The Will To Survive Is As Important As Any Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is not the only thing, which will help you survive through a disaster, crises or a calamity. Your survival, as well as your family's survival, relies not only on your emergency plan but also on your ability to think clear during the situation. Your brain and mentality will be your best tool in your fight to survive.

There are a lot books, guides, and websites that provide information on how you can start planning and preparing for emergency situations. There are a lot of survival information and education available in our fingertips. There is no question that we should learn about them. However, preparedness is nothing compared with our state of mind.

We have possibly heard stories about people, prepared or not, with or without survival skill knowledge, who were able to withstand challenges because of their undeniable will to survive.

How Much Do You Want to Live?

Tressel Hawkins, Curtis Hall and Hames Phillips decided to take a 23-foot catamaran to Matagorda Bay, Texas for a sports-fishing trip. They woke-up in the middle of the night in knee-deep water when their pump failed. The catamaran capsized before they were able to make their distress call.

The three men lasted eight days on the sea, on the top of the catamarans hull, exposed to the sun, with minimal food and water. They were only able to salvage two bags of chips, Double-mint gum, crackers and 2 gallons of water contaminated with gasoline when the boat turned-over. They were able to find submerged 30-gallon wash-down tank. The water, which was used to hose-off fish slime, was uncontaminated and were able to save their lives.

The three supported each other during the entire ordeal. They were moments when they would freak out, start hallucinating, but they provided strength to each otherís weaknesses until they were found on their eight day by another fisherman.

These three men were fortunate, they have each other. How far would you go to survive if you don't have anyone with you?

In 2003, Aron Ralston was pinned for four days when a 200 pound boulder fell on him while climbing the Canyon lands National Park. When his water ran out, he knew that he would have to do something to get out of his situation. He cut the pinned arm from below the elbow with a pocketknife. He wrapped it with a bandage and climbed down to the canyons floor. It was the same for Bill Jeracki, when he decided to amputate his own leg when he was trapped by a boulder in the Colorado Rockies in 1993.

The Mental Game

An emergency can happen, anywhere, anytime and to anyone. Whether you are prepared for it or not, it can all boil down to how much you want to survive. Survival is a mental game. It would depend on your body and minds ability to survive the stress of emergency situations.

Strong determination to live is one to proper attitude. You need to have a power desire and will to live. Our commitment to survive another day can drive our body, actions and reasoning to increased chances of living. A person needs to have a positive attitude to motivate the body.

A person will definitely encounter numerous obstacles, but having the right attitude and mental state will help you think clearly to overcome these obstacles. Feeling of loneliness, helplessness, and fear in survival situation are normal. However, don't let these feelings drag you. You have to control them instead of your emotions controlling you.

Panic is another thing that we have to guard against during emergency situations. Panicking can lead to exhaustion, serious injury and sometimes death. A person needs to relax and remain calm in order to think clearly. Panic stems out of the feeling not knowing and helplessness. Which is why we need to prepare or arm ourselves with survival information and knowledge to avoid panic ruling our lives.

Are you emergency prepared?

Being prepared for an emergency situation is essential for every household and does not have to be difficult. Emergency disaster plans generally call for survival kits along with enough food and water for at least 72 hours.

Find all the supplies and tools you'll need to be ready for any emergency situation or natural disaster online at http://EasyEmergencyPreparedness.com.

Hurricane Preparedness: Prepare Your Business in the Event of a Hurricane

When your area is issued a hurricane watch or warning, as a business leader, you often only have a very small amount of time in which to act quickly to protect your employees and your business. Because you do not have long to evacuate your personnel or to protect your company, having and executing a hurricane preparedness plan is imperative to safely recovering from this type of crisis. However, there are numerous aspects to keep in mind when creating, implementing and executing an emergency notification plan in the event of a hurricane - all of which must be considered in order to improve safety levels and communication.

Emergency Notification Plan: When to Act - Watches and Warnings

A hurricane watch is issued 48 hours ahead of the anticipated onset of tropical storm force winds to alert the affected areas to begin following their emergency procedures. A watch is typically issued when the conditions are favorable for a hurricane; therefore, you will want to move quickly to execute your hurricane preparedness plan, as the winds will begin to gather strength within 48 hours, and it will be harder to perform activities (e.g. covering windows, reinforcing structures) if the environment becomes hazardous.

A hurricane warning is issued 36 hours ahead of the expected onset of tropical storm force winds. Unlike a watch, a warning is issued because a hurricane has already been spotted and will affect the relevant areas. During this time, extreme caution must be taken, and it is imperative to act immediately, whether this means evacuating personnel, initiating emergency notifications, or following your hurricane preparedness plan. Even if you are only in the surrounding areas of the storm, you should still be prepared to execute your emergency notification plan, as you may face strong winds, potential flooding (which can occur ahead of or during the storm) and isolated tornadoes.

Why Do I Need a Hurricane Preparedness Plan?

As a business leader, you have a responsibility to protect your employees and your company from disaster. Your employees look to you for direction and need to know how to act in a crisis; having an extensive emergency notification plan in place will help employees learn who to contact, where to go and what to do in the event of a disaster.

Additionally, your plans will help you prepare for contingencies that you otherwise may not be able to cope with, including helping employees evacuate the area safely, even in the event of flooding of roads or of the building itself; loss of utilities and water for protracted periods of time; loss of communication in the event that cell phone towers go down due to strong winds; and loss of transportation routes. Your business will also be impacted by this disaster, including loss of inventory; loss of customers, as they may have migrated away from your company for extended periods of time during the crisis; loss of communication with suppliers, as they may not be able to get through due to flooding or they may be suffering damages of their own; loss of data; loss of equipment; a damaged facility and more.

The financial damages caused by hurricanes can be extensive. In 2011, the estimated cost of damages caused by Hurricane Irene was $7 billion to $10 billion. Unfortunately, insurance covered approximately less than 40 percent of the losses due to extensive flooding, as flood insurance is not generally covered under regular insurance plans.

Without a strong plan in place, in the worst case scenarios, your business could suffer irreparably and/or your employees could suffer serious injuries or death. As a business leader, you are responsible for creating an emergency notification plan to give your business a structure to follow in the event of a crisis.

Creating an Emergency Preparedness Plan for Your Business

Your hurricane preparedness plan should be created based on the size of your company - if you have a large company, then you have the human resources already in place (e.g. facilities management or otherwise) to handle the task of creating this plan; however, if you have a smaller company, then you need to designate the appropriate personnel for your crisis team to begin crafting your plans.

Your business requires a clear, concise, written emergency notification plan that employees can follow in the event of a hurricane - preferably before hurricane season begins. Remember to include all contingencies that must be accounted for, such as unexpected loss of communication, flooding, or data loss. If you are a large company with small subsidiaries in other areas, create a local preparedness plan for that specific subsidiary, as each business will need to be treated uniquely. For instance, a smaller division of your company may be located in a coastal town, and they will need to act more quickly to evacuate the town due to a high risk of flooding.

Practice Your Emergency Plans

You may have extensive plans in place; however, they mean nothing without practice. Create your emergency notification plan and then practice it - not once, but several times, so that it becomes second nature for employees to learn how to respond and use a notification system, and it becomes easier to evacuate the building or to take the steps necessary to secure data. In the event of a hurricane, you may have several days of warning before the disaster strikes, so it's up to you, as a business leader, to take immediate action.

Testing your plans can be challenging logistically, but there are many ways to practice your strategies. You can perform a tabletop drill (there are companies, including Preparis, that provide strategic crisis management drills) of your emergency notification plan with your crisis team, which will allow members to perform virtual exercises of decisions you may have to make during a hurricane. This will allow you to see if your plans and protocols need improvement, and will enable you to practice the procedures that are imperative to company safety.

Additionally, it is very important to have access to your plans at any time. Many companies create these plans and leave them in binders at the office, which are ultimately useless during the event of an evacuation or when personnel are located elsewhere. Try to put your emergency notification plan online or anywhere that can be accessed through a document management system, or, more importantly, a mobile device, as you may have to evacuate from home and you'll need to follow the steps of the plan without a computer nearby. Being able to access your hurricane contingency plans, data and emergency contact lists is very important.

Employee Notification Systems

Every business should have an emergency notification system with which to alert employees in the event of a disaster, through multiple channels if necessary, such as email, voice, text and more. You should always test this system at least twice a year, with every branch of your office. It's also important to ensure that employees can not only receive notifications, but that they can respond to them, because when a hurricane is spotted, employers do not have time to deal with a malfunctioning, overly-complicated messaging system.

Act Quickly - Before Hurricane Season

Now is the time to create response plans to prepare for financial and physical losses, flooding, damages due to wind and more. In addition to an emergency notification plan, it is also important to implement a recovery plan, because it will take time to recover from losses due to damaged/lost inventory, employees or consumers who have migrated to safer places and who may not be able to return quickly, or suppliers who are unable to fill your requests. However, market studies have shown that in the second year after a hurricane occurs, you may be able to sell more of your commodity, as consumers who are rebuilding or replacing stock are now able to do so; therefore, this type of disaster may sometimes increase sales. No matter what happens, you should have a recovery plan for your business, as you will need to make plans for potential repairs, utilities, data loss or labor supply. With this plan in place, you will begin to see an increase in your markets over time and you will begin to recover.

