Be Ready To “Grab & Go”
Be Ready To “Grab & Go”
Natural disasters kill an average of 60,000 people per year worldwide according to published statistics. The effects of climate change are becoming more evident . . . being ready to make a quick dash to safety may be the new normal.
D. S. Mitchell
Extreme Weather
You never know when an emergency might strike. The recent tornado devastation across four states highlights our need to be ready for such events, day or night. In the last dozen months we have seen the devastation and chaos caused by wildfires across the west, freezing temperatures in Texas leading to dozens of deaths, and a ‘Heat Dome’ that hovered over the Pacific NW sending temperatures to 117 degrees, killing nearly 100 people. It can happen anytime, anywhere. In my little corner of the world, the North Oregon coast, we are subject to evacuation orders because of tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, floods and even a rare tornado, on a regular basis.
Being Ready
No matter where you live there is always the possibility that you will be forced to move quickly out of harm’s way. Not all incidents of danger are natural in cause, often these tragedies are man made disasters, such as toxic spills. The idea is that you can, in some small way, help yourself by being prepared. In a true emergency you will be under extreme pressure and critical evacuation time can be lost as you race around the house looking for medications and other supplies. So, do yourself and your family a favor, and pack for survival.
Researching
I spent the morning flipping through recent and not so recent magazines and newspaper articles looking for pieces on emergency preparedness. I have a ‘library’ of at least 1500 old magazines and periodicals, taking up valuable space in my office. Mostly they are corralled in a large armoire, but today I was pulling out stuff from the bottom of the stack and creating a small bit of chaos in the office. The bird gets upset when things are not “as they should be,” and was screeching irritatingly.
Archived Issues
I had two stacks of magazines on the floor when I found the article that I was looking for. I love AARP magazine. It is loaded with information for the young, and the old. In my stack of research I uncovered the October 2017 issue. That particular issue was loaded with a bonanza of knowledge. I thought the author, Jeff Rossen, did a great job of describing how to put together a “go bag.” A “go bag” is exactly what it sounds like; a bag, a backpack, or suitcase (he recommends one on wheels) packed with life essentials.
Be Ready For An Emergency
Rules For Your “Go Bag”
Rule #1: Pack a “go bag” for every member of the household including your beloved pet, and keep them together in an easily accessible place. **Remember there is a possibility that not all family members will leave together. In fact, it is very likely family members will be separated.
Rule #2: Basic electronics. Pack an extra phone charger if you are lucky enough to have electricity and a portable battery pack if you do not have such good fortune. A long-lasting LED flashlight. A small hand cranked or battery operated AM/FM radio with extra batteries.
Rule #3: Personal needs. Make a list of all the toiletries you use daily, and really think about what you will need in an emergency evacuation, and buy travel sized versions of each. Make sure to pack an extra pair of eyeglasses if you wear them and a pair of sunglasses. A small first-aid kit, sanitary wipes, a couple Bic lighters, a multi-purpose “Swiss army” tool so you have at least a knife and a can opener.
Rule #4: Clothing. Think in days (a week max). Think in layers (that you can add, or remove). Lightweight rain gear, gloves, knit cap and waterproof shoes and boots.
Rule #5: Medications. Mr. Rossen’s article suggests 3 days worth of each of your medications. I pack 7 days of medications, and I recommend the same for you. That choice is up to you, but be sure that you have at least a small cache of each of your meds. If you have large items, such as oxygen tanks get a portable version for emergency situations.
Rule #6: Paperwork. Fill a zip lock waterproof bag with photocopies of your birth certificate, driver’s license, power of attorney, marriage, adoption or naturalization certificates, proof of address, insurance, medical and immunization records, Social Security and Medicare cards, and info about credit and ATM cards.
Rule #7: Food and drink. Several cases of bottled water are imperative. Dehydrated survival packets are a good option (which are easy to buy on-line), or even granola bars.
Rule #8: Cash. Must have at least enough cash for a duration of a week. (The last severe gale that we had in my area the bank machines were down for nearly a week. Ouch). Make sure that you have small bills. You may also want a roll of quarters for vending machines for when you have access to them.
Rule #9: Pet go bag. Pets become excited when we show stress and urgency. Cats and dogs may run and hide and refuse to co-operate with entrapment. If that is the case, you must save yourself and your family, and sadly that means you will need to leave the pet. However, other pets, especially dogs will want to stay close. If you have a dog or other animal that is co-operative, take the animal. The go bag for your pet should include any medications your pet takes on a regular basis, 5 lb bag of dry food, a bag of treats, multiple bottles of water, a leash, a collar, veterinary history in a zip lock bag, a familiar blanket and a toy.
Other Ideas
Beyond the “go bags” I always carry in my car, a sleeping bag, 2 blankets, a pillow, a set of raingear (including boots) and a Costco 48 pack of bottled water. I used to live in Montana and these are essentials. In the garage, I keep a full 5 gallon can of gas.
Conclusion
A little preparation goes a long way in a real emergency. Take some time and put together the “go bags” for your family. The several hours you spend on this task could pay off big time by saving your life and the lives of those that you love. This would also be a good time for a family meeting to talk about what if you are all separated when an emergency occurs. Run a series of scenarios until you are comfortable with a an emergency plan. Include a place to “meet up” in you plan. Remember you probably won’t have cell phone service. Another thing to keep in mind, you may not be able to drive your car; there may be a tree laying over the top of it. Or, there may be so many trees toppled or uprooted that you can’t drive down the road.
Plan for the unexpected, because it is likely to happen. Stretch your imagination.
