Are You Ready?

Thanks for the links...I've been thinking about this alot lately as I'm sure so many others are. It was helpful to have the information at hand. I've printed the info and will begin our preparations.

Excellent post, Ali. Thanks for the links. 'Are you ready?' is a question I believe we've all been asking ourselves but thank you for the gentle reminder to take action if we are not ready. We have extra water on hand but nothing like a 72 hr kit.

Along with getting ready, my daughter & I have decided to take the money that would've been spent on preparing dinner for a few days for our family of 4 and donating that to the Red Cross. We'll eat ramen or rice for a few nights. It's not a big deal when you think of the volumes of people in Japan who are going without. I've seen a couple of news reports of some Japanese people in the streets, offering the little food they have to the reporters. I've been moved by the gentle graciousness of these people.

Thanks again for the links & post. All the best to you & your family.

Ali,

Thanks for sharing such important information about disaster preparedness. My co-workers and I were talking about this very thing this morning. Putting a plan in place is on my agenda as well.

I want to share a prayer that came to me that lifts up hope for all who are suffering from this.

Here is the link: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/PlXXp/~3/vCc2q1HBblE/lift-up-hope.html

Thanks for sharing this...makes it easy to find.

Absolutely we have a plan here, my husband and I have prepared to live as independently as possible over the past couple of years. We live in the mountains of Colorado and all we have left really to add is a deep well hand pump so we can still get water if electricity is out for a long time. We've built a working pantry with enough to last us at least a month and for some items up to a couple of years. The disaster in Japan has us fine tuning and sharing our info on how we do this with friends who finally don't see us as crazy.

Our neighbor is taking it a bit further and is going off the grid as much as possible - installing solar and such. She's also basically an herbalist and has a wealth of knowledge from her grandmother on how to do things the 'old' way - how to get your cattle through a drought, how to preserve eggs, how to create your outhouse, and such.

She and I have started a website with this type of info and more - and we're getting experts on there such as a master gardener from Virginia and her solar guru will hopefully join us this week. Basically we take the view that all of us can figure it out together better than separately.

http://seekingabundance.net is the site.

I read through the list. In Ohio, we get tornados. But I have no kit setup like that. With a baby here, I really should. That said...now I have to figure out where in my condo I can put that. We have storage issues already. ALso, the lack of basement makes it diffuclt for me to figure out where is safe in the house during a storm. I think my engineer husband and I have some work to do.

I'm not as prepared as I'd like to be living right on the westcoast, but my parents are as prepared as anyone could be I think. They even have had the house wired so that they can hook up their kitchen/family room to a generator and have a collection of $5 bills so they don't have to worry about change in stores.

Thanks for sharing Ali! Yet another reminder that we are not ready either. I might suggest to all of us out there that we all should have a kit in our cars. You never know where you will be when disaster strikes.

Ali, thanks for sharing your thoughts about disaster preparedness and I know we are all sending our prayers to the people of Japan.

o-girl, I also love your idea about sending a donation to the red cross and I am going to follow your ramen noodle plan so that I can make a donation as well.

Another idea is this pre-assembled emergency backpack that is available, this one is at OSH:

http://www.osh.com/eng/product/ready_america_grab_n_go_2_person_3_day_emergency_backpack/5925201

Even if you plan to spend time creating a more elaborate plan, this is something you could get on hand right away, and would be great for a car, office, of small apartment. A perfect first step if anyone is feeling overwhelmed as they get started with the disaster preparedness process.

Thanks for sharing and also the reminder that each of us should have our own plans should the worst happen. I am in the UK so will research what is advised here (I am guessing terrorism and fire are our main issues rather than adverse weather of hurricanes). It has also made me think the responsibility I have as a parent, to educate my children.

I also have spent time in Japan and have such fond memories of the country and the people who live there. A friend of mine was unable to locate her nearest and dearest but has just found out that they have been rescued by the Japanese Self Defense force and they are hospital (but safe). I know not every-one will have similar stories to tell. My thought are with this amazing country and their people at this time...

Here's a place to get started with an family emergency plan!

http://www.everydayprovidence.com/2011/03/functional-friday-family-emergency-plan.html

Thanks for posting this Ali!

It's strange because I have done quite a few trainings on disaster preparedness for child care providers in my community, but have put off making my own plans for myself and my family. You just never think it can happen to you until something like this trajedy in Japan occurs. We have family there and it's truly a wake up call.

Here is another wonderful link that I booked marked that may be of use to you and your readers. It's something that I know I need to do soon:

http://www.thisandthatcreative.com/2011/02/free-emergency-book-download.html

great post ali. i've been thinking A LOT about this too. thankfully, like you, i'm an hour from the coast - but i'm pretty nervous about what "the big one" might do to my 100 year old apartment buildng.

a friend of mine (a local fire chief) posted this link: http://www.ready.gov/ on his facebook last weekend. looks like it could be another good resource.

The leaders of the LDS Church have encouraged emergency preparedness for as many years as I can remember. Not just for a natural disaster, but for things like job loss too. There's lots of information at www.providentliving.org. I think it's important for ALL of us to be ready for anything that can happen!

I'm in Houston, near enough to Galveston Bay that we were in the mandatory evacuation zones for Hurricanes Rita and Ike. I usually put together a food/water kit in June when hurricane season begins. However, I think a plan is needed, something more than food and water. Thanks for the reminder.

My family all live down on the Central Coast of California, near the Diable Canyon NPP. I and my small-family, being 900 miles away, have for years been the 'designated call number' meaning that my phone number is to be used in the event of any localized emergency down there--checking in to notify other family members, etc. A good idea for anyone in many different situations.

yes i have a kit for me and my cat....and since my country New Zealand also had a few MAJOR earthquakes recently i have just updated all the items in it!!! (in case)
here is a link to the post i wrote last year http://captureandcreate.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/my-civil-defence-kit/

i must do another post with more detail!!!!

Yes - is the answer to all your questions Ali - We live in New Zealand and we have an emergency kit; and emergency plan and everyone is aware of it. Another important point is to update your plan as things chnage for your family - children getting older - moving schools - adults changing jobs. You may need variations on your plan too eg. for the days Anna is with you and the days she is elsewhere.

Our emergency kit has been set up for years now (and thank God we have never used it!) The other importnat thing is to have regular days scheduled to update food and water items in kit.

With continued prayers for the crisi in Japan and our own disaster city of Christchurch in NZ.

Hi Ali

Having just been through the two big earthquakes in Christchurch, NZ, I am so pleased to see you promoting being ready for anything. We had an emergency kit ready, except water! When we are able we will be buying and filling 2 very large water containers for storage. We were lucky that we live far enough from the town that our water supply was not interrupted ... this time.

I also heard about a woman who keeps a backpack for each of her children hanging at the back door. Inside are personal details, medicines, spare clothes, shoes etc, water and some snacks. I understand that she changes the supplies in the bag when needed and they are easy to grab when necessary. I think this is a good idea too.

Here's another link for you. http://www.getprepared.gc.ca