Act quickly and create a plan for your business before a disaster occurs - you cannot prevent a hurricane, but you can ensure that your employees and your business are as safe as possible in the event of a crisis.

Nate Kristy is the Marketing and Sales Operations Director at Preparis, Inc., with over fifteen years of experience in B2B and B2C marketing. At Preparis, Inc., Kristy is responsible for providing strategic direction and tactical execution to market the company's innovative emergency preparedness platform, comprised of an emergency notification system, expert information, response protocols and crisis training. A graduate of Emory University and Georgia State University, Kristy promotes Preparis, Inc.'s business preparedness solutions for a variety of applications, including the legal, commercial real estate, corporate and financial industries. For more information on Preparis, Inc. or to learn more about its crisis management and disaster preparedness solutions, please call (877) 544-5845 or visit www.preparis.com.

Emergency Managers Deal With Global Warming

For Seattle residents, rain - and lots of it - is a fact of life. But they'd never seen a month quite like November 2006. With 15.59 inches of rain - including snowfall and hail - it set the record for wettest month, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center. It was the most rain the Emerald City had ever seen in a one-month span, in 115 years of record keeping.

If that weren't enough, mid-December brought supercharged winds of 60 to 90 mph that cut power to about 1 million people, some of whom lived in the dark for prolonged periods.

"It wasn't just for a couple of hours, a couple of days," said Eric Holdeman, former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management. "There were folks without power for 10 days in isolated areas, or even longer than that."

That same month, drought plagued parts of Minnesota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma; thunderstorms and tornadoes whipped through the South; a cyclone lashed the Eastern coastline from South Carolina to Virginia; and the earliest snowfall on record fell on Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., according to the National Climatic Data Center.

Worldwide patterns show an increase in heavy precipitation and intense droughts caused by a warmer atmosphere, increases in water vapor and a rising sea-surface temperature - all results of global warming.

Holdeman, now principal at ICF International's Emergency Management and Homeland Security team, holds last winter's unusually hazardous weather events as anecdotal evidence that our weather reality is shifting.

"Whatever the cause is, the weather is changing," Holdeman said. "There's been any number of extreme weather events happening."

Scientists may not agree on some of the possible effects of global warming, but most do agree that it's happening, said Gabriel Vecchi, research scientist at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J.

According to a February report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the nation is already seeing warming effects in the Western mountains and melting of the snow pack; with increased winter flooding and summer warming; through pests and wildfires plaguing forest environments; with the intensifying of heat waves; and in hurricanes pounding coastal cities.

Unfortunately any changes related to the planet's increased temperature will be magnified in developing countries, where resources won't be available to delay or minimize effects. But in richer nations, like the United States, where the resources are forthcoming, it's time to adapt and plan for changes we might see, or are seeing now.

Lemming-Like March

The most egregious global warming effects will occur on global warming's frontlines - at the poles, where there's damage to ecosystems and thawing of glaciers and ice sheets, and on small islands, where beach erosion and storm surges are expected to further deteriorate coastlines, according to the IPCC.

Though most scientists agree that global warming is happening, the question of how exactly it will manifest remains. Many believe, however, that warming oceans may be contributing to more devastating hurricane seasons.

The 2004-2005 period was one of the most active 24 months ever witnessed in the Atlantic basin, setting records for number of hurricanes and tying the 1950-1951 record for most major hurricanes with 13.

But hurricanes don't just endanger lives; they also threaten people's livelihoods, businesses and homes, and cities' economies. And because tropical storms tend to hit the United States in its sweet spot - expensive and growing coastal stretches from Texas to Maine - they represent one of the country's gravest storm challenges.

Hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast region during the 2004 and 2005 storm seasons produced seven of the 13 costliest hurricanes to hit the United States since 1900 (after adjusting for inflation), according to an April 2007 report by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

This year's hurricane season, from June 1 to Nov. 30, already looks grim. Experts at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center project a 75 percent chance the season will be above normal. They predict a strong La Niña - which favors more Atlantic hurricanes, while El Niño favors fewer hurricanes - will cause three to five major hurricanes.

Also a factor is a phenomenon called "the tropical multidecadal signal" - the notion that two or three decades of lessened storm activity are followed by two or three decades of increased activity. The period since 1995 has wreaked conditions for more hurricanes.

Yet despite signs of a rough hurricane season ahead, a surprising phenomenon is occurring: People are increasingly moving to the Atlantic coast. Census Bureau data shows that in 1950, 10.2 million people were threatened by Atlantic hurricanes; today more than 34.9 million are threatened, according to USA Today.

"The areas along the United States Gulf and Atlantic coasts where most of this country's hurricane-related fatalities have occurred are also experiencing the country's most significant growth in population," the National Hurricane Center report confirmed.

But since coastal communities won't stop corralling newcomers, the report concluded that communities themselves should take action.

Jim O'Brien, professor emeritus of meteorology and oceanography at Florida State University, said emergency managers and policymakers should address the hurricane issue by enforcing stricter building codes, readdressing evacuation strategies and educating people about the imminent problem.

However, more drastic action must be taken to stop people's risky behavior, according to Kerry Emanuel, an atmospheric scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

The coastal migration is made possible, he said, through an unwise mix of state and federal policies, like government regulation of property and flood insurance (which covers storm surges), and federal disaster relief given to flooded regions. While such policies help people in the short term, Emmanuel explained, they also enable the risky behavior to continue.

Scientists have long feared America's vulnerability to hurricanes because its shores are lined with some of the nation's wealthiest residents. Emanuel, in conjunction with nine scientists, released a July 2006 statement about the U.S. hurricane problem: "We are optimistic that continued research will eventually resolve much of the current debate over the effect of climate change on hurricanes. But the more urgent problem of our lemming-like march to the sea requires immediate and sustained attention."

Preparedness Challenge

Paul Milelli, director of public safety for Palm Beach County, Fla., contends that global warming's effects may inherently force people to change their ways.

"If we start having to build homes to meet a 200 mph wind, the cost would probably stifle some growth," he said, "and then [there's] the fear factor of people moving in."

Because the county uses an all-hazards approach, emergency planning won't change much with global warming in the equation, he said.

"The economy is just going to be affected tremendously, and that, to me, is going to be the biggest concern. Because we can prepare our people for a hurricane, whether it's a Category 1 or a Category 5, and how we prepare the people really doesn't change - except that as the categories get higher, we start asking people to make their plans earlier and earlier."

For a statewide evacuation, Floridians would have to begin leaving days before the hurricane hit - a logistic impracticality.

"It's bigger than me. It's bigger than what I can plan for as a planner of the county," said Milelli, whose 31-year emergency management career ends in January when he plans to retire in Wisconsin - far away from hurricanes.

To help combat storm destruction, the Gulf Regional Planning Commission in Mississippi focuses on hurricane preparation as well as planning and redevelopment.

"We're certainly well aware of the dramatic impacts of climate change and also the need for looking outside of our localized area when we're starting to talk about the impacts of climate change," said Elaine Wilkinson, the commission's executive director.

The commission is working to build bridges that withstand high winds (similar to the effects of an earthquake), and building up seawalls to match the roadbed.

After Hurricane Katrina, the commission took an extra year to engineer its long-range transportation to plan for major storms. Transportation planning is important to ensure safe evacuation, she said.

Wilkinson was also involved in a U.S. government study on how global warming could affect the nation's coastal transportation systems. The study, which just released its first phase for scientific review, concluded that with climate change, the sea level is rising and the land is sinking, according to a National Public Radio news report.

Listening to scientists provided a good opportunity for Wilkinson, who said scientists must share global warming findings with people who can effect change.

"We need to find a way to bring the scientific data into the planning process," Wilkinson said. "That's something that'll challenge us. But we're very much in need of information to make some good decisions."

Ask the Question

Working with science, King County integrated global warming policies into its government. In October 2005, the county sponsored a conference to understand Washington's climate changes in the coming 20, 50 and 100 years, and identify approaches to adapt to climate change predictions.

The Climate Impacts Group (CIG), along with King County, developed conference materials, including Pacific Northwest climate change scenarios. CIG, which is funded by Washington University's Center for Science in the Earth System in Seattle and by NOAA, explores climate science with an eye to the public interest in the region. The group is one of eight NOAA teams that assess regional climate change in the United States.

From the conference, the CIG and King County established a relationship and jointly wrote Adapting to Global Warming - a Guidebook, to be released this November following a peer review process.

As a resource for regional leaders, the guidebook outlines King County's global warming approach, addressing its water supply, wastewater and floodplain management, agriculture, forestry and biodiversity. The county approved an aggressive levee improvement plan and adopted a climate plan in February that includes a two-page outline for the King County Office of Emergency Management to revise its strategies given projected climate changes.

In the guidebook, the CIG tells how scientists can communicate climate change information to emergency managers and policy leaders. But government officials are also responsible for opening the dialog.

Elizabeth Willmott, global warming coordinator for King County, stepped into her position upon its creation in January 2007, and works to coordinate projects, ideas and information related to the county's climate change mitigation and preparedness plans.

"What we suggest simply," Willmott said, "is that regional leaders ask the climate question, 'How is climate change going to affect my region?'"

Just asking, she said, can plant the issue in people's minds.

