Chamber Chatter
By: Cynthia Fox

Be Prepared, is that not the Boy Scout Motto? But are we ever really prepared for what comes next?

I know that I am not always as prepared as I should be. The catastrophic events of 9/11, the tsunamis in Asia, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes…. are we prepared for an event of this magnitude?

It is so much easier to be comfortable in our day to day living than to consider the negative what ifs in our lives. But the truth is if we prepare ourselves for even the smallest disaster in our life then we can be more prepared for any major event that may occur.

Look at your everyday routines. Most of us get up, go to work, come home that night and repeat it again the next day. What if you had a flat tire on the way home? You would put a plan into action to have it repaired or changed so you could drive that car again ASAP. Do you have a plan of action for a major disaster? Do you have a copy of your birth certificate? If you do, where is it in your home? What about your immunization records? Do you have access to those? For those of us on routine medications, do you have extra available in case of a disaster? All of these issues would be a major problem to any of us if we experienced a disastrous event.

It is time to prepare ourselves for any and all catastrophes that come our way. The recent severe weather reminded so many of us of the tornado that occurred in Lincoln County in years past. Severe weather is just one of many events that has occurred and could occur again in our county. Are you as prepared as you could be?

You can cope with disaster by planning in advance. Develop a disaster action plan for you and your family. Educate yourself on the types of disaster that could affect you. Make a plan based on your families needs in the event of disaster. Discuss the plan with everyone in the family. Make sure everyone understands their role and prepares to work together as a team. Develop a checklist that outlines your plan. Then last but not least PRACTICE YOUR PLAN.

A great web site to visit is cdc.gov. This site has disaster plans and checklists for any type of occurrence available for free to the public.

Post emergency telephone numbers, teach children how and when to call 911 and practice this with them. Have a common meeting place for your family. Determine escape routes from your home and teach children two separate ways out of the home. Keep copies of all family members' Birth Certificates, important documents, medicines and some cash together in a safe place so you can grab and go if you must leave the home. Find the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster. Stock emergency supplies and assemble a disaster supply kit. Remember your pets and stock animals when developing your plan.

Families can cope with disaster by preparing in advance. By preparing and knowing what to do, you will be protecting yourself and your family in the event that disaster strikes. For more information contact the American Red Cross at http:// www.redcross.org, cdc.gov, or your local public health department.