No Power - Do You Have This?

Do You Have This?

If you are out of power, and your Iphone (if you have one) is not charged, 

how will you follow internet or television instructions on 

where and what to do during and after an emergency?

Do you remember good old transistor radios?

Radio stations have generators to keep them up and running during  power outages

and with a simple, cheap battery operated radio you will have

all the information at your fingertips.

We have this one from Radio Shack,  $14.99 on line- see link.

It kept us informed and entertained during our power outage (unrelated to Sandy).

For only $14.99 and the cost of a couple batteries.

Did you stock up on these? 

They will power your transistor radio, 

light your way at night when used with a powerful LED flashlight.

How will you open your canned goods?

I gave up on electric can openers years and years ago.

This works just fine, and can actually be a life saver.

You don't even need to heat most canned goods.

They may not taste as great cold, but you will be fed.

How about Strike Anywhere Matches?

These matches don't need the special strike strip on the box.

If it is wet or damaged, you can strike these anywhere to light them.

What Time Is It?

A battery operated clock- do you have one?

Your phones may be great but if it is not working . . ..

Many people don't even have wrist watches anymore.

How will you tell the time?

Generators- 

Do not run your generator as if life were normal because it is not.

You will turn on your generator about an hour a day during short fuel supplies, 

just to cool down your refrigerators and freezers.

If you have sufficient fuel you can run it more often.

Make sure you have fuel on hand, don't wait for the emergency.

What Else?

Figure that stores will be closed.

Have enough food for a couple of weeks- you won't eat like kings, just enough to survive.

Do you have a battery operated phone charger?

Fire extinguisher.

BBQ pit, or hibachi? 

Wet Ones wipes to keep hands clean?

This is in addition to the recommended emergency materials such as water, medications, blankets, etc.

When you are hit by a tornado, you have no warning.

When you are warned in advance, 

Get Prepared.

Manufacturers and retailer warehouse stock is at all time lows 

trying to keep costs down.

When an emergency hits they need to scramble

Receive orders from customers in the area

Schedule trucks for pickup and delivery- transit and appointment times

Arrive before the storm hits in time to get into the area, and back out.

After the storm, the same thing happens.

Need to manufacture replacement stock.

And the cycle continues.

You cannot depend on the government to help you.  

You have to do this yourselves.

Our CERT training even calls this out.  That is why CERT was developed.

Community Emergency Response Teams

First responders are you and your neighbors, not officials.

Joplin was a great example, they didn't wait for help, they jumped right in.

Consider taking the CERT course.

YOU have the greatest interest in saving your family.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.