Though weather seems to be telling us something about how climate change will impact our future, there's uncertainty in many circles about what to do to prepare and how to mitigate its consequences.

ICF's Holdeman said we must focus on finding global warming's regional effects and work to lessen them now.

"We end up being so reactive as a society, and certainly the United States is," he said. "We don't address issues - like Social Security or Medicaid. Everybody knows it's a problem, but we're not going to do anything about it until it's staring us in the face, and there's a trillion dollar deficit."

It's up to emergency managers, he said, to spread the word and ensure global warming consequences are known.

"For emergency managers themselves," Holdeman said, "if we're not talking about it generally and trying to educate elected officials about it and the hazards, then you're counting on them to stumble on it as an issue."

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RELATED STORY: The Scientific Community Has Yet to Agree on How Climate Change Really Impacts Tropical Storms [http://www.govtech.com/em/133367?utm_source=ezine&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=em]

MORE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STORIES: Emergency Management magazine

Emergency operations, whether they are for natural disasters or terrorist incidents, require all stakeholders: elected officials; police, fire, EMS, volunteers and others to go beyond their every day responsibilities and work together to save lives.

Emergency Management magazine is there to help. Designed to meet the unique information needs of the entire emergency management community, Emergency Management provides all the key leaders new insights and understandings about their critical role in joint operations and planning.

Emergency Food Rations - A Review of Mountain House 72-Hour Emergency Meal Kit

Years ago Mom and or Grandma had a food cellar where they stocked up on food just in case of an emergency. This custom has virtually disappeared from the American lifestyle. Thus the advent of emergency food rations, freeze dried foods. You never know when you might experience an emergency. With the recent horrendous snow storms on the east coast, and the severe weather on the west coast, it is smart to be prepared. The Mountain House 72-Hour Emergency Meal Kit is the perfect answer with meals for three days for one adult, and you will rest easy knowing you or your family are ready in case of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other events. Some people also take these delicious foods camping and backpacking as they are easy to pack and easy to enjoy. They are ideal when there is a power outage, as you only have to add water. The Mountain House Company cooks fresh or frozen foods and then freeze dries them so the flavor and goodness are locked in. Backpackers have said these are the best-tasting freeze dried food they have ever had. You don't have to add anything or cook anything to get a complete meal.

This Mountain House meal kit includes three breakfasts, three side vegetables, and six 10 ounce packets of lunch or dinner entrees, food enough for an adult for three days. Included are granola with blueberries and milk, scrambled eggs with bacon, scrambled eggs with ham and pepper, garden green peas, whole kernel corn, cut green beans, beef stroganoff, chicken teriyaki, chili mac with beef, rice and chicken, pasta primavera, and sweet and sour pork with rice. All this emergency survival food can be prepared easily in challenging circumstances by adding water, and have a seven year shelf life. Satisfied customer Christopher Coakley of Santa Barbara, California said, "Mountain House meals typically taste better than many of the freeze-dried alternatives." My son agrees with Mr. Coakley, and takes them on motorcycle trips because they are also so easy to pack.

The Mountain House food for emergencies are preserved because greatly reduced amount of water halts microorganisms and enzymes that would result in spoiling the food. That allows the food to be stored without refrigeration. Satisfied customer M.O. Gomez of Northern California said, "The food is amazingly good. We purchased this to add to our earthquake preparedness kit, but we tasted the stroganoff before we filed the rest away. It was surprisingly yummy." The chili mac with beef is a favorite of my daughter's. Mountain House has put a lot of thought and care into their food preparation, and customers appreciate the taste of these hearty, well-balanced meals. I know when camping my family appreciates a hot meal, and during an ice storm Maine had the Mountain House foods we had collected were doubly appreciated. In my opinion the foods taste as good as if I had cooked them myself from scratch. I find also that they are very easy to store as they take up little room.

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Are you and your family prepared for emergencies like the recent horrendous snowstorms? It is important to plan ahead so you have enough food on hand. If you want to start a collection of food for an emergency kit, go now to Mountain House Emergency Meal Kit

Disaster Preparation - Be Ready Now and Make a Plan

Disaster preparation is key to surviving on your own after an emergency. It is well worth setting aside a weekend to put together a plan and an emergency survival kit for your family. The bare minimum needed would be at least 3 days worth of food, water, clothing, shelter and other supplies. Be prepared to be on your own for a few days, because relief may not come immediately. If you are lucky help may come within a few hours, but don't count on that. Utility services, such as electricity, gas and water may be unavailable for hours, days or a week or more.

To assure your family's safety after a disaster, here is an emergency preparedness guide to follow when putting together your emergency supply kit:

You will need enough water for everyone in your family, the recommended amount is one gallon of water per person a day for at least three days. Store in 2 liter soda bottles, because they are easily carried and convenient to store. Water for bathing and sanitation is less important when it comes to survival, so use baby wipes and use disposable utensils, plates, paper cups, paper towels, toilet paper, personal hygiene items, etc. Include a few small and large garbage bags to collect all the used disposable items. A gallon of unscented bleach to make safe drinking water. Just add 15-20 drops of bleach for each gallon of water.

As with water, you will need at least a three day supply of food for the entire family. Don't forget your pets' food! Non-perishable food such as canned meats, fruit, vegetables are good if you are able to stay in the home, but don't forget a can opener. A better alternative would be dehydrated food or freeze dried meals that are in small, lightweight packages. A long term supply of these can be stored or transported very easily. Dried fruit, energy bars and nuts should also be part of your food for emergency kit.

A basic first aid kit which includes prescription medication your family members are currently taking, pain relievers and anti-nausea medicine. A basic first aid manual is a must, because you may not be able to seek medical attention right away and might be able to aid an injured person immediately.

A basic tool kit is also recommend when putting a disaster preparation plan together. It should include pliers, wrench, hammer, nails, duct tape, and matches in a water tight plastic container. A large roll of thick plastic can be useful to temporarily repair a damaged structure, for shelter or to sleep on. Pack a complete set of clothing for everyone, including a warm jacket and blankets or sleeping bags. A tent that accommodates your whole family is also a good idea in the event your house is uninhabitable.In a waterproof plastic container, put a copy of all your family's important documents, like insurance policies, personal identification and some cash.

Each member of your family should have a flashlight. To stay informed in the crisis, having a hand crank or battery radio is essential. A battery lantern is also a good idea. Be sure to have a large supply of new batteries for the flashlights and radio. Communication after a disaster can be challenging, so invest in a solar charger for your cell phone.

No one ever thinks that they are going to be the victim of a natural disaster or emergency situation, but why risk your family's safety? Take a weekend to put a plan in place, your peace of mind is worth it!

Check out http://www.SurvivalFoodPro.com - Your partner in disaster preparation offers quality, affordable gourmet food for emergency situations.

Emergency Preparedness Month

I'll bet not too many of you knew that September 2010 (last month) was National Preparedness Month.

You're probably thinking, "prepared for what?" When it comes to emergency preparedness, we're all too complacent and think that it probably won't happen to us.

Well, I beg to differ with you! Considering all that has been happening in the world today, and right in our own backyard, it just might be something we should all get serious about. Emergencies such as:

* Tornadoes!

* Blizzards!

* Floods!

* Earthquakes!

* Hurricanes!

* Power Outages!

* And More!

Here are some suggestions to start you on the right track:

Get A Kit - You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days, preferably five days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. Help may come in hours, or it might take days! Also, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, a week or even longer.

Make A Plan - Make sure you have a family emergency plan. This is something that should be planned in advance, because your family may not be together when a disaster strikes. Think about: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

Be Informed - Find out about the different types of emergencies that could happen where you live and how to respond to them. This helps you make decisions about the actions you should take. Also, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

Get Involved - After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being informed, take the next step and get involved in helping your community prepare.

Emergency preparedness cannot be ignored.

Arlene Bridwell is passionate about preparing for emergencies and wants to make others more aware of possible disasters, which seem to be happening more frequently.

If you have any questions, please e-mail her at: abridwell@wi.rr.com

Her website is: http://www.emergency-preparedness-site.com

Beware of Hiring Emergency Damage Contractors

It doesn't matter where you go today, emergency situations cost more money and I don't think things are going to change in the future. If you have water leaking all over your kitchen floor and it's ruining your carpeting, you've got an emergency.

Just because home emergencies cost more money, doesn't mean that you can't eliminate some of the problems with a little preparation. Everyone knows the phone number to call if there is a medical emergency or a buildings on fire, but would you use that phone number, if you had another alternative.

It costs more money to call 911, than it does for someone to drive themselves down to the local hospital. If there truly is a medical emergency, you should call 911. However, if one of your children gets bitten by a dog or has a fever and you feel safe driving them down to the hospital, why wouldn't you.

I'm talking about saving some money and being prepared, just in case there is an emergency, within your house. Forget about all of the medical stuff, that was just an example to get your mind ready to listen to the information that I'm about to share with you.

If you're not prepared for a home damage emergency, you're also not going to be prepared for the home repair bill that the contractor hands you. Be prepared to get taken advantage of by an emergency damage contractor. I'm not kidding around here, some of these people, charge large sums of money, simply to shut the water off to your home.

If you don't want this to happen to you, you're going to need to find a couple of contractors in your area that you can work with, just in case there is an emergency. You can do this, by getting a couple of phone numbers of contractors in your area and asking them what their hourly rates are and how they handle home damage emergencies.

