Emergency Planning
After the events of 9/11/2001, the Indonesian Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina, we have all become aware that a disaster can strike when we least expect it. While we cannot always prevent disasters, we can increase our chances of survival by being prepared.
How to prepare for an emergency or disaster will be determined in part by what type of tragedy you are anticipating. While we cannot always predict the type of disaster that may be coming, we can anticipate some potential problems by our geographical area, and the time of year. Winter in the Northeast should find us preparing for a blizzard, while early Fall in the gulf coast area should have people preparing for hurricanes. Californians should be on the lookout for earthquakes, while some areas of the globe should know what to do in the event of a Tsunami. We should all be more aware of how to avoid and plan for terrorist attacks, especially if we are in or near a large city or center of government.
There are many resources in print and on the internet to help you prepare for emergencies. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has advice available at www.ready.gov. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) has useful information as well, including an entire section devoted to kids. The National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) provides information about fire safety as well as other emergencies, and even offers a checklist for preparing a family disaster supplies kit.
Two key elements to preparing for any disaster are having an emergency kit (with such items as medical supplies, food and water supplies, communication supplies, clothing and blankets) and an emergency plan. Make sure to discuss your plan as a family so that all members are aware of what to do, how to contact one another, and where your kit is located. Many parents are concerned that discussing disaster planning will cause their children to become frightened. If you discuss the issues in a matter of fact manner, providing only age-appropriate information, and using some of the guidelines provided by the above-mentioned organizations, your children will most likely feel more secure rather than more frightened. Often, as with adults, it is the fear of the unknown that results in feelings of insecurity.