Day 1
Make a Plan
Pick a place to meet up after a disaster. You should have two
places designated. The first should be right outside your home,
in case of a sudden household emergency, such as a fire.
In the event that you need to evacuate or if it is not safe
to stay near or return to your home, you will need a place outside
your neighborhood.
After determining your meeting places, you should also:
• Determine the best escape routes from your home. Find
two ways out of each room. Also, determine the best two escape
routes out of your neighborhood/community.
• Ask an out-of-town friend to be your "family contact".
After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other
family members should call this person and tell them where they
are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
• Find out how to care for your pets. Many shelters do
not allow them because of health regulations. For more information
on how to care for your pets, visit our Animal Safety section.
Day 2
Print it Out
Visit your city, county and/or state government Web sites (find
a list at www.FEMA.gov)
as well as the Be Prepared section of redcross.org to print
off emergency information. Read it at your leisure, and be sure
to keep a copy with your disaster supplies kit. It can provide
phone numbers, addresses and other information you need when
powering up and dialing in are not options for obtaining the
information.
Day 3
Make a Connection
Following a local/regional disaster, it may be easier to call
long distance than locally. Have an emergency contact from outside
your area, so that all your family members in the disaster area
can call this person and tell them where they are during the
emergency.
Take a minute now to call or e-mail an out-of-town friend or
family member to ask him or her to be your family’s designated
contact in the event of an emergency. Be sure to share the contact's
phone number with everyone in the family. Sign up for Connect
at www.redcrossconnect.org
and enter your family’s emergency contact information.
Day 4
Pet Planning
We know how important your pets are, but some shelters and hotels
can't accept animals. Find out IN ADVANCE how to care for your
pets when disaster strikes. For more information, visit our
Animal Safety section.
Day 5
Family First
Check your child’s school Web site or call the school
office to request a copy of the school’s emergency plans.
Keep a copy at home and work.
Learn where the safe places are in your home for each type of
disaster. Learn about the disaster plans at your business, your
child's school or daycare center, or other places where you
and your family spend time.
Day 6
Build a Kit
You should keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs
for at least three days. Build a Disaster Supplies Kit to take
with you in an evacuation.
The basics you should stock in your portable kit include: water,
food, first aid supplies, a change of clothing and blanket or
sleeping bag, emergency tools (like flashlights, radio, batteries),
and special items for infants, elderly or people with disabilities.
Keep these items in an easy-to carry container-such as a covered
trash container, a large backpack, or a duffle bag.
Day 7
Best Way Out
Take a moment to imagine that there is a fire in your home.
What are the best escape routes from your home? Find at least
two ways out of each room. Now, write it down.
Day 8
Food For Thought
Preparing for emergencies needn’t be expensive if you’re
thinking ahead and buying small quantities at a time.
Make a list of some non-perishable (long shelf-life) foods that:
• You and your family like
• Do not require cooking
• Can be easily stored
Keep the list in your purse or wallet and pick up a few each
time you’re shopping and/or see a sale until you have
built up a well-stocked stash that can sustain each member of
your family for at least three days following a disaster.
Day 9
Can you open it?
Canned, non-perishable food items are great for a disaster supplies
kit, but they do little good if you can’t open them. On
the next trip to your favorite retail, discount or kitchen supply
store, pick up a manual (non-electronic) can and bottle opener
for your disaster supplies kit. Most are available for less
than $10.
Day 10
Teach Your Children
Tell your children how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local
Emergency Medical Services number for help. Post other emergency
telephone numbers by phones. Help your children learn more about
emergencies.Download a preparedness coloring book.
Day 11
Practice
Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating your home twice
a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate
routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked.
Practice earthquake and tornado drills at home, school and work.
Commit a weekend to update phone numbers, disaster supplies
and review your plan with everyone.
Day 12
Make it a Habit
Go through your calendar now, and put a reminder on it –
every six months – to review your plan, update numbers,
and check supplies to be sure nothing has expired, spoiled,
or changed.
Day 13
Are You Covered?
Schedule an appointment with your insurance agent to conduct
an annual policy review. Make sure you are covered for different
types of disasters—particularly those for which are prevalent
in your area. Also, sharing information about new big-ticket
purchases or home renovations can help your insurer determine
whether your coverage is adequate to replace your belongings
in the event they are destroyed.
Day 14
On Payday, pay yourself
Start saving for a rainy day. Stash away a little cash for a
true emergency—keep it in your disaster supplies kit.
