Personal Emergency Readiness

READY IN 3: Emergengy Preparedness

Do you have a first aid kit in your home?  Are your immunizations current?  Do you have a safe place to shelter during a tornado?

Every day we are vulnerable to disasters.  With spring thunderstorm and tornado season quickly approaching, March is a good time to review your family’s response plan for emergencies.  Your local public health department encourages you to follow the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Ready in 3 program.

Ready in 3 suggests families take three simple steps to prepare for emergencies.

1.  Create a plan for you, your family and your business.

2.  Prepare a kit for home, car and work.

3.  Listen for information about what to do and where to go during an emergency.

Create a Plan

Your first step is to identify potential threats in your community.  Find out if you are in a flood-prone area, live near a power plant or live near a business that uses or stores hazardous chemicals.  Evaluate your home’s vulnerability to hazards such as storms, floods or fires.  Check your insurance coverage.

Discuss with your family how natural and man-made threats could affect you, your neighborhood and your community.  Plan together how your family will respond to emergencies.

• Identify the safest areas of your home for each threat. Sometimes the safest area may actually be outside your home.
• Specify escape routes from your home and places to meet, such as a neighbor’s home, a school or a public location.
• Choose several possible evacuation routes out of your neighborhood, in case one is blocked.
• Designate an out-of-area contact—friend or family member—so that each of your immediate family members has the same single point of contact. Plan to have at least two means of communication, (e.g., e-mail, phone and cell phone).
• Make a plan for your pets in case you need to evacuate. Most shelters will only accept service animals.
• Collect family emergency information, including important family documents such as prescriptions and insurance information.
• Post emergency numbers by your telephones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911. Make sure cell phones are fully charged.

Prepare a Kit

Assemble and maintain a disaster supply kit that can sustain you and your family for up to three days, if necessary. A battery-powered weather radio will allow you to hear vital information from officials during an emergency.  Also include three gallons of bottled water per family member.  Add non-perishable foods, a manual can opener, batteries, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, trash bags and cash.

You may also want to pack comfort items such as a blanket or toy for children, games, books, eyeglasses and extra clothing.  Also consider adding diapers for infants and prescription medications.

Listen for Information

When a disaster happens, listen to a credible news source for information on what to do.  Local, state and federal officials have emergency plans in place.  In a disaster it is important that you remain calm and follow their instructions. 

Floods, fire, hurricanes, tornadoes – we are all vulnerable to disasters, but preparing today may just help save your life.

For further information, call the Texas County Health Department 417-967-4131.

http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Ready_in_3/

See the Emergency Response and Terrorism section of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website...Click here