National Preparedness Month Tip 3!

Making a plan is just step one. This week it's time to take those next couple of steps towards actual preparedness.

Make a quick Go Kit for yourself (at least). In case you need to leave your house quickly in an emergency, have a small, dedicated backpack ready to go with at minimum copies of critical documents (e.g., passport, medical information), prescriptions, basic supplies (e.g., multi-tool, gloves, first aid kit, flashlight with batteries, phone charger), easy to carry food, water, cash, and any other items you would want to have if unable to return to your home immediately. Add a few extra masks and hand sanitizers for good measure.

Make a 72-hour Kit for yourself and your family. Designed to support sheltering in-place or leaving for several days, it is worthwhile creating and refreshing a full 72-hour kit. There are many sources of information for what to include in such a kit, including in Weston's Community Preparedness & Response Guide and at https://www.ready.gov/kit. Starter kits are available for purchase online through a wide variety of vendors. As always, include any COVID-related extra precautions. See the PSA video below for some more pointers.

If you're not sure where to begin, take a few minutes to go through the motions of grabbing what you would need for 72 hours and leaving the house. How long did it take? Did it all fit in your vehicle with room for people and pets? Or perhaps try living for three days off of just the supplies that you have at home at the moment. Use these sorts of practice runs to identify and fill gaps in your plans and in your preparations. Plans need stress-testing, and it’s best to do that when the cost of “failure” is low and there is plenty of time to incorporate lessons learned.This is also a good time to expand your plans to make sure you include those “second-order” needs that still must be considered in an emergency. For most people, food, water, and shelter usually come quickly to mind as they make arrangements. However, financial and legal documents, identification forms, medical information, and lists of important contacts are also very important parts of any preparedness plan. While many of us carry that information around on our computers, tablets, and smart phones, preparedness means having them in alternative forms as well. Don’t put yourself at the mercy of electrical power supplies and internet access. A few minutes and a few dollars spent laminating copies of important documents can help you long after your phone becomes an attractive brick.