Again, this doesn’t need to be overwhelming task. We pay
bills every month, consider your emergency funds among your
debts and put a few dollars away for the future. Remember, this
isn’t a savings account that you can dip into and you’ll
want to keep it safe and secure at home so it is easy for you
to access when you need it.
Day 15
Make the Call
Less than 5 percent of those eligible actually donate blood.
Because whole blood has a shelf life of only 42 days, it is
important to be a regular and frequent donor. It takes about
an hour to donate, and each donation can save up to three lives.
Take a minute to call and make an appointment to give blood
today: 1-800-GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543) or log on to www.givelife.org.
Day 16
What's That Noise?
Learn about your community's disaster warning signals: what
they sound like and what you should do when you hear them. Get
a NOAA Weather Radio with Tone Alert feature for your home and
learn what to do when there is a severe weather “Watch”
and a severe weather “Warning”.
Day 17
Be Alert
Did you pull the battery out of your smoke alarm the last time
you used your oven broiler? Take a minute to check it and reconnect
it if you did. Or, swap out the battery with a new one, if you
haven’t replaced the battery within the last 12 months.
Day 18
Paperwork
Important Family Documents - Keep these records in a waterproof,
portable container:
• Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and
bonds
• Passports, social security cards, immunization records
• Bank account numbers
• Credit card account numbers and companies
• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone
numbers
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
Day 19
Children Can Help Grandparents, too:
Have children test each smoke detector in your home to make
sure it is working by using a broom handle to push the test
button. See that the battery is changed in each detector that
doesn't work. Ask children to draw a floor plan of your home
and show two ways out of every room in case of fire.
Day 20
Grandchildren's Safety
It is estimated that 3.4 million children live in a household
headed by grandparents. And, many children visit their grandparents
often. The following safety advice for children can help grandparents
prepare a safe environment at home for children:
• Store matches and lighters up high, away from children.
• Move cleaning chemicals like cleansers, soap, drain
cleaner, and other poisons to high cupboards OR install a child-proof
lock if you must keep these items in low cabinets.
• Store prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs
like aspirin, cough medicines, and stomachache remedies in a
cabinet out of reach of children.
• If children are playing outside or in a pool when skies
grow dark or you hear thunder, ask them to come indoors right
away.
• Install plastic covers over all exposed electrical outlets.
Day 21
Taking Care of Business
No business should risk operating without a disaster plan. While
reports vary, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not
reopen after a major disaster like a flood, tornado or earthquake.
These shuttered businesses were unprepared for a disaster; they
had no plan or backup systems.
When you start to develop your disaster plan, consider three
subjects: human resources, physical resources and business continuity.
Think about how a disaster could affect your employees, customers
and workplace. Think about how you could continue doing business
if the area around your facility is closed or streets are impassable.
Think about what you would need to serve your customers even
if your facility is closed.
Learn more by visiting our Business
and Industry Guide.
Day 22
Generators
If you choose to buy a generator, make sure you get one that
is rated for the amount of power that you think you will need.
Look at the labels on lighting, appliances, and equipment you
plan to connect to the generator to determine the amount of
power that will be needed to operate the equipment.
The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon
monoxide (CO) poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric
shock or electrocution, and fire. Follow the directions supplied
with the generator. Under no circumstances should portable generators
be used indoors, including inside a garage, carport, basement,
crawlspace, or other enclosed or partially-enclosed area, even
with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will
not prevent CO buildup in the home. The CO from generators can
rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death, but CO can't
be seen or smelled. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes,
you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy,
or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY
- DO NOT DELAY.
To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use
in rain or wet conditions. To protect the generator from moisture,
operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure,
such as under a tarp held up on poles. Dry your hands if wet
before touching the generator.
Day 23
Recovering Financially
A disaster can cause significant financial loss. Your apartment
or home may be severely damaged or destroyed. You may be forced
to live in temporary housing. Income may be cut off or significantly
reduced. Important financial records could be destroyed. Take
the time now to assess your situation and ask questions. Start
with your the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. It can
provide assistance in a disaster and/or refer you to others
in your community who could be of help.
Day 24
Treat contaminated water
In addition to having a bad odor, and taste, water from questionable
sources may be contaminated by a variety of microorganisms,
including bacteria and parasites that cause diseases such as
dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. All water of uncertain
purity should be treated before use.
To treat water, follow these steps:
1. Filter the water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter
to remove solid particles.
