Do these three things now to be ready for the next contingency: September is Preparation Month

Where is the emergency survival kit? Buried somewhere in the garage? Are backup life-saving power and tools all over your home? Or did you promise to someday collect vital supplies, but still haven’t?

September is the month of National Preparedness, as people are encouraged to prepare to act quickly in the event of another virus outbreak, medical quarantine, earthquake, tsunami, power outage or other life-threatening emergency.

“As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, there is no better time …” state experts with the federal preparedness campaign.

Emergency preparedness experts suggest, at least, three actions you should take now to improve the safety of your family during and after a disaster.

Sign up for notifications: Sign up for public alerts, citizen alert, or service in your county to be notified via text message, call, or email by emergency response agencies when you need to take action such as shelter in place or evacuation.

Bookmark the website or Facebook page of the Oregon Health Authority and the local health department, which regularly notifies residents of health emergencies and other issues affecting the community. Follow public health departments using social media like OHAOregon on Twitter to communicate accurate and timely information.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radar Live app offers real-time radar imagery and severe weather alerts.

Create a family escape plan: Make sure everyone in your home knows how to safely exit the building, where you will all meet and how you will communicate with each other if the phones don’t work.

“It’s important that you take into account the risks you’re in and put some logical thinking into the contingency plan,” says Skyler Hallgreen, co-founder of Redfora, which sells emergency kits. “Have a conversation as a family or family about how to mitigate risk, and what role each person can play to help each other in an emergency.”

Update your emergency contact list and re-evaluate your home for the hazards and supplies you will need. For more tips, download Redfora’s guide to creating a contingency plan.

“It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take a few minutes to think about it,” Hallgren says. “We all learned this year that you cannot prepare after emergency strikes. I’d like to encourage people to make today the day you put a plan in place.”

Gather the essentials in one place: Many essential supplies may already be in your home but you may need more items if stores, electricity and water supplies are closed.

Emilio DeBess and Paul Cieslak, both infectious disease experts at the Oregon Health Authority, say it is never too early to put together a basic disaster response kit with non-perishable food, water and 14-day supplies for everyone in the home.

Update the elements, especially water and food, every six months, says Ali Ryan, who works as the Earth Science Information Officer in Oregon’s Geology and Mineralogy Division.

Neighborhood members who have accepted training from the CERT and other volunteer groups use a readiness calendar that disassembles supplies to get actions to take over a 12-month period, so the work is not stressful.

CERT volunteers warn that emergency resources, food, water, and infrastructure may be unavailable for weeks or more after a major disaster. They recommend you to Map Your Neighborhood now to learn about others’ skills, equipment and resources, and to practice as a team during an emergency.

The coronavirus pandemic has taught us a lot about the need to prepare for an emergency.

In the chilling days before stay-at-home orders were issued, troublesome purchases and hoarding of toilet paper caused temporary shortages.

But it cannot compare to the alarms that would go off if another disaster destroyed transportation systems or if water pipes and shelters turned to dust after the earthquake.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the pandemic is the importance of self-sufficiency.

Home roaming, reducing trips to stores, and food delivery disruptions have inspired more people to start a vegetable patch, install freshwater storage and air filtration systems, and add an extra refrigerator to store frozen foods.

Hallgren of Redfora said that customers across the country now know the experience of not having regular services and the need for Plan B.

“In most years, the Readiness Month is an afterthought for a lot of people, but 2020 gave every family a reason to think critically about how to handle emergencies,” he says. “The key is to focus on practical steps and not be anxious.”

You can create an emergency preparedness kit yourself, following directions from American Red Cross and Ready.gov, or you can purchase a ready-to-go or customized survival pack to help in an emergency.

Experts also guide us on food, water, medicine, and other necessities, such as simple tools, backup and light, which should be on hand when supplies are limited in demand.

Even if you already have a lightweight, portable disaster recovery kit, you may find it helpful to add a signal mirror, waterproof matches, and a gas shutoff switch.

You can also consider the color of your container. Some people want the color red to be easy to see, while others buy a regular backpack, duffle bag, or rolling cargo bag that doesn’t draw attention to the valuables inside. Some people remove patches that identify the bag as a disaster or first aid kit.

Redfora Complete Earthquake Kits, in a red or blue backpack, rolling cargo bag or dry bag for flood areas, can be customized from one to six people and pets for use at home, in the car, office, or school (starting at $ 44.99; 1 in Percent of every sale goes to disaster relief efforts, casualties, or prevention projects.) Sign up for an instant $ 10 discount on your first purchase plus emergency preparedness tips.

There may be many supplies that should already be in your home, from a handy can opener to toiletries, but you’ll need duplicates so you can access them quickly in case you have to evacuate due to a fire or other emergency.

Renew what you used or add what you don’t have.