You need to be prepared and this is a simple way to prepare your family for one type of home emergency. The question that I'm wondering about right now, after you've read this article is whether or not you're going to do it.

Home Emergency Questions You Need To Know About

Read This Interesting Article About Winterizing Your Home Starts with Education - House Damage Prevention

You Can't Ever Imagine The Problems People Have Around Their Homes. Read Some Great Articles and Watch Some Incredible Videos To Prepare Yourself For Home Emergencies

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Survival Food: Get Prepared for Emergencies

There will come a time when the worst thing you expect to happen, will happen. It is best to be prepared for natural calamities or sudden emergencies. The best way to prepare for such events is to purchase survival food. Survival food will help you prepare for sudden emergencies and natural disasters when you can't purchase food anywhere. Survival food has come a long way from its days of just sour bread, crackers, and hard rice. You can get full, ready-to-eat meals when you purchase food for emergencies.

You can choose from a variety of meals when you purchase survival food in specialty stores or local supermarkets. The survival food that you purchases is sealed to avoid spoilage and it uses advanced methods to keep the food fresh and ready to eat with minimal cooking when you open it. You can choose chicken, beef, fish, or other kinds of meals when you buy it.

The food you purchase remains moist so that the food you eat retains its original taste and liquids when you eat it. You can also use it as camping food when you have outdoor activities. You can bring the survival food that you have bought so that you will not have a hard time preparing and looking for food when you go outdoors.

Survival Food Is Essential To Your Survival Kit

It is essential that you have food in your survival kit because it has all the nutrients and protein you will need when you go camping or when an emergency arises. Survival food will help sustain your body in times of trouble and emergency. Emergency food will be needed especially when a typhoon or storm devastates your town or house leaving you with no chance of purchasing other food from stores. Meals ready to eat will help you tide a black out, power outage, hurricane or earthquake.

The best thing you can do when an emergency arises is be prepared. Be prepared for anything and everything that can happen. You can increase your preparedness by including it in your shopping list. This food is easy to store and will last a long time in storage until it is needed. You can be sure that the contents of your pack will remain fresh and ready to eat when the time of an emergency arises.

It is better to be prepared than to be caught panicking in times of emergency and disaster. You can prevent panic and other accidents or shortages from happening if you have food that contains things that you will need when disaster strikes. You can prepare yourself by purchasing necessary items such as flashlights, batteries, matches, and lighters as well. These items will help you get through emergencies without panicking and will help keep your body sustained the whole time. Once a disaster strikes you should look for the nearest evacuation center. The evacuation center will keep you updated about the emergency or disaster that you are facing. You can minimize the perils of emergencies or disasters if you are prepared with the proper survival food.

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Natural Disasters and Emergencies - Is Your Family Ready? Top 4 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare!

Thanks - or No thanks - to the 24-hour News Channels, we are constantly bombarded with tragic events occurring around the world. Natural disasters - tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods - or man-made disasters - such as home invasions, accidents or terroristic activity - are front and center on the news everyday. It is not a question of "if," but more likely, "when" an accident or emergency is going to strike you or your loved ones. Will your family be prepared in the event of a worst-case scenario? There are four things that you can do right now to begin the journey to emergency preparedness.

There is an old adage, "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst"- this is a wise motto to embrace. If we can be ready for worst case scenario disasters, then a week long power outage due to an ice storm will be a piece of cake! But are we prepared? A recent survey showed that a majority of American homes do not even have a bandaid, much less a first aid kit in case of emergencies - not only are they not ready for a natural disaster, they can't even bandage a child's scrapped knee!

There are thousands of books on Disaster -proofing your family, but the odds that a family that does not own a bandaid would read one of them, are slim! Therefore, here are the top four things you can do to prepare your family for natural or man- made disasters:

1. Have a well stocked First Aid Kit: When an injury occurs, the last thing you want to do is wish you had the proper equipment to give medical care to your loved ones. We all need a first line of defense in our homes to be prepared for an emergency situation - a well stocked First Aid Kit is the answer. At a minimum, it should include assorted bandages, gauze, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, thermometer, cotton balls and adhesive tape. The size of your first aid kit and its contents will depend on the size of your family, their needs and their lifestyle. Pre-packaged first aid kits are economical and will contain the essential items that you need - you can then customize it by adding things that are tailored to suit your family's individual needs.(If Dad is a diabetic, include some hard candy in the event of diabetic shock, and don't forget your prescription medications and an extra pair of eyeglasses). Now that you have a well-stocked kit, you should familiarize yourself with all the items in it and know when and how to use them properly. It would be a good idea to have a complete kit for your home and smaller kits for your cars, purses or your child's locker at school - you should always have the proper first aid essentials on hand.

2. Have batteries, flashlights and weather radios readily accessible: Unfortunately, power outages usually go hand in hand with weather related emergencies, so be sure you have an adequate supply of fresh batteries at home. Keep a working flashlight on every nightstand (you don't want to be fumbling around in the dark- that's an accident waiting to happen!) and have a weather radio nearby to keep your family informed of any watches or warnings in your area so you can take shelter accordingly. Having a radio, flashlights or battery-powered lanterns ready ahead of time (we don't recommend candles because of the obvious fire hazard) and your family can remain safe, informed and relatively calm during any storm.

3. Have a supply of ready to eat food and water on hand: This is just good old common sense - our grandparents use to call it "putting away" for winter. I'm afraid many families today only buy enough groceries to last until the next week's shopping trip - there is no back up provisions in case of emergency. Well, there are all kinds of emergencies - a trucker strike as well as weather emergencies could shut down grocery stores, halting the food supply. As we saw with Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, because of the nature of the storms and their aftermath, help was impeded and people were without food and water for days. Be prepared in advance. We should all have enough rations on hand to get us comfortably by until help arrives - plan on at least 14 days worth (some experts will tell you 72 hours, but in most cases, it takes on average about 5 to 7 days to get back to 'normal'. Do your part and be prepared so you don't get in the way of first responders or those who were not prepared and must run to an under stocked grocery store) To accomplish this, just add a few more cans of soup, some familiar foods( not army dehydrated food) and some bottles of water every time you go shopping, and you will build up a nice emergency food supply. Store your food and water in a cool dark place, rotating the food every six months - keep an eye on those expiration dates.

4. Have copies of important documents in one place: Where are all of your important documents? Could you recreate your life in the case of a fire? You should have all original documents in a safe deposit box in an out of town bank or fire resistant safe. Make copies of vital papers - all title deeds, insurance policies, warranties, driver's license, Social Security cards, bank statements, investment papers, passport and any other papers that would be key in re- building your life after a disaster. It might also help if you send a second package of your copies to an out of town family member (also send along copies of any irreplaceable photos). Once you have made copies of all of these, keep them in a water and fireproof container that you can easily grab and go in a worst-case scenario (fire or flood). These papers will be essential in establishing any insurance claim in the aftermath of any catastrophic event.

Keep in mind, the government is not your Mom; they do not keep all of your vital information stored in one place!

This article is not intended to scare anyone - but with a little advance preparation, our families can have a greater sense of security and peace of mind. Make sure to follow the government and the first responder's directions so you do not become part of the problem. Again, "hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst" - Be smart! Be prepared!

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Emergency Food Storage Is Essential For Disaster Survival

Natural calamities. Severe weather changes. Volatile economic conditions. We are often bombarded with news about these disasters, constantly reminding us that unfortunate events can happen. Are we prepared to handle this kind of situation?

Most of the families are unprepared when it comes to handling emergency situations. Emergency preparedness is something that families and individuals need to have since this will ensure their survival when disaster or crises hit. Having a good emergency plan will ensure that you and your family will not be chewing your nails because of worry and fear.

Whenever disaster happens, you should expect that it would at least take three (3) days before help reaches you and your family. It is important to prepare for these three important days, like how to feed you family.

Emergency food storage are usually foods that would last for a long period of time and do not require preparation. It would only differ based on the needs of your family.

What Should Be In Your Food Storage Stockpile?

The classic Dragon Ball Z animation showcases a pill that instantly transforms into a complete meal. Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of technology right now which means that we have to learn how to properly stockpile food in order to keep our bodies and health intact during emergencies and long-term crises.

Non-preparation foods are usually food bars which are high in calories and does not provoke thirst that much, MREs (meals ready to eat) and light-weight food often referred to as camping meals. Camping meals can be stocked for long periods of time, most of these meals can last for 2 years in the shelf.

If you plan to prepare your own food, then canning and preserving is an option. If you have a garden, canning and stockpiling your vegetable gardens produce is more cost-efficient.

The canning process is actually very easy to learn and perform, as long as you have right supplies or equipment. Pressure canners are important for home-canning. Pressure canning are usually done on vegetables with low-acid content. High-acid vegetables are prepared using the boiling water canning process. A boiling water canner is a cooking pot where jars can conveniently fit into with enough water covering them.

Another must-have for emergency food storage is a food dehydrator. Food dehydrators draw moisture out of the food, thus preventing spoilage even if you do not refrigerate the food. The difference with food dehydration and canning is the use of sugars. Canning uses sugars but with food dehydration, you are emphasizing the foods natural sweetness.

