ALBANY – It is an ancient bit of wisdom: Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the New York Office of Emergency Management are joining to remind the public that natural disasters are not avoidable, but you can be ready for them when they make their inevitable arrivals.
Be it a summer flood or a winter blizzard, a hurricane or an ice storm, an earthquake or a tornado, being prepared for the worst can save lives and protect property.
Readiness can be as simple as having an emergency preparedness kit on hand, stowed in a convenient place known to all family members. Here are some of the things, but by no means all, that should be part of that kit:
wA three-day supply of nonperishable food and bottled water for every family member – the more the better;
wA manual can-opener and a sturdy Swiss Army knife;
wA battery-powered radio with at least two sets of spare batteries;
wA first-aid kit and a stash of medications for each person taking them;
wHygiene and personal-care items;
wCopies of important documents in a sealable plastic bag or other container;
wAn emergency-contact list with phone numbers;
wMoney – cash or a current credit card; and
wPet food and other supplies, if applicable.
It is not unusual to lose power, perhaps for several days. Both landline and cell phones could prove useless, along with any Internet connections. It is important to plan for emergencies.
Have an emergency plan for the family. Arrange for a distant family member or friend to be a point of contact for immediate family members who might not be at home when the event takes place.
Keep the family vehicle's gas tank as full as possible, and store some extra fuel in a safe, fire-department-approved container.
Local, state and FEMA responders are always poised to handle the worst. Residents who are prepared as well are at a vast advantage when disaster strikes.
For more detailed information on this critical subject, log onto
www.ready.gov.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security