Preparing for Disaster

The vivid images and desperate stories of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation have rocked our entire country. How could so many Americans be displaced? How could a region, a state, a country be so unprepared for the disaster that ensued after Katrina’s winds and storm surge struck?

Such questions and their complicated answers will be debated for years—as they should be. No matter the findings, however, we as individuals should do all we can now to prepare for a major disaster.

As individuals, we can’t control many aspects of a potential disaster. Still, by thinking through several key areas, we can achieve a level of preparedness that will help us if a calamity occurs.

Listen. We have more information available to us than ever before. Listen to warnings, alerts, and weather reports on the radio or television. Use the Internet to learn about impending trouble. Most importantly, follow the recommendations of public safety officials.

Communication. Develop a communication plan with family members or friends. Use a phone tree to account for all loved ones. Have duplication built in to the plan in case someone “on the tree” isn’t able to communicate. Establishing the status of people in an emergency is the first stage of recovery.

Evacuation. If your place of residence is threatened, you should know where you can go to find safety. Identify places in different geographical locations where you could take shelter. Start with family and friends and, if necessary, finish with hotels and other paid accommodations. After identifying the safe locations, map out the exact route that you would take to reach them. Remember, in an emergency the time needed to reach these locations will be greater than on a normal day.

Disaster Kit. As was evidenced by Hurricane Katrina, disasters can destroy the infrastructure of a developed society. Although it’s nearly impossible to plan for every contingency, each family should put together a kit of essential items that would sustain them for several days—without the help of external organizations. Things to include are bottled water, food, a first aid kit, a change of clothes, prescription medications, small tools, cash, and any special items that your family needs. Your kit should have the essentials to enable you to remain safe and healthy. To learn more about the contents of a disaster kit, visit the Red Cross web site.

Your kit should have a readily available list of medications, health conditions, and telephone numbers and addresses of family, friends, and your doctor. Make sure to include any other important information (such as a File of Life summary that is kept on your refrigerator door) that an emergency responder could access if you had to be evacuated and were not able to communicate effectively.

A disaster such as Hurricane Katrina is cataclysmic and preparation for such an event is continuous. No matter how much we plan, a large-scale disaster will have serious consequences to people and property. By planning ahead as individuals, we can decrease the risk of personal tragedy if a disaster occurs.

As we rally to support Hurricane Katrina’s victims, let’s work to better prepare ourselves for the unexpected.

The staff at MVES is able to discuss recommendations with you about your disaster preparedness plan. Contact us at 781-324-7705 and ask to speak with a Care Options Consultant. It is never too early!