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Politics & Government

September is National Preparedness Month

The best way to keep your family safe is to be ready.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has designated September as “National Preparedness Month”  -- and federal, state and local authorities are urging residents to take a few basic steps to keep themselves and their families safe.

Sounds like a no-brainer, right? 

My family and I were more than lucky to survive the Aug. 28, 1990 tornado that swept through Plainfield and surrounding communities, killing 29 people and leaving a mile-wide path of destruction that obliterated hundreds of homes and businesses.

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And we weren’t prepared, at all.

We lost some siding, windows and a few shingles at our house– but many of our neighbors didn’t fare as well. The end of our street and the street behind us were practically wiped off the face of the earth. The tall shade trees and beautiful homes that once graced our neighborhood were replaced by piles of twisted rubble. And Plainfield High School, which was practically in our back yard, was completely destroyed.

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Although our home was still basically intact, we were without power and telephone service for many days, as the storm knocked out electrical towers and tangled and snapped electrical and telephone wires for miles around.  

Try as they might, repair crews couldn’t get to the downed towers and wires because debris and shattered glass clogged the streets. Our local food store had been destroyed, too, and it was impossible to drive to a neighboring town to buy anything.

We had a working flashlight at our house, but not enough batteries to keep it going for an extended length of time – and we didn’t have an emergency kit or enough extra food to sustain our family for days on end.

My family also hadn’t devised an emergency communication plan.  Luckily, my children, then ages 4 and 7, were in the basement with me when the deadly storm passed over us.  We were safe. But my terrified husband didn’t know that.  He was at work in Joliet and couldn’t get in touch with us, or any of our neighbors, by phone. (Yes, it was a land line, but even today, reliable Internet or cell phone service may not be available after a major disaster.)

My husband drove as far as he could go, then left his vehicle behind and frantically ran through a couple of miles of sheer destruction. He said the most beautiful thing he ever saw was the roof of our house, sticking up above the piles of rubble that was once our neighborhood.

We simply weren’t prepared for a storm of that magnitude. I guess we just never thought it would happen to us. But it did.

All these years later, National Preparedness Month has reminded me that I need to replenish my family’s disaster kit – and update our communication and emergency plans, too.

I hope you will do the same, just to be safe.

FEMA’s suggestions for a basic disaster supplies kit

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

FEMA also recommends gathering the following items:

  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Cash or traveler's checks and change
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) (PDF - 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or free information from this web site. (See Publications)
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Communication and Emergency Planning tips from FEMA:

Your family may not be together when a disaster strikes so it is important to plan in advance: how you will get to a safe place; how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations. Read more about Family Communication during an emergency.

Ready.gov has made it simple for you to make a family emergency plan. Download the Family Emergency Plan (FEP) (PDF - 508 Kb) and fill out the sections before printing it or emailing it to your family and friends.

You should also inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school, faith organizations, sports events and commuting. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one.

Talk to community leaders, your colleagues, neighbors and members of faith or civic organizations about how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance.

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