Emergency Preparedness: Ideas From Some Who survived this year’s disasters

This newsletter was prepared by Cynthia Hutchings of the Hobble Creek Ward - 

During the recent earthquake in Japan and tornados and now floods, in the Mid-West and South, I received these ideas from friends, family and LDS members who lived through these events. 

                My family ‘s hometown in southern Illinois was struck by 2 tornados and record breaking floods followed.  My daughter’s family in Texas were close to tornados and now wild fires.  Friends in Alabama were not directly hit with the tornados but their family and friends live in the Birmingham and Cullen areas.

1.       Sometimes there isn’t time to even grab a 72 hour kit, plan for this.  Have a family evacuation place, set up and know where you will meet if you get separated.  Have regular practice drills on how to get out in case of house and land fires, floods, earthquakes, explosions, tornados etc.

2.        Flashlights are good, but for long term events, a lantern is better .  A member in Japan said that she and others wished they had more candles on hand.  Most flashlights have to be held…while lanterns can be set on a surface and candles can be put in jars, cans etc.

3.       A generator saved frozen food storage in Alabama…while fuel generators were great,  but my friend is looking for a solar one that will not require large fuel storage.  They have been food storage experts for years, living in Alabama, but didn’t have a generator at first.  They had a full tank of gas so were able to drive 2 ½ hours north before they could even find a generator during this emergency.

4.       Practice cooking on your food storage stove, etc.   Using these things for the first time during an emergency can be trying.  Also be sure to know how to use all emergency equipment:  lanterns, generators, first aid, etc.

5.       When the tornados hit Alabama…it was difficult to get gas for your car, since the pumps run on electricity.  Our friends in Huntsville, Alabama were without electricity for five days…the few stations that had generators were overwhelmed with customers.

6.       Getting out of an emergency area may be critical:  Suggestion – keep your car filled at all times

A good rule is to fill it when it reaches ½ empty.

7.       From friends in Alabama: “I was sure grateful for my water storage…it saved us from a very difficult situation.  We couldn’t wash or bathe as often as we wanted to but at least we could eat.”

8.       Plan for sanitation  & water contamination.  Cooking with limited water and heat.  Medical situations. Have plenty of your prescriptions on hand.

9.        In Alabama phone service and communications went down.  Their cell tower was spared so they could use a cell phone, however, in other areas they didn’t even have this luxury.

REMEMBER THAT STORES AND RESTURANTS RUN ON ELECTRICITY- IN AN EMERGENCY THEY WILL BE CLOSED