Family Disaster Plan

Family Disaster Plan

 

 

One thing that we are reminded of yearly here in Florida is to have a family disaster plan because we live in a hurricane, tornado and flood prone area.  It's not a bad idea to have a family disaster plan no matter where you live because you never know when you might be out of work, or have an injury or illness strike, or a natural disaster.  In this strained economy, it just makes sense to have some back up so that you aren't relying from paycheck to paycheck only. The idea of paying for, accumulating and storing what your family will need for, say, 3 days to survive on can be overwhelming. I once attended an organization that came up with a very good idea on how to obtain all the things one might want to include in a storage plan.  Make up a list of things you will need and each time you go to the grocery store, just buy one more thing from that list for your storage.  This helps keep the process from being overwhelming and therefore not done.

Here is a list of items you may need for a disaster plan.  You would modify this to suit your family's needs.  Remember to store everything in water proof containers and keep in an easily accessable place.

Water: 1 gallon of water per person per day

Children, nursing mothers and hot environmental conditions may require more.

Store water in plastic container s like soft drink bottles.  Avoid using milk bottles as they are made to decompose quickly. Glass bottles could break. Remember to change water every 6 months or it will go stale.

 

Food: Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables

           Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)

           Staples: sugar, salt, pepper

           High Energy foods like peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix

           Vitamins

           Foods needed for infants or the elderly, special diet requirements

          Comfort/stress foods: Cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops, instant coffee,

          tea bags.

 Select foods that require no refridgeration, preparation or cooking or little water.  If you need to heat food, store a can of sterno.  Best to select foods that are lightweight and comapct. Rotate stored foods every 6 months.

 

First Aid: Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes

2 inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

4 inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)

hypoallergenic adheasive tape

Triangular bandages (3)

2 inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

3 inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)

scissors

tweezers

needle

moistened towelettes

anticeptic

thermometer

tongue blades (at least 2)

tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant

safty pins, assorted sizes, cleansing soap

latex gloves (at least 2 pair)

sunscreen

bug spray

aspirin or other pain reliever

anti-diarrhea meds

antiacid

syrup of Ipecac

Laxatives

activated charcoal

Medicine dropper

 

Tools and Supplies:

Mess kit or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils

battery operated radio and extra batteries

flashlight and extra batteries

candles, matches

cash or travelers checks, change

non-electric can opener, utility knife

fire extenguisher, small one

tube tent

pliers

Duct tape

compass

matches in waterproof container

aluminum foil

plastic ctorage containers

signal flare

paper, pencils

needles and thread

shut off wrench to shut off household gas and water

whistle

plastic sheeting

map of area to locate shelters

toilet paper and towelettes

soap, liquid detergent

feminine supplies

personal hygiene items

plastic garbage bags with ties for personal sanitation use

plastic busket with tight lid

disinfectant

household chlorine bleach

 

Clothing and Bedding: Rethink this every 6 months with the growth of children

Sturdy shoes or work boots

rain gear

blankets or sleeping bags

hat and gloves

thermal underwear if cold is an issue

sunglasses

include at least 1 complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

 

Special Items:

For baby: formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications

Adults: medication, denture needs, Insulin, extra eye glasses

Entertainment: games and books, small electronics with extra batteries

 

Important Family Documents:

Keep these records in waterproof container that you can easily grab and go in the event of an emergency

Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds (cars, house), stocks and bonds

Passports, social security cards, immunization records,

bank account numbers and internet access information

Credit card numbers and companies

Inventory of valuable goods withphotos, important phone numbers

Family records: Marriage cetificates, birth certificates, death certificates

 

Remember to develope and discuss a family emergency plan with your family.  What to do in case of a house fire...exit plans, etc.

A hurricane: If mom and dad are at work and the kids are all at school and daycare, who picks up which children and where do you all meet? Where do you go as a family if a hurricane is impending and you are ordered to evacuate? Do you have pets? Will they come or do you need to arrange with a vet or kennel?

It is easy to become complacent or to think you will get to this at one time or another, but it is very important to plan ahead.  Especially in these days of economic strife.