When an emergency arises, are you fully prepared?  Not many people can say they took enough measures or time to create a proper emergency preparedness plan, but with some useful tips, you can in fact achieve that goal.

Be Informed: Not knowing what type of disaster you will be faced with at any given time, understanding what to do before, during, and after an emergency is a critical part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count. Before a disaster, learn how you will know there is an impending hazardous event. Understanding how hazardous events occur and knowing how you will receive alerts and warnings is a vital component to a successful disaster plan. 

Make a Plan: Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together, and what you will do in different situations.

Build a Kit: A disaster supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. Knowing you may need to survive on your own after an emergency, it is important that you have your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Although local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, they may not be able to reach and/or assist everyone immediately. Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages.

Re-Evaluate Your Plan: By re-evaluating your existing emergency preparedness plan, you will have the opportunity to make any important changes and modifications to your plan. With this additional step, you will be sure to find some areas or categories that might need an important tool or supply that would have gone unnoticed.

For more information regarding emergency preparedness, kits, supplies, and plans contact the BC Fire Department and visit www.ready.gov. 

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