:: TMQG.com - A Resource Company ::

Disaster Preparedness Begins At Home

Many of you reading this will be at home when disaster strikes. You may be with others in your family or by yourself. The communications systems (telephone, cell phone, pager, etc.) may still work, or it may be compromised or totally unavailable.

Many of you, however, will be someplace else and not be at home. You may be at work, shopping, visiting relatives or friends, or some other location when disaster strikes.

Regardless, the efforts you have taken in advance to "get prepared" should begin at home. Your preparations will prepare you in advance and may actually make it easier for you to focus on the "situation at hand" and help yourself and others when you least expect it.

Disaster preparedness begins before you walk out the door to go to work, or go shopping, to drop off/pick-up the kids or anywhere else. And if disaster strikes before you are able to return home, you will be better prepared than those around you.

Don't Wait For Your Organization

If you're waiting for your employer or organization to prepare, it's a plain and simple truth that while some will, many haven't. And if you're fortunate enough to work for one that does, that will help at work, but what if you are at home?

What if it's a week-end and you're NOT at work?

This page is not intended to be comprehensive or complete. It is intended to "get you started" and hopefully "get you thinking" about "getting prepared" and "being ready" to help yourself, your loved ones and those in you immediate area when disaster strikes.

Here are the basics we recommend to each individual:

Make a plan. Be sure to include children, seniors and pets. Plan escape routes so they are realistic and practical. Small children who are sleep upstairs may have particular challenges that you must consider.
Take a CERT class. The Community Emergency Response Team program is designed specifically for "everyday citizens" and features fact-intensive presentations that are reinforced with practical application exercise to increase your confidence and proficiency.
Practice the plan. Young children will need to feel free to make mistakes and will take longer to practice. So be sure and have to enough time and patience to make it a meaningful, learning experience. (After all, their lives literally "may depend on it".)
Create a "go bag" for each member of the house. These are individual disaster preparedness "grab and go" bags for each member in your household. Be sure not to forget about your pets.

.: EM @ TMQG :.