Preparations for severe summer weather
May 13, 2008 10:18 AM
Source: Kansas State University
Kansas State professor Mike Bradshaw, who is retiring this year after more than 30 years as the K-State Research and Extension health and safety specialist, urges preparation prior to storm season.
“Safety steps need not be time-consuming or expensive,” Bradshaw says, who suggests covering the basics:
Look around your home or apartment and decide where you can — or should — go in case of a severe storm, fire, flood, power outage or other emergency.
- Discuss and decide where to meet if storm sirens should sound. Include in the discussion what to do if children are on their way home from school or at a friend’s house or if parents are on the way home from work. While such family discussions are important, singles and others who live alone also should work out a system with friends and neighbors to account for each other if a storm should strike.
- Invest in a battery-operated radio and flashlight, and an extra set of batteries.
- Put together a three-day emergency kit with enough supplies for each person in your household: allow 1 gallon of water per person per day; nonperishable food such as canned, cooked meats or fish, canned vegetables, canned or dried fruits, nonfat dried milk, and canned or bottled fruit and vegetable juices, crackers and cereal bars. Rotate emergency supplies to prevent foods from becoming outdated, and remember to include a manual can opener, utensils, tableware, paper plates, napkins, towels and toilet paper.
- First-aid kit.
- Prescription medications for 72 hours.
- Extra set of eye glasses, perhaps the pair most recently replaced.
- Blankets, sleeping bags and a tent (if the family happens to have one).
- Change of clothes for each person, including shoes or boots, socks, coat, jacket or rain poncho.
- Coffee can or other re-sealable metal container with candles and matches.
- Deck of cards and board games, and a few children’s toys. Such items as coloring books can reduce stress and anxiety.
- A cell phone, if available, address book and phone book.
- List of emergency contacts, cash, copies of insurance policies, household inventory and immunization records.
- Taking pictures of each room in your home can be helpful in identifying how the home looked before a disaster. Store photos in a safe place, with other essential documents.
- Stashing a camera — or making sure that you take it with you during an emergency — also can be helpful in documenting emergencies, Bradshaw said.
Subscribe to American Cowman Update e-newsletter!
Breaking industry news in your e-mail inbox every other week!
Subscribe at http://subscribe.americancowman.com/subscribe.cfm.