Stockpiling your own food storage does not only include actual food items. There is also a need for you to have your own non-hybrid or heirloom seeds. Unlike typical seeds, heirloom seeds can be planted and harvest every year. Proper seed storage, however, is needed to ensure that your seeds would still generate the produce that you want.

How Do You Purchase Your Emergency Food?

There are a lot emergency food items and food kits available in the market. The 72- hour food kits contain items which your body will need for surviving three days. As a kit, it needs to be portable and easy to grab. Disaster management institutions have recommendations on what should be included in 72-hour food kits.

A 72-hour food kits usually have MREs, freeze-dried foods, and dehydrated foods included. In addition, there are food kits that include vitamins and supplements. Whenever you are purchasing MREs or other dehydrated food items, it is important to purchase from a reputable source.

There can be a lot of things holding you back on preparing for emergency situations, it can be budget restrictions or lack of time. But facing disasters and emergency situations unprepared can cost more money, time, and even you and your loved one's life.

Are you emergency prepared?

Being prepared for an emergency situation is essential for every household and does not have to be difficult. Emergency disaster plans generally call for survival kits along with enough food and water for at least 72 hours.

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Preparation For Sudden Earthquakes

One of the most overwhelming natural disasters of nature is the earthquake. It is a very devastating phenomenon that can cause a lot of destruction not just in building structures but it can also kill lots of lives in just a moment.

The bad thing about an earthquake is that it happens unexpectedly. One effective way to lessen its effects is to have enough emergency preparations.

If you have experienced earthquake, you've probably feel something unusual in the ground. It begins to shake and rumbling sounds start to roar. What you're hearing is the tectonic plates colliding.

This makes you panic and if the earthquake is worst, there may be a little chance for your survival. Although such strong earthquakes happen seldom even in the Earth's Rim Of Fire, precautionary measures must be planned out.

Earthquake Drill Practices

Schools, government firms and many other corporations and Internet websites provide earthquake drills, seminars and tips. This is to practice everyone as if they're really in an earthquake situation. This is one effective means of planning out a real earthquake once it happens suddenly.

It is also important that your whole family and colleagues are trained out of the earthquake preparation drills and tips. This is very beneficial for everyone once such incident occur. It will put out everything into coordination making it easier for you to respond during an earthquake.

Planning Out Your Home Structure

It is important to take note of planning out your home structure. If you're living in the vicinities of earthquake, make sure that your house is made up of light materials and the exit ways should be easily determined.

On the other hand, you have to make sure that your door frames, post and doorways are strong enough to support your house. These areas can commonly withstand earthquakes.

Make sure that heavy and tall equipments are fixed and fastened to the wall. Cabinets should have latches to prevent things inside from falling once an earthquake happens.

Knowing Where to Run

Be sure that you know where to go during an earthquake scenario. It is important that you know the secured and hiding places. One safe place to hide during an earthquake is a sturdy table. It will protect you from heavy and concrete things that are falling.

While running, cover your head with your hand to avoid internal head hemorrhage caused by falling debris.

Assigning Duties

Everyone in your family or office mates must know their responsibilities during an earthquake event. Only one or two persons should not own the duties themselves. Everybody's participation is barely important. This is for everyone to respond immediately in an earthquake even if you're not around.

Emergency Kits On-Board

Lastly, you should have emergency and first aid kits in your home and office. These kits should comprise of important things needed in the earthquake aftermath like medicinal treatment stuffs, candle and matches, canned goods etc. Make sure that everyone in the house knows where to find these kits.

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Be Ready, Be Prepared

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. National Preparedness Month 2008 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.

Here are a few steps that you can take right now to get prepared in case of an emergency:

Get a Kit - Get a kit of emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to survive for at least three days in the event an emergency happens. The kit should include basic items like water, food, battery-powered radio, flashlight and a first aid kit.

Make a Plan - Plan in advance what you and your family will do in an emergency. Your plan should include a communications plan and address sheltering-in-place and evacuation.

Be Informed - Learn more about different threats that could affect your community and appropriate responses to them.

Get Involved - After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies, take the next step: get training in first aid and emergency response and get involved in preparing your community. Citizen Corps provides residents with opportunities to prepare, train and support local emergency responders. For more information or to get involved visit CitizenCorps.gov to find your local Citizen Corps council.

For a list of recommended supplies, plan templates, and additional information about preparing for disasters, visit Ready.gov. At this site, you can also learn about the emergency plans that have already been established in your area. Take some time to stay informed about how to react to even unlikely scenarios. You should be prepared to adapt this information to your personal circumstances and make every effort to follow instructions received from authorities on the scene

The very worst emergency plan is no plan. The next worse is two plans. ~Author Unknown

Kathy Jenkins is a Professional Organizer based in Richmond, VA. Through her business, Come To Order, she offers residential professional organizing services tailored to meet the specific needs of her clients, and operates a retail website for organizing products, Organized A To Z.com. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), Faithful Organizers, and Women Entrepreneurs of Virginia, and serves as marketing director of NAPO Richmond. You may contact her through her websites at www.cometoorderva.com and www.organizedatoz.com.

2012 Cataclysm Disaster Plans and Preparedness For Global Industrial Emergency

Take the action. First things first, the fact of the matter is that there are great benefits to be had when there is guidance and ample preparation in cases of an emergency.

In doing the advance preparation and planning for the year 2012 helps industries and corporation discover any hazardous problems or conditions that could be unrecognized and if not paid attention to could possibly aggravate a situation.

When there is preparation, deficiencies are immediately brought to light.

By 2012 some of these deficiencies could include resource-lack (e.g. lack of personnel that are adequately trained, lack of supplies, and lack of equipment, to name a few). Knowing these details beforehand helps correct any lack in the soonest possible time.

It also prevents major losses and casualties as well as financial organizational collapse.

Another advantage of preparing for 2012 Cataclysm disaster an industrial emergency plan is that it helps promote appropriate safety and awareness among the workers as well as present a company that is concerned with the welfare of its entire staff.

The following are some of the needed steps designed to assist the 2012 Cataclysm disaster industrial plants as well as businesses in preparing for any type of cataclysm emergency event.

Establish a cataclysm emergency event team

Does it more possible fast, set up a good cataclysm emergency event planning team? A leader as well as a staff must be chosen as based on their appropriate capabilities and professional skills.

Particular tasks should also be assigned to a disaster teams or individuals.

Analyze hazards and capabilities

It is also important to assess the preparations the industrial emergency plant or the organization cataclysm emergency event planning team that currently has against risks such as power failure, damage in structures, among others.

In an emergency catastrophic such as flooding, contacting the manager or director of the local floodplain as well as other flood officials that helps the organization and industries learn the risks involved.

Using building materials that are flood resistant, erecting a physical barrier as well as anchoring structures and tanks is one of the ways to prepare in advance for flood emergencies.

Meanwhile, preparing against high winds is by reinforcing the building as well as the drinking water and food supplier. Covering & Seal windows is also important, covering the doors and removing any objects that are loose from the industrial plant is a must.

Have a backup emergency plan supplier

As much as possible, have a backup emergency power such as battery storage, power and heat system combined. It is also vital that contact utility information and dealer suppliers be obtained in case of a power outage.

The cataclysm emergency plan should be developed

It is important that there is a plan developed during, before as well as after a particular emergency. Protocols should be established for the welfare of the employees, especially their safety and similarly the readiness of the site.

Emergency power should also be updated as well as the options for power supply. Communication emergency systems must also be established.

Responsibilities for each staff with regards to the recovery, shutdown and restart procedure should be outlined.

An evacuation plan should also be developed including employee support. Procedures on shutting down the utility and the safe processing of operations are a necessity.

Methods in protecting records, inventory and materials must also be developed.

Cataclysm emergency Plan implementation

Staying in touch with the operations emergency center on your own state is important.

In this stage, the appropriate preparation, shutdown, emergency backup and evacuation should be started.

The year 2012 preparation, the final stage is the recovery process and the assessment of the damages brought by the emergency as well as in prioritizing needed repairs by the year 2012. Hopefully, the procedures above help in the adequate preparation of industries and organization.

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Are You and Your Family Prepared For the First 72 Hours?

Experience gained from past disasters has shown that it can take up to 72 hours or more to mobilize a significant relief effort during an emergency. Therefore everyone needs to be preparing to cope on his or her own for at least the first 72 hours - that's 3 days - of an emergency. Of course common sense dictates that we should be prepared for any emergency situation, however the fact is that only a few of us are ready for even the smallest crisis, let alone one of larger significance.

One obvious advantage of being prepared - it allows emergency workers to focus on people in very urgent need of their help. To support their efforts, the rest of us must to be prepared to look after ourselves for at least 72 hours.

The San Francisco area is exposed to a wide variety of hazards, both natural and man-made. The path of destruction that Hurricane Katrina left in its wake across the southern U.S. in August 2005 and the widespread flooding of 2007 - 2008 have provided a horrific reminder of the importance of being prepared for disasters. Unfortunately no part of our country, or North America for that matter is immune to a natural or a man-made disaster.

Earthquakes, power outages, floods, fires, severe storms and acts of terrorism are just some of the potential emergencies. Many of these emergencies have been deadly in the past. Being prepared can save lives and can help to reduce the impact of a disaster on you and your family.

Why prepare your family?