“With climate change, epidemics, and disasters looming like earthquakes,” said Jane Brown of Portland Earthquake Kits, “we all need to dedicate a little time and money to get ready at home.” “Store more water, get an N95 face mask and keep a wireless emergency phone / cell phone charger in case of blackout. Disasters are inevitable. You’ll be happy to have a few extra supplies at your disposal.”

See a variety of emergency survival kits

Here is a list of what should be in the Emergency Preparedness Toolkit, as recommended by the American Red Cross and Ready.gov, that educates people in the United States about what to do to prepare for natural and man-made disasters, from earthquakes to Forest fires.

A basic disaster kit should have three days of supplies to cover your family and pets if you are evacuated and two weeks of supplies if you are walking around your home, possibly without heating, electricity and running water.

Water:

If the plumbing breaks or the water supply is contaminated, you will need a source for a gallon of water per day for everyone to drink, cook and clean. Your pet needs a gallon of water daily, too.

Half-cup bags of water, provided in the box, have a shelf life of five years while water purification tablets work to remove bacteria, parasites, and personal water filters if you have to use untreated water.

“We are very concerned about Portlanders getting the water they’ll need after a disaster, which is why we offer free delivery on 55 gallon barrels, Aquatainers and Jumbotainers in Portland,” said Brown of Portland Earthquake Kits.

She added that people should know how to store water safely. Packaging must be free of plastic materials containing BPA and specifically designed to hold drinking water.

To ensure your supply of water and other hydrating drinks for two weeks, have them at home:

Water bowls can safely store one gallon of water. Fill it up, set the date and within six months, use the water in the landscaping and fill the container again with fresh water, WaterBOB stores 100 gallons of drinking water in a plastic, BPA-free, heavy-duty, food-friendly container that fits into the bathtub. Fill it up immediately after an emergency to get fresh water for up to 16 weeks, water purification systems come in various forms, half-cup bags of water, available by box, have a shelf life of up to five years, water purification tablets to remove bacteria and parasites, personal water works Filters if you have access to untreated water soft drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte

Food: It is recommended that you have enough non-perishable food for two weeks, according to the American Red Cross.

Experts also recommend that nonperishable and easy-to-prepare food, such as ready-to-eat soups, vegetables and fruits, should not be too salty or something you don’t like to eat.

You can buy a compact bucket of dried meals, from beef stew to granola, or shop for long-life food you won’t mind eating before it spoils, even if the food isn’t that big.

If you want to freeze your meals, consider getting a spare refrigerator.

Portland Chef Katie Millard suggests changing up the pasta sauce by mixing various scents, vegetables, and other ingredients found in stock.

Lights, Radio, and Chargers: If there’s no electricity, you’ll appreciate a flashlight, phone charger, and American Red Cross. Rotating for one minute produces energy for 10 minutes from light.

Portable emergency radios can be powered with NOAA real-time weather reports and general emergency alert system information by a manual crank generator, solar panel, rechargeable batteries, or wall power adapter.

Medical Supplies and First Aid: It is important to have an adequate supply of the daily or prescription medicines you take, according to the Ready.gov website. Ask your doctor, health insurance provider or pharmacist to agree to a larger supply of prescription and nonprescription drugs.

The American Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit weighs just two pounds, including the zip-top pouch with handles, yet it’s packed with 115 essential trauma-treatment supplies: from aspirin and triple antibiotic ointment to the CPR face shield and American Red Cross Emergency First The aid guide is tucked into the ring binder.

See other first aid kits

In addition, it is nice to have:

Cleanliness

There’s no need to stock up, but make sure you have the hygiene and grooming supplies you’ll need.

Gear: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends face masks to help prevent the spread of viruses. Other items on hand:

Batteries flashlight and phone charger by American Red Cross crank, portable emergency radio with general emergency alert system information, signal mirror to indicate location or messages in the wild, waterproof matches, gas shut off switch

Multipurpose Tool: At a length of just over 5 inches, the versatile device can provide, at your fingertips, knives, pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, bottle and can openers, electric crimpers, wire strippers, file, saw, awl and ruler.

Personal documents: Make copies of passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, medication list, medical information, and deed / lease agreement to your home for proof of address, as well as family and emergency contact information. Do not store any documents revealing your personal information in the emergency bag in case the bag is lost or stolen.

Secure your essentials: A red bag with a red cross draws attention to the valuables inside. Consider the color of your container. Some people want red so it’s easy to see, while others buy a regular backpack, duffel, or spinning cargo bag. Some people remove patches that mark the bag as an earthquake disaster or first aid kit.

Other useful items:

Protection: goggles, dust masks, gloves, personal rain gear: toilet paper, towels, medicines, practical tools: tape, matches, scissors, household liquid bleach disinfection, whistle, crowbar to open the door, extra cash, clothes, hat, Durable shoes, goggles if you have to live in the backyard: tent, camp stove, sleeping bag, blankets, firewood, tarps and other shelters and LED lanterns Read> Camping gear deals, indispensable items to help enjoy the outdoors this summer: Sales on Sleeping bags, tents, coolers and more

Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

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