Emergency Preparedness Part 2: A Slow Start and a Smartphone App
12/21/2011 at 9:09 am smithandlever 1 comment
Winter driving presents many hazards. Photo ODOT.
My emergency preparedness planning is off to a slow start, but I’ve made some progress.
At work, a fire alarm (no fire, thankfully) prompted me to review my workplace’s emergency procedures. Basic procedures were posted online and easy to find with a quick search, but I’m not sure what my department’s specific procedures are. I’ll ask about this at our next staff meeting.
At home, our weather radio is now operational, and we have a basic disaster plan—where to meet and how to contact each other. We already have some of the recommended supplies for an emergency preparedness kit (we used the “Family Emergency Preparedness Kit” publication from OSU Extension and the “Be Red Cross Ready” fact sheet as guides). Now we need to gather the supplies together, purchase some additional items, and make kits for our cars, too. I think putting the kits together will become our New Year’s resolution.
One reason for our slow progress at home is that we’ve been preoccupied with planning for holiday travel in the Midwest. As I mentioned in my first post, winter travel was routine when we lived there. But since our rental car doesn’t come with a winter emergency kit, we need to think carefully about what to wear and what to pack to be sure we’re prepared for winter driving.
I don’t have a smartphone, but if you do, and you drive in snow and ice country, you may want to download the free Winter Survival Kit app from North Dakota State University Extension Service.
Entry filed under: Emergency preparedness, Family life. Tags: Emergency management, emergency preparedness kit, emergency preparedness planning, family emergency preparedness, Survival kit, winter driving, winter survival kit.
1.
Cat | 12/21/2011 at 10:23 am
Just a thought, as far as preparedness, the Red Cross “car kits” that you can make, I have one in my car, with personalized stuff, like some knitting. It’s more or less a small version of the emergency preparedness kits that are for your home (i.e., can fit in a car trunk).
Midwest travel??? Um. Lots of clothes, blankets, stuff that can keep you warm! Might need to call to even see if you can get through!
Also, if you can contact your boss, or supervisor, they should normally tell you specifics for your department, or can let you see the department guidebook, if your place has one.
Cat