Be Prepared: Getting Ready for Emergencies

Getting Started on my Emergency Kit – Peggy Sue McRae

Last week during the snow I was snowed in, a predicament I generally delight in except that I quickly ran out of creamer and was kicking myself for not having a few cans of evaporated milk in the back of my cupboard. I had enough oatmeal and black-eyed peas to survive indefinitely but I would have been happier had I been better prepared. It inspired me to research what I would need to really be prepared for any possible emergency. Especially for seniors, if there is ice out there, don’t walk on it! Be prepared to hunker down at home. The San Juan County Dept. of Emergency Management recommends being prepared to be on your own for one whole week.

On the Island we are most likely to face snowstorms, windstorms, and power outages rarely lasting more than a few days. When our schools call a snow day you can also count on the Mullis Center being closed. If schools open late call the Mullis Center around 10:00 am (378-2677) and if the cook has made it in and the town has sanded the roads senior lunch will be on.

Not to be an alarmist but we do live on the Pacific Rim where earthquakes and tsunamis are also possibilities. Over the years we have seen some pretty dramatic wind and snow storms. In 2013 due to a cable breakage our Internet and 911 services were down for 10 days. If you were here in 1980 you probably remember exactly what you were doing the morning Mt. St. Helens erupted. These things do happen. In case of a big emergency, The Mullis Center is a Red Cross designated shelter.

To be ready for an emergency it is recommended to have: drinking water, 3 quarts/day for each adult, a supply of foods that you do not need to cook (peanut butter and crackers, dried fruit, energy bars), a non-electric can opener, a well-stocked first aid kit plus any prescription drugs that you need. I have a flashlight and a radio/light combo that are both hand cranked. If you use batteries they need to be checked periodically.

The following links have excellent information including lists of what you need to be well prepared for emergencies. Start now and keep adding to your emergency kit. Soon enough you will be well prepared.

Link to: San Juan County Dept. of Emergency Management

Link to: American Red Cross

Link to: Disaster Preparedness For Seniors By Seniors (PDF)

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