Hoisted from a flooded-out rooftop is no fun - Why people should be hurricane prepared.

I just checked out CNN main web page. The headline reads that 2,000 people have been rescued from the resulting floods of Hurricane Ike. FEMA says “be patient” and there is a picture of long lines at a grocery store somewhere in Texas where people are worried that food supplies will run out.

These new articles illustrate the need for all of us to be disaster prepared. This afternoon Chicago is under water in some parts from the Tropical Depression Ike. By Monday morning people as far away as New York City and Nova Scotia will be hit by the wind and rain storms of the aftermath of Ike to the point that vast numbers will be with out electric or water and significant flooding will occur. I wonder how many have a disaster kit quickly available and who has a generator with fuel at the ready.

Who would have thought that Chicago, New York, New England and beyond our northern boarders will feel the affects of Hurricane Ike that slammed ashore in the southern gulf shores of Texas only two days ago. Yet the impact and a severe one at that can be felt thousands of miles away. That is why every one should be disaster prepared at all times. We can not predict who, when, where and how a disaster situation may occur. I get if you asked folks in Chicago or New York city about possible flooding in their areas because of a hurricane in South Texas many would look at you like you were crazy especially if you suggested they take hurricane preparedness action ahead of time!

This is why everyone needs to have their disaster kits and emergency preparedness plans ready at a moments notice. Everyone needs to have an emergency preparedness checklist to see what they have and what they need to get. If you don’t have an emergency preparedness checklist, there is a free one offered here on this blog for your use. Just look to your right in this blog, the emergency preparedness checklist is FREE and will help you get started.

Remember that emergency preparedness does not have to be fancy or expensive. Low cost emergency survival kits can be easily and quickly stocked with much that you already have scattered around your home in closets and dresser drawers. Collect them into one place and see what you have already. Then go to a discount store or dollar store and start there to stock the other emergency preparedness necessities.

Get as much disaster preparedness information as you can. Check out my website Train For a Hurricane (www.trainforahurricane.com) and get the FREE report that offers emergency preparedness tips that can help you be better disaster prepared.

I hope that where ever you live you will take time to consider if you were hot and thirsty how you would feel if you hear the words “Be Patient” when all you want is a glass of water to drink. If you are disaster prepared then you can be patient. You can also enjoy that glass of water and a snack as well as you listen to the news on your battery operated radio or TV in a safe location out of harms way

Joel in his blog today has a great statement:.

“Yes, the government agencies at all levels have a responsibility to protect and respond. Yes, in many cases over the last few years when they have been called upon there have been problems. And yes, we have a long way to go before we can rest easy knowing that they're ready for the next big thing. However, all that aside, it is still the responsibility of each and every one of us to be ready for common emergencies where we live.” Joel : Preparedness and Response

http://preparednessandresponse.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Please share your thoughts, emergency preparedness tips and stories here on this blog.

All I ask is that everyone be respectful and sensitive of each other and that identifying information about a person who is not the author be limited to protect their privacy.

Be Safe – Be Prepared – Help Others!

Terrie

www.trainforahurricane.com