Article by Audrey Merkel | Photography by Caroline Cooney | Owl Staff
April Thomas, Business Management major at HCC, gained a new perspective on emergency preparedness when a massive tree fell into her home one day in 2009, injuring her parents and children.
“Our entire house was condemned and we were homeless. That was my emergency. It took out my entire support system,” she says.
If such a disaster struck, would you be prepared?
Making a plan is the first and most important part of being prepared for any emergency. Your plan may account for a specific emergency (such as a fire or a winter storm), or focus generally on preparedness and self-sufficiency.
Planning can be as simple as keeping a few days’ worth of food and living supplies on hand, in case of severe storms or extended power outages. Regardless of the disaster, there are a few key points the plan should cover.
The first step in planning for an emergency involves what immediate course of action you – and perhaps your loved ones or roommates – will take if disaster strikes. If you’re planning for a fire, for instance, your plan should outline the exits for each room and floor. When planning for a power outage or natural disaster, however, you should determine a place to regroup within your home or workplace.
Lisa Swank, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at the Harford County Health Department, emphasizes the importance of planning for emergency situations. She mentions preparations that many citizens forget to make.
“Always gas up your vehicle because the gas pump is electric, and always get money out of the ATM because they lose power and you want cash,” Swank states.
She points out that in evacuation scenarios, people frequently forget important documents such as birth certificates and social security cards.
“We really want them to take those important papers with them. We like people to think about actually putting all those papers in one spot in their home so they can grab them on the go,” Swank says.
Depending on the emergency you’re preparing for, you may want to account for communication with the outside world or with public health officials. The Harford County Health Department advises calling the department during normal business hours for crucial information following a public health emergency – or 911 after hours. However, what can be done in the event of jammed or even disabled phone lines?
If you decide to prepare for a long-term disaster such as an act of terrorism or severe winter storm,you should have a way to stay tuned to public announcements long after infrastructure fails. Those who are serious about emergency preparedness often invest in portable, rechargeable radios, which are available on websites like Amazon.com for less than $50.
In addition to communication equipment, your plan should include a checklist of other gear. The most crucial items include first-aid supplies, food, and water – about one gallon per person per day.
If you want to be self-reliant in the long run, you’ll have to find somewhere to store a substantial amount of food, toiletries, and other supplies. However, keeping the basics on -hand doesn’t have to be inconvenient. Many people utilize a “bug out bag.”
A bug out bag generally contains the supplies necessary to survive the first 72 hours of a given emergency. The time it takes to gather food and first- aid supplies could mean the difference between life and death in a natural disaster. Serious survivalists may plan to use bug out bags temporarily, in conjunction with a safe-house or long-term stash.
A variety of websites, such as Thebugoutbagguide.com and Bugoutbagacademy.com, feature lists of items to include. Different sources recommend different supplies, but the absolute essentials include supplies for saniyou should have a way to stay tuned to public announcements long after infrastructure fails. Those who are serious about emergency preparedness often invest in portable, rechargeable radios, which are available on websites like Amazon.com for less than $50.
In addition to communication equipment, your plan should include a checklist of other gear. The most crucial items include first-aid supplies, food, and water – about one gallon per person per day.
If you want to be self-reliant in the long run, you’ll have to find somewhere to store a substantial amount of food, toiletries, and other supplies. However, keeping the basics on-hand doesn’t have to be inconvenient. Many people utilize a “bug out bag.”
A bug out bag generally contains the supplies necessary to survive the first 72 hours of a given emergency. The time it takes to gather food and first- aid supplies could mean the difference between life and death in a natural disaster. Serious survivalists may plan to use bug out bags temporarily, in conjunction with a safe-house or long-term stash.
A variety of websites, such as Thebugoutbagguide.com and Bugoutbagacademy.com, feature lists of items to include. Different sources recommend different supplies, but the absolute essentials include supplies for sanitation, hydration, food preparation, and medical care. Bug Out Bag Academy recommends choosing the actual bag after you’ve already selected your supplies.
“Always gas up your vehicle because the gas pump is electric, and always get money out of the ATM because they lose power and you want cash.”
While many choose to do their own legwork when selecting and stocking a bug out bag, there are more convenient options available. Websites like Readytogosurvival.com feature premade bug out bags, starting at $70 for a comprehensive hygiene kit. Often, these websites also offer highly customizable survival bags.
Some people take self-reliance one step further. Growing and eating your own food could be a long-term solution to a breakdown in infrastructure, and many have already started.
It’s one thing to be prepared to survive a fire or power outage, but skills and supplies for independent survival would be key in the event of a national infrastructural breakdown. In such a situation, sustainably producing your own food could mean the difference between life and death.
In addition to providing a back-up supply of food for emergencies, growing produce is thrifty, rewarding, and eco-friendly. Dustin Albaugh, manager at All Good Garden Supply in Finksburg, MD, recommends growing greens, tomatoes, and peppers.
“One of the biggest problems with gardening indoors is not having pollinators, so when you do your fruit and flowering stuff you gotta have something that’s self-pollinating,” he says.
Although growing produce inside your home requires a little more preparation, it doesn’t have to be complicated or inconvenient. According to Albaugh, many foods just need a little light, space, and water – similar to a regular houseplant.
“You could do a tomato in a closet if you wanted to. It’s not that hard,” Albaugh says.
You don’t have to go all-out to benefit from emergency preparedness. Don’t get caught out in the rain next hurricane season.