2. Bring it to a rolling boil for about one full minute.
3. Let it cool at least 30 minutes. Water must be cool or the
chlorine treatment described below will be useless.
4. Add 16 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of liquid chlorine bleach per
gallon of water. Stir to mix. Sodium hypochlorite of the concentration
of 5.25% to 6% should be the only active ingredient in the bleach.
There should not be any added soap or fragrances. A major bleach
manufacturer has also added Sodium Hydroxide as an active ingredient,
which they state does not pose a health risk for water treatment.
5. Let stand 30 minutes.
6. If it smells of chlorine. You can use it. If it does not
smell of chlorine, add 16 more drops (1/8 teaspoon) of chlorine
bleach per gallon of water, let stand 30 minutes, and smell
it again. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does
not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source of
water.
Day 25
Floods – even shallow water can be deadly
Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters
in terms of human hardship and economic loss. As much as 90
percent of the damage related to all natural disasters (excluding
draught) is caused by floods and associated debris flow. Most
communities in the United States can experience some kind of
flooding. Melting snow can combine with rain in the winter and
early spring; severe thunderstorms can bring heavy rain in the
spring or summer; or hurricanes can bring intense rainfall to
coastal and inland states in the summer and fall. Regardless
of how a flood occurs, the rule for being safe is simple: head
for higher ground and stay away from floodwater. Evan a shallow
depth of fast-moving floodwater produces more force than most
people imagine. You can protect yourself by being prepared and
having time to act. Local radio or television stations or a
NOAA Weather Radio are the best sources of information in a
flood situation.
Day 26
When the Lights Go Out
Short-term power outages, such as those caused by storms, are
inconveniences but with good planning, you and those you care
about will get through it just fine.
Top Safety Tips for a Blackout
1. Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Never use candles!
2. Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power
went out.
3. Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.
4. Do not run a generator inside a home or garage.
5. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to
power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect
a generator to a home’s electrical system.
6. Listen to local radio and television for updated information.
Day 27
Keeping Babies and Children Safe
With a baby or young child in your family, you know there is
nothing more important than safety. Whether you're a parent
or a caregiver, there are simple steps you can take to keep
your family and friends safe.
• Use safe playgrounds.
• Use gates on stairs.
• Always supervise children in or near water.
• Buckle up.
• Never keep guns in any child care setting.
• Call the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) if you
think a child has been poisoned.
• Post emergency numbers next to your telephone.
Take an American Red Cross course in first aid and infant/child
CPR. Make sure that others caring for your children are certified
as well. Contact your the American Red Cross Oregon Trail chapter
for more information at 503-284-1234.
Day 28
First Aid First
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.
• (20) adhesive bandages, various sizes.
• (1) 5" x 9" sterile dressing.
• (1) conforming roller gauze bandage.
• (2) triangular bandages.
• (2) 3 x 3 sterile gauze pads.
• (2) 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads.
• (1) roll 3" cohesive bandage.
• (2) germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based
hand sanitizer.
• (6) antiseptic wipes.
• (2) pair large medical grade non-latex gloves.
• Adhesive tape, 2" width.
• Anti-bacterial ointment.
• Cold pack.
• Scissors (small, personal).
• Tweezers.
• CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield.
Y ou can buy ready-made first aid kits, emergency kits and other
Red Cross products at the Oregon Trail Chapter www.redcross-pdx.org.
Day 29
Talk it Out
Talk with your family about disasters that can happen where
you live.
Talk with your family about why you need to prepare for these
events. Calmly explain the potential dangers, and plan to share
responsibilities and work together as a team. Make sure every
family member knows their particular responsibilities. Designate
an alternate in case a person is not there at the time.
Day 30
Help prepare your community: Volunteer
Every day, the American Red Cross helps people in emergencies
. . . whether it's half a million disaster victims or one sick
child who needs blood. Our vital work is made possible by people
who know how good it can feel to lend a helping hand. Red Cross
"everyday heroes" come from all walks of life. Everyone
has something special to offer . . . including you.
Last year more than one million Americans helped their communities
prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies as Red Cross
volunteers. And the demand for vital American Red Cross services
and the committed volunteers to deliver them continues to grow.
You can help your community be prepared. To find volunteer opportunities
near you, contact your the American Red
Cross Oregon Trail Chapter Chapter or check out our online
database of Red Cross volunteer opportunities with VolunteerMatch.org.
