We’re a couple of weeks into hurricane season and the thought of a storm making its way to Lexington County should be more than enough to prompt you to come up with a family emergency plan.
Hurricane Hugo was still packing quite a punch in 1989 when it blew through the Midlands on its way to Charlotte. But, a good family emergency plan is good for any type of disaster such as floods, tornadoes or chemical spills.
So how do you plan? First, think about your goals. For most people, the prime goal is knowing that all family members are safe and as secure as possible against harm. Most families want to be together if that is at all possible.
A second goal is having what you need to make it through the immediate disaster period. Our deputies and other first responders might not be able to safely reach you during a disaster’s immediate aftermath.
So, think along these lines as you put your kit together:
- You and your family need to gather whatever you will need to camp out for three days. Assume you’ll be out of reach of electricity and running water.
- You might have many items on hand; you just need to be sure you’ve assembled them all (or that you can do so quickly) and that you have sufficient quantities of the consumable items.
- If you are storing items, store them in sealed containers–such as plastic tubs taped shut–if at all possible.
- Store items in a cool, dry place indoors.
- Avoid storing items in glass containers unless absolutely necessary.
In my next blog entry, I’ll share specific items you should have in your kit to best prepare you and your family.