The heart-wrenching images of disaster on the Gulf Coast, of towns
leveled and citizens rescued from rooftops, remind us that no one is
immune from catastrophe, whether man-made or natural.
In California, risks include wild fires, mudslides, floods,
earthquakes and terrorist attacks, all of which can occur without
warning. The "unexpected factor" of our threats may lead some people
to feel that no amount of planning will matter. However, the
unpredictability of crises is precisely why we must plan and be
prepared before disaster strikes close to home. The aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina underscores the importance of having a personal
plan to survive emergencies until help arrives.
All levels of government have the responsibility to coordinate an
effective response to catastrophes of all kinds. As President Bush
said about Hurricane Katrina, "The storm didn't discriminate, and
neither will the recovery efforts." Yet to be properly prepared in
the case of an emergency is to realize that our safety also depends
on our own actions. Local, state and the federal government will make
every effort to avert and respond to disaster, but even before they
act, individuals have great control over their wellbeing.
Just as we stretch before we exercise, we should be prepared
before disaster strikes. Hurricane Katrina and past emergencies have
shown that every family needs its own evacuation plan that includes
meeting spots both close to home and farther away. We each need an
emergency communication plan with a point of contact outside of the
danger zone. It is also critical to know emergency procedures at our
place of work and especially the procedures for our children at their
schools.
Experts advise keeping copies of important personal records, such
as Social Security cards, financial records and passports in a safe
place outside of our homes. As a general rule, we should have enough
water and food on hand to survive for three days, figuring on one
gallon of water per person per day. Food should be ready-to-eat, such
as canned tuna fish, canned vegetables or dried fruit. Also advised
are foods high in protein and calories, such as energy bars, peanut
butter and trail mix. Other essentials for 72 hours include necessary
prescription medicine, a first-aid kit, and flashlights with extra
batteries. Planning ahead can prevent paperwork headaches and save
lives.
If this all sounds easy, it is. But we can't let the simplicity of
planning make us complacent. Government will remain vigilant and
on-call, and so should all of us. Disaster preparedness is deadly
serious. Many more details, specific guidelines, and tips can be
found at these websites:
* o7www.ready.gov www.redcross.org
f7* o7www.fema.gov/kids/
f7* o7www.labt.org/media/f7
* o7www.lacofd.org/PDF/EmergencyPreparednessTips.pdf
f7* o7www.sbcfire.org/oes/disaster_links.asp
f7We can't always predict disaster, but we can be prepared.
* DAVID DREIER is a congressman whose district includes La
Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge.