Imagine for a moment that you have no electricity, no gas, no water and no telephone service. Imagine that all the businesses are closed and you are without any kind of emergency services. What will you do until help arrives? What will you do if your local authorities issue and emergency evacuation order? Remember, in such a circumstance there will be no stores open for you to acquire anything, the store personal will be evacuating also!

If you have not prepared beforehand for either of these events, both you and your family may have a very difficult time when a disaster strikes your hometown. While governments are working hard to keep citizens safe, we all have an important role to play in emergency preparedness and response. By being prepared to take care of yourself, you allow community resources to be used more effectively during an emergency and you help keep your own family safe at the same time. Very simply put, emergency preparedness must begin at home.

Start to plan today!

As neither man-made nor natural emergencies can be predicted; therefore it is imperative that we are all prepared well in advance of the disaster.

I cannot over stress this point.

Prepare your emergency kit and your family - so in the case of a major emergency like a flood or blackout - you are ready to take care of yourself and your loved ones for at least 72 hours. You should be prepared to live without running water, electricity, gas, telephones and assistance from safety services for at least three days following a disaster.

What do you need?

You need to have an "Emergency Kit" in your home, ready to go at a moments notice.

Your family Emergency Kit is comprised of two separate parts, a First Aid Kit and a Go Bag.

Your own 72-Hour Emergency Kit should be tailored to meet the basic survival needs of your family. Store your emergency supplies in an easily accessible if evacuation is required. Items may be stored in a 32-gallon trashcan, suitcase, duffle bag, backpack, footlocker or individual pack.

Your First Aid Kit

In any emergency situation, you or a family member may be cut, burned or suffer other injuries. It is imperative that you keep basic first aid supplies handy so you are prepared to assist when someone is hurt. Medical help may not be available during or immediately after a large-scale disaster.

My personal list of items that should be in your First Aid Kit:

· Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes

· Gauze pads and bandages

· Butterfly Closure bandages

· Sterile dressings to stop bleeding (Blood stopper)

· Elastic Wrap

· Instant cold pack

· Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect

· Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection

· Burn ointment

· Sting Relief Pads (for insect bites)

· Sunscreen packets

· Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant

· Cotton tips

· Scissors

· Tweezers

· At least two pairs of disposable gloves

· A First Aid Instruction Guide

· Hygiene kits

· Flashlight or brightstick

· Medicines such as Aspirin or other pain reliever, laxative, anti-diarrhea medication

Your Go Bag:

A major component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Every household should pack a Go Bag - a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation order.

Your Go Bag may be assembled or purchased as a ready-made kit for convenience. Your Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy backpack or suitcase on wheels.

The Go Bag should be easily accessible if you have to leave your home in a hurry. Make sure it is ready to go at all times of the year as an emergency evacuation order can occur at any time of the year.

Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each is tagged with the name of the person it was packed for. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work.

Items that should be in your Go Bag:

· The prescription medications you take every day such as insulin or heart medication.

· All prescribed medical supplies such as glucose or blood pressure monitors

· Drinking Water

· Non-perishable food such as food ration bars or Meal-in-a-Box

· Manual can opener

· Plates, utensils and other cooking supplies

· Flashlight and extra batteries or Hand-charged Flashlight

· Pocketknife or Multifunctional Tool

· Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries

· Whistle

· Waterproof Matches

· Water filtration bottle

· Duct Tape, permanent marker, and paper

· Cable Ties

· Light Stick

· Rope or twine

· Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls

· Heavy work gloves

· Disposable lighters

· Phillips Screw Driver

· Standard Screw Driver

· Folding Shovel w/Sheath

· Trash Bags

· Toothbrush and toothpaste

· Personal Hygiene kit

· Shave Kit

· Maps

· Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, gloves and a warm hat

· Emergency Survival Sleeping Bag

· Rain Ponchos

· Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes

· List of emergency contact phone numbers

· List of allergies to any drug or food

· Copy of health insurance and identification cards

· Extra prescription eyeglasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items

· Prescription medications

· Extra keys to your house and vehicle

· Disposable camera

· Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities.

Don't forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

Remember that if you have to leave your house due to an evacuation order, you will be living and sleeping somewhere else for a while. It is therefore a good idea to add some activity items to the kids Go Bag.

Some suggestions may be a couple of favorite books

· Crayons, pencils and plenty of paper

· A puzzle

· A favorite toy such as a doll or action figure

· One or two board games

· A deck of cards

· A Favorite stuffed animal or puppet

· Favorite blanket or pillow

I sincerely hope that this article will provide the incentive for you to get prepared for an emergency now. Don't put if off for another day. The safety and well being of your family is at stake.

Allan Wright
First Aid Kit Products
http://www.FirstAidKitProducts.com

Shelter-In-Place VS Evacuation for Personal Emergency Planning

When preparing an emergency plan you must consider the differences and merits to both sheltering-in-place and evacuation. Being prepared for both of these scenarios will greatly increase your chance of survival.

What is SIP?

Shelter-in-place is the concepts of taking refuge were you are to weather an emergency situation. There are several schools of thought on SIP planning depending on what the particular emergency is but the most common definition is contingent on the practice of preparing supplies and fortifying your home so it serves as shelter.

What emergencies call for SIP?

Some emergencies like tornados, pandemics minor hurricanes, severe blizzards, and even certain terrorist attacks could require you to take refuge in your home. The list of emergencies that would require you to take shelter in your home is nearly endless but it is important to remember that if your local government or emergency agency asks that you evacuate your home, DO SO!

Evacuation orders are planned and examined over and over by highly trained and qualified safety professionals and these orders are not given out lightly. It is very hard to stress this enough.

What to consider about SIP

Preparing for SIP scenarios is an extremely important practice and must be taken very seriously. Most emergency aid agencies suggest that you stockpile food, water, and medical supplies to last you at least three or four days; this is to tide you over until emergency crews can get to you.

Preparing your supplies is important but do not bind yourself to the three day suggestion. You will be much better served to prepare at least weeks worth of emergency supplies as some disasters, like Hurricane Katrina, can leave you stranded in your home for several days.

What is EVAC?

When your local government or public safety entity calls for an evacuation of an area, as mentioned before, it is important that you head their call. Evacuating, however, is often even more daunting of a challenge that SIP.

What emergencies call for EVAC

Any emergency that would make your home unsafe for occupancy will call for you to evacuate. The list is nearly endless but a few examples are major hurricanes, flooding, and even gas main leaks. Your local government will advise you on what to do.

What you need consider about EVAC?

You should plan on bringing some emergency supplies with you even if you are headed to a shelter. Emergency shelters are often neglected by city planners and government agencies and the resources available at these facilities can be quickly exhausted by a sudden demand. It is important that you bring some supplies, like food, water, and medicine, to sustain yourself.

You also need to make sure that whatever you bring with you can be easily transported on foot and without anyone's assistance. Many evacuations are directed by the local government and require that people are transported on government vehicles so as to not inundate the roadways with evacuees; being able to bring your supplies on a bus or truck will require a very mobile kit.

Don't forget about your pets when evacuating. Many cities are now taking steps to evacuate pets during an emergency, but not all do and you will most likely not be able to bring your pet with you during an evacuation via public transportation. If you have to leave your pets at home, be sure to leave them in a safe place in your home with enough food and water for several days.

Which is better?

Asking whether SIP or EVAC is a better course of action is really dictated by the situation you are facing. You should prepare for either contingency when preparing your emergency supplies and plan for both as each has its own merits.

You should relay on the wisdom of your local government when deciding which course of action to take during an emergency. The government employs professional public safety specialists that have training and experience that will allow them to make the right choice follow their instructions.

When you are preparing for both EVAC and SIP, it is important to remember that you will never be able to prepare for every emergency and trying to do so is not only inefficient but could prove dangerous. Preparing a basic emergency kit is your best course of action and it may, one day, save your life.

Mark R. Seme studied political science in college, is a veteran of several campaigns, and is a life long student of politics. In 2011 Mark founded the website Saturday Night Politics, a political commentary site that takes the spin out of politics by focusing on pragmatism instead of partisanship.

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Emergency Preparedness - A Quick Beginners Guide

In today's society it is easy to forget how fragile we are when disaster strikes. Even so, there are very few people who are concerned with the importance of emergency preparedness. Even though a little time spent in preparing for an emergency can go a long way.

If this is your first time looking into preparing for an emergency then what I lay out here will aid you in that first step.

Because as you are probably well aware, natural disasters are occurring more frequently than usual, even the experts know this. So please take action on the information you will soon read here. However, if you're still unconvinced of how important a little preparation is, then consider this.

Most countries are simply not capable of recovering from a wide spread disaster by themselves. That's why emergency aid always comes in from other countries during these emergency situations.

So if the country can barely help itself, is it feasible to believe they can easily help you?

Few people are aware of this fact which is why you should take matters into your own hands and prepare yourself and your loved ones today.

As you can see, the importance of emergency preparedness is paramount in an emergency if you are to have a greater chance at survival. So let's take a look at how we can achieve that.

There are various ways to go about preparing but essentially you should ensure that you have at least a sufficient amount of food and water for 3 days, and a first aid kit.

Keeping a 3 days supply will give you enough supplies to keep you safe until government aid can provide assistance.

Once you have your supplies keep them inside a comfortable mid to large hikers backpack.

