems that the only time we’re at home as a family is when we’re all sleeping, if even then. So the odds of disaster striking when one or more family members are out and about is much greater than it happening when everyone is all in one place.

This can lead to a tense and anxiety-filled situation. The thought of not knowing where your loved ones are, whether they’re OK, will be extremely nerve-racking. Can they get home from where they are? What if you need to evacuate the home? Do they know where to find you?

During a typical day, I’m working about thirty miles from home. I have children attending two different schools. My wife is usually home but could be grocery shopping, taking the dogs to the vet, or otherwise just be out. If something major happened, we could all be going in different directions.

First, determine who will pick up the kids from school. Make sure this is communicated clearly to every member of the family. You might also consider having a note placed in your child’s school file indicating that in the event of an emergency, you will pick up the child at school, and he or she should not be placed on the bus home. If your child is old enough to be driving himself or herself to school, talk to him or her about the importance of coming straight home in an emergency, rather than going out sightseeing.

Next, decide on a rallying point away from home. This is to be used in the event that you can’t get to your home for some reason. Pick a specific location that every member of your family will know how to get to, such as a local restaurant or a relative’s home on the other side of town. The first destination would be to come home, of course. The rallying point is only if home can’t be reached.

Third, pick a relative or friend who lives outside the area to act as a communication hub. Each member of the family should be instructed to call this person to fill him or her in on each person’s location and status. Sometimes local phone systems get overwhelmed and calls won’t go through, but by having a contact out of the area, you can still have a way to at least relay messages. Make sure you volunteer yourself to do the same for that person.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even if phone lines and cell towers are being swamped, text messages will often still get through. E-mail is another option, given the advent of smart phones and Wi-Fi for laptops.

If you have a trusted neighbor who is normally home when everyone in your family is gone for the day, perhaps ask him or her to keep an eye on the house and let you know when family members are home safe.

Knowing who is supposed to do what will go a long way toward lessening panic and anxiety. Granted, parents will always worry until their child is safe in their arms. The idea here, though, is to make plans and communicate them to everyone involved, making sure each person knows exactly what he or she is supposed to do.

WEEK 34 ASSIGNMENTS

TASKS

1. Draw up your plans for regrouping in an emergency. Talk about them in detail with everyone involved so there are no misunderstandings or miscommunica-tions.

2. If you have children in school, talk to school officials about their emergency plans. What are teachers and students expected to do during a disaster? What’s the procedure for picking up your children during or immediately after a crisis?

SAVINGS

Add $10 to your Prepper Savings Account.

TOTAL PREPPER SAVINGS ACCOUNT:

WATER STORAGE

One gallon (or two 2-liter bottles) per person or a case of bottled water for the household.

TOTAL WATER STORAGE:

GROCERY LIST

3 cans vegetables, your choice

2 cans fruit, your choice, but stick with those packed in water or juice, rather than syrup

2 cans meat (tuna, chicken, beef), your choice

2 cans soup, not condensed (they require water)

1 jar jelly or fruit preserves

1 box (12 packages) ramen noodles

1 box instant potatoes

1 lb white rice