Hurricane Earl: Be Prepared!

To our friends in North Carolina and along the Eastern seaboard who are expecting a visit from Earl: Hang in there!

A quit note about emergency preparedness: in the five years since Hurricane Katrina, there has been a heightened awareness among communities and families about the importance of establishing a safety plan for your home. A basic safety plan doesn't have to revolve around a specific disaster--every family should have the following in the event of any sort of unforeseen catastrophe:

*Central meeting place on or near your property as well as meeting place in a more public area, such as a parking lot, in the event that all family members are mobile and cannot get home

*Central emergency out-of-state contact who can serve as a clearinghouse for family members to learn the status/whereabouts of other family members

*Non-perishable food and water--one gallon of water per family member and pet per day

*Blankets and waterproof gear

*Battery-operated radio or rechargeable radio

*Flashlight

*Portable light sources, like the Mr Beams LED lights

*Charged cell phone--even if it is not associated with an active account, most newer cell phones are capable of dialing 911 if charged

*Matches and candles

It is a good idea to stick emergency documents, such as copies of insurance cards and contact information, in a storage bag and tape it to the inside of your refrigerator. The refrigerator is basically fireproof and waterproof, so by the time you are able to access the information, it should be safe and legible.

Be sure to contact your local American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) to learn more about creating an emergency kit for your family. They can also provide you with important contact information in the event of a local/regional/national disaster. Don't be caught in the storm. An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.