Emergency preparedness
June 30, 2017
The July/August Popular Science features an article on what to put in your storm shelter. Reminiscent of what a “Prepper” might stock, it makes sense to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to emergencies.
Although another tornado season has come and gone, tornadoes can strike at any time of the year. First and foremost are your medications. There would be frenzy at the drug store if it even survived, so it’s a good idea to have your pills in a ready-to-leave container.
Other necessities include a first-aid kit, blankets, battery or crank-operated radio and they recommend, for sanity purposes, some table-top games. You know the phone and game batteries will eventually die. Bottled water is a standby as are meals, ready to eat. Sportsmen’s catalogs have a large assortment with long shelf-life which, like any preserved food, should regularly be inspected for expiration date.
A whistle is a good investment and there are pieces available with sound as loud as 120 decibels – that’s really loud! I have a multi-tool that could come in handy if the kitchen junk draw goes into orbit. Generators are available but they must have regular maintenance and fuel stabilizers have an expiration date.
As a member of the Oklahoma Emergency Response Team, I get regular phone calls from an operator at OSU checking my availability. Civil defense may be a term from the Cold War, but it is an integral part of the overall scenario in crisis.
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