The Bay Area has been rocked with a few small rumbles lately, mostly centered around Milpitas, just north of San Jose. It serves as a good reminder to make sure that you and your family are prepared in the event of a major earthquake or disaster.

The Ready Campaign is a national campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters. Information for families and individuals can be found on the Ready America website:  http://www.ready.gov/index.html. In addition, there is Ready Business (information for small business owners) and Ready Kids (a site designed specifically for children). All three Ready sites follow the same guiding principles of Get a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed.

1. Get a Kit:
After a disaster, you may need to survive on your own for a while – in general, it is suggested that you have supplies to last 72 hours. Provisions should include food, water, a first-aid kit, battery powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, etc. Depending on your needs, it’s also important to make sure you have items such as pet food, formula and diapers, extra medication, etc. More info can be found here.

2. Make a Plan:
Disaster can strike at anytime and anywhere so it is likely that you won’t be with family members; you’ll need to make a plan for how you will get in touch with one another and where you will meet. (For example, it is recommended that you have an out-of-area contact since it will most likely be easier to call long distance than locally once an emergency strikes.) You’ll also want to create different plans for different scenarios. The Ready Campaign has several online resources for making a plan. Make sure you also have a copy of or are familiar with the disaster plan at your child’s school or your workplace. More info can be found here.

3. Be Informed:
The best way to prepare is to be informed. In addition to the Ready.gov website, there are several local websites that provide useful information. Get Ready Marin has a resource page with a downloadable version of the Get Ready manual, presentation, and supply checklist – as well as other resources associated with the program. Get Ready Marin also offers free two-hour training courses which are presented in many cities and can be found here: http://www.getreadymarin.org/training.html. The San Francisco website, 72 hours.org, is also very useful for gathering information. More info can be found here.

Are you ready? Do you have suggestions on the best places for supplies? Let us know.


Posted by:Noreen Smith