You may be tempted to store your supplies on your shelf - don't! Rather, keep them in the pack because you never know not only when, but where a disaster may occur. And if it occurs at home you must leave as quickly as possible, without a moments thought as to where you put what. By having an emergency pack, you can evacuate quickly and easily.

An emergency pack is not the only option to prepare for a disaster, even though it is the most common. Some self reliant people prefer instead to keep a larger supply of emergency goods at home - lasting into the months. Although i strongly advise everyone to maintain an emergency pack, it is actually a better strategy to have a pack as well as a reliable home supply. The pack will assist you when you need to evacuate your home or office. And the home supply will support you when you need to stay indoors during the disaster.

Now that you have the emergency supplies you can count on during an emergency, let's consider the other crucial element to preparing for an emergency - an evacuation plan.

This plan will be your ticket out of the danger zone!

To prepare your evacuation plan you must consider various options, as any one path can be cut off during an emergency. Such is the case during an earthquake and flood. You will also need an awareness of your location so you can plan effectively. With these 2 pieces of advice you can begin to prepare your evacuation plan.

In conclusion, take action on what i have shared with you today - right now! My non profit organization makes every effort to prepare as many people as possible for an emergency, and as we can all see, natural disasters are on the rise. So take action on this today.

The last thing you want to do is have this knowledge and wish you had used it - only to discover it is too late.

If you would like more information and step by step plans you can use to become emergency prepared, visit our emergency preparedness website. You can also get a free mini first aid kit - for more details visit our emergency packs website.

Emergency Survival Tips - Be Ready Now for Any Emergency

What are you going to do if disaster strikes? Unfortunately most of us are not prepared and don't have a disaster preparation plan in place. Many people have a false sense of security and think that they are immune to the aftermath of a disaster. All the money in the world won't help in most emergency situations.

The simplest way to make sure that you, your family and your pets can stay safe in emergency situations like floods, fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes is to prepare now and come up with a disaster preparation plan. The bare minimum is to have emergency food supplies and a water supply that last at least 72 hours.

Even if emergency rescue workers are able to reach your house or area immediately, don't count on it. You must prepare now so that everyone in your family is safe and has enough food and water for the duration of the crisis. When putting your kit together for emergency food and water, take into consideration the needs of each family member. If you have a child or a senior in your house, you have to consider their special needs while preparing your emergency food. If you have an infant, include cans of formula and diapers for example.

Next, you want to prepare an emergency water storage plan that will provide fresh water for drinking and also for personal hygiene and sanitation purposes. Always have a gallon of unscented bleach on hand to disinfect water for drinking. About 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water will make it safe for drinking. Another alternative could be, a lightweight water filtering system so that you can safely use different sources, for example rainwater and even water stored in your hot-water tank or pool.

Select food that has long shelf life, like canned and dried fruit, vegetables and meat. It would also make sense to store plenty of granola, energy and protein bars or ready-to-eat dehydrated and freeze dried meals. These don't only have a much longer shelf life, but also are lighter and more portable to carry if you need to leave your house.

Other supplies you should add to your emergency food for emergency situations and water supplies are flashlights, batteries, hand crank or battery powered radio, can opener, camping/cooking utensils, disposable paper products and garbage bags. Since power and gas might not be available, have a camping stove or grill available. You can then boil water or cook food thoroughly.

Food and water are obviously the two most important things to carry your family through this difficult time. It is easy, so prepare your emergency food supply kit today!

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Emergency Exits and Bus Accidents

Buses travel thousands of miles each year on US roads and highways. Whether carrying sports teams, school children, travelers, or providing everyday transportation, buses are responsible for huge numbers of passengers in their time of operation. Just like any other vehicle on the road, buses can be involved in harmful accidents. A bus accident is often magnified by the number of people involved and the large size of the vehicle. These two factors can contribute to frightening situations and a need for emergency preparations. Emergency exits, which are required by the US Department of Transportation, can allow people to quickly escape dangerous situations when they arise.

Emergency situations generally occur without much warning. Bus passengers are especially vulnerable in these instances because, unlike in smaller vehicles, most seats do not have seat belts to keep a passenger safely in place during a collision. Many injuries occur in bus accidents from people being flung from their seats. In the midst of a chaotic accident scenario, knowing how to get away from a dangerous situation quickly can be crucial to a person's well-being. Also, being able to access people and quickly getting them proper care can be a matter of life or death.

Because of these reasons, emergency exits are a necessary attribute to any bus. The Department of Transportation requires that laminated safety glass that is designed to resist shattering is used in buses. Emergency exit windows made of safety glass provide large spaces through which passengers can exit in the event of an emergency. These exits must be clearly marked so that they can be recognized in any situation. Also, there may be no more than two mechanical operations required to remove the safety glass.

It is crucial that emergency exits are in place and properly maintained on any bus, because there is always the potential for a dangerous accident to occur. Some bus companies are not always in compliance with these regulations. Ensure that you can identify emergency exits on any bus you occupy and hold the bus company accountable for ensuring their proper operation.

Please visit the website of the Iowa bus defect lawyers at LaMarca & Landry, P.C. for more information on bus accidents.

James Witherspoon

Preparation Tips Against Volcanic Eruptions

One of the most catastrophic natural disasters is the volcanic eruption. It is very violent in nature and can kill thousands of human and animals' lives in few hours. It is not just to spread death but it can also annihilate several towns and it can cause changes in the earth's climate temporarily.

Volcanic eruptions are sometimes unpredictable to happen although volcanologists and scientists who study volcanoes, have gadgets and graphs that can detect volcanic eruption.

They will bring info regarding any signs of volcanic eruption but the specific time and the next place will not always be exactly forecasted. Below are several tips that can help you on how to respond in volcanic eruptions especially for those who live next to an active volcano:

1. There are some volcanic terminologies that at least you must understand for you to be able to catch up in case any news regarding volcanic eruption is forecasted. Some of these terms are:

- Volcanic Ashes - it is the small dust particles and any large rock pieces from the volcano, which are carried down along with volcanic gases. These ashes are very harmful as they can block machineries, clog water supplies, crumble fabrics, oxidize metals and can kill crops and vegetation.

- Pyroclastic flows - streams of lava and molten rocks. These flows can burn up a large-scale area especially if forests surround the volcano.

2. Consult any emergency firms within your local district to check if there are areas near you, which are prone to volcanic ashes and pyroclastic flows.

3. Be sure not to go to areas near the volcano when the volcano starts to show signs of eruption. Evacuate to places far from the volcanoes vicinity. The government will warn you to evacuate as early as possible. Avoid lower areas and areas downwind.

4. Once the volcano erupted, stay inside the house and close any house openings like doors and windows. Wait until the ashes are settled.

5. Volcanic ashes are very dangerous for human health. They can cause several lung diseases and can trigger asthma for asthmatic patients. Hence once the ashes are settled already, clean and remove immediately thick masses of ash around your house.

6. When you caught up driving a vehicle, be sure not to go to places, which are covered with dust. Driving slowly can minimize dust from spreading.

7. It might take time for the volcanic eruption aftermath to get clearer that's why you should have enough supply of food and water and emergency kits like dust masks and batteries.

Volcanic eruption may seem disastrous but a careful planning and preparation is better enough to be on safer zone. It is important to have the knowledge and understanding about volcanic eruptions and emergency preparation once it occurs.

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Be Prepared at Every Moment - First Aid Kits and Emergency Preparedness

It is no secret that first aid and emergency preparedness is something we all need, but don't always go out of our way to be ready for. In preparing for any emergency or natural disaster, look ahead and determine what life will be like after it occurs. Look around your house or office and imagine what can be turned over, broken, or in just plain shambles. Picturing the aftermath a disaster leaves behind may be the very motivation you need to take action, be smart, and get prepared!

Although most disasters are beyond our control, taking action to be prepared can reduce the risk of injury or death at home and work. There are many things you can do and buy to get prepared, but here are some general key actions that can be helpful in any general disaster situation:

o Conduct a thorough "hazard hunt" to identify items that can be potentially harmful to you or your family. Wall hangings, heavy bookshelves, filing cabinets, TV/electronics, computers, lockers, storage units, water heaters, and appliances should be secured and/or strapped down to ensure safety for all. Secure these items now to protect you for the future!

o Create an emergency disaster preparedness plan. Planning for any natural disaster or emergency is not much different from planning a party, vacation or special event. Be thorough and plan for your family's specific needs (children, seniors, disabled, pets, etc.). Make sure your plan includes an evacuation route and a meeting place to reunite in the event anyone gets lost. It would also be worthwhile to teach everyone in the household how to use a fire extinguisher. In the event that a fire breaks out, they will know how to handle the situation. Also, get everyone involved by assigning each able family member a task. Each person should play an important role in the before, during, and after plans. Run a practice drill at home!

o Enroll in a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course to learn how to take care of yourself and your family after a disaster occurs. The CERT program trains people in basic disaster response skills and educates them on how to prepare for hazards that may impact their areas. Using the training learned in the courses, CERT members may be able to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace until professional responders arrive at the scene. Play an active role in your community and become a CERT member now!

o Have emergency disaster and first aid kits handy. Keep them easily accessible and store them in places you spend the most time -- such as your home, car, and office. Basic items that should be included in your kits are:

- First aid kit (bandages, non--latex gloves, towelettes, etc.)

- Bottled water (1 gallon per day, per person is recommended. Stock up enough for at least 3 days)

- Non-perishable snacks and food

- Flashlight w/ batteries

- Portable AM/FM radio w/ batteries

- Whistle

- Emergency ponchos or thermal blankets

- Candles

- Dust masks

- Toiletries (tooth brushes, toilet paper, etc.)

- Plastic bags/trash bags

- Personal medication

- Emergency out-of-state contacts

Emergency response systems may be overwhelmed and unable to provide the community with immediate assistance when disaster strikes. Taking all the necessary steps mentioned above and being prepared with first aid and emergency disaster kits, will keep you and your family comfortable and safe in any unfortunate event. "To be prepared for unexpected moments, we need to be prepared at every moment. So be smart, get prepared!" states George Rivera, CEO of Total Resources International.

For more information on Total Resources International, visit their website http://www.totalresourcesintl.com.

Emergency Kit for College Students: How to Prepare for the Unexpected

Unfortunately, history has shown us that a disaster can occur on your college campus when you least expect it. No matter where you may happen to be at a given time, floods, fire, fallen ceilings, gang violence, an infectious outbreak, bomb scares, and in the worst case scenario, mass murders can take place right in the middle of your classroom. Bad things can happen. The good news is that many colleges and universities are taking a more proactive approach in designing emergency plans to help students and faculty escape the crisis situations that could come their way.

Don't rely only on your school's administration when it comes to protecting your health and life during your college years. Campus security can't be everywhere; the health clinic may be a long difficult trek away; and you may be among the first to know when something goes down. In conjunction with common sense and uncommon grace, you may save yourself and some of your peers by taking some basic steps to prepare for the unexpected.

There are three critical kinds of ingredients when it comes to developing an emergency kit for a potential tragedy, crisis, or disaster. Those ingredients fall into the categories of physical supplies, emergency response information, and spiritual resources. Having these ingredients at your fingertips can save valuable time--and priceless lives, including your own. Let's look at the essentials in physical supplies and preparation first.

Be Prepared--With Physical Supplies

ESSENTIALS

Water. If you can, store a three-day supply of bottled water in your room or storage area. At the recommended 8 cups of water daily, that translates into 1.5 gallons. In addition, purchase a box of 50 water purification tablets and store them in a safe dry place. You may need them in the event your water supply becomes contaminated. A standard source for these tablets is a company called Aquatabs (www.aquatabs.ca).

First-aid kit. Be sure that it includes pain reliever, burn ointment, sterile gauze pads, antibiotic ointment among other essential supplies.

Prescription medications. Keep all your prescription medications in a safe place. Write down any allergy related issues you may have and place that information in your wallet or purse where emergency personnel or Good Samaritans might find it.

Corrective lenses. If you wear contacts or eyeglasses make sure you have a spare pair

someplace close to you, as well as supplies for your contacts.

Transportation. If you have a car, keep an extra set of car keys somewhere safe. Tell your family members and a trusted friend where the keys are. You may need their assistance one day--even if the emergency is as commonplace as you locking your keys in the car!

Fire extinguisher. Dormitories and apartment buildings typically have one in the hallway for public use, but purchase one for your own room or rental unit. Having it handy may save precious seconds in case of a fire.

Survival supplies. A utility knife, flashlight, box of matches, and a pair of strong scissors will never fail you in a crisis moment. Put these items away and keep them safe. Check the flashlight batteries to ensure they haven't expired, and ensure the matches are waterproof. (StanSport Waterproof Matches are a good choice; you can order them online at http://www.quakekare.com). Be sure you have candles to go with the matches!

Food. Purchase canned goods and a variety of nonperishable dry foods. Be sure that such

items have a long shelf life and that they are edible without preliminary preparation. And don't forget that manual can opener.

SAFETY

Protective footwear. Strong and sturdy shoes are a must. You may think I'm a bit over the top, but I always keep a pair of steel-toed shoes and knee-high gumboots in my closet.

Gloves. Heavy-duty gloves are invaluable should you need to clear broken glass and other types of debris.

Extra clothes. Store a spare set of heavy-duty clothing somewhere safe. Place the items in a vacuum-tight bag if you can. In the event of a flood, such a bag could come in handy.

Cell phone. Never lose sight of your mobile phone. Keep it close by (and fully charged, and grabbing your phone's charger wouldn't be a bad idea, either) at all times. And remember to enter your emergency contact name and number in the phone's memory under "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in the address book.

Map. A current roadmap of the area will help you avoid disorientation when detours block your normal route of travel.

Storage containers. Purchase at least one water-safe container of some sort in which to store essential documents, cherished belongings, and valuable electronics.

Writing implements. Pens, pencils, and permanent markers are good items to have on hand in an emergency. Place them along with writing paper in a Ziploc bag.

Miscellaneous. What is your favorite book? How about that favorite puzzle book? Buy an extra copy and store it with your emergency supplies. Like to play cards? Keep a spare deck with your survival kit. A portable radio will be useful for information as well as entertainment.

You will be thankful to have something to while away your time should you ever be stranded in a crisis situation.

SANITATION SUPPLIES

o Antibacterial hand sanitizer

o Soap, both bar and liquid

o Toothpaste and toothbrush

o Shampoo

o Medicated power

o Feminine hygiene products

o Bath towels

o Paper towels

o Box of tissues

o Toilet tissue

o Trash bags

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

o Screwdriver (flathead and Phillips)

o Adjustable wrench

o Hammer

o Rope

o Duct tape

o Chalk

REMINDERS

o Take a course in first aid and CPR. You never know when the information will come in handy!

o Learn how to turn off electricity, water, gas, and heating and cooling systems in the building where you live. If you live in a dormitory, ask your resident assistant (RA) or dorm director about emergency measures related to those systems.

o Make a habit of looking out for hazardous materials that might affect your area of residence, especially if you live off campus. Different types of acids and alkaline substances can sometimes be found in old batteries or poorly marked commercial products. Make sure you know how to handle such substances.

o Plan an emergency-response session with your family, roommates, and RA to discuss exit routes, emergency numbers, and meeting places in case of an evacuation.

o Make sure that a trusted friend or roommate and your RA have your contact information, as well as the emergency contact information for your closest family members. Also give your family the names and contact information of your roommates or other close campus friends. Equipped with such information, they can ensure that you are found in the event of an emergency--on campus or at home.

o Develop and discuss with your family alternative ways of contacting you in the event of an emergency. How might your family members locate and communicate with you? Where can loved ones expect to find you--and with whom?

o Establish several different meeting places that are most familiar to you. Make one meeting place directly outside your apartment, dorm, or rental unit. Identify an alternative rendezvous point away from your campus in the event you cannot return to your dorm or apartment. Then be sure your important contact persons (family as well as friends on campus) have that information at their disposal.

o Determine how you will exit your apartment, dormitory or off-campus rental unit in case of an evacuation. Where are the exits in your building? Locate at least two ways to exit the premises where you reside, and then execute an emergency drill. You want to be confident that you can actually navigate the emergency exit you have planned.

o Identify a long-distance emergency contact person. Does that advice sound strange? The Department of Homeland Security and the Red Cross tell us that it is often easier to call long distance than locally during an emergency situation. What out-of-state friend or family member can you call in the event of an emergency? Again, be sure to share this person's information with your immediate family and campus friends or roommate.

o Make sure you are familiar with your college or university's methods of communication. Watch the daily postings on the bulletin board in your dormitory or the student center. Keep an eye on the video monitor in the student lounge. Know where to look online or what numbers to call to get emergency notifications. These locations serve as pivotal points of reference by which information is shared on a daily basis. Monitor these locations carefully, and should an emergency notification be broadcast, take it seriously!

o Become familiar with your state's information and referral hotline. Depending where you are located, 211 or another substitute number can be dialed from any landline telephone and most cell phones. Such numbers offer emergency information regarding the nearest evacuation routes and access to water, food, and shelter.

o Visit the following websites for more information about developing an emergency plan and building a disaster supply kit: http://www.ready.gov and http://www.redcross.org. To order a readymade, emergency-preparedness kit, go to http://www.redcrossstore.org.

Be Prepared--With Information Resources

ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

o The BACCHUS Network (www.bacchusgamma.org)

o College Drinking Prevention (www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)

o Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (www.samhsa.org)

o Tobacco Free U (www.tobaccofreeu.org)

Additional Online Resources

o Alcohol Poisoning -- This is a fact sheet from the College Drinking Prevention site (www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/OtherAlcoholInformation/factsAboutAlcoholPoisoning.aspx).

o Alcohol Screening -- This site helps college students assess drinking patterns and learn about alcohol consumption and health (www.alcoholscreening.org).

o Wasting the Best & the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America's Colleges & Universities--The 2007 report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University may be downloaded for free or ordered for $25.00 at this website (www.casacolumbia.org/supportcasa/item.asp?cID=12&PID=155).

DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

o National Center for Victims of Crime (www.ncvc.org)

o National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (www.ncdsv.org)

o National Sexual Violence Resource Center (www.nsvrc.org)

o Network of Victim Assistance (www.novabucks.org)

o New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault (www.nycagainstrape.org)

o Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org)

o Security On Campus, Inc. (www.securityoncampus.org)

o Women's Justice Center (www.justicewomen.com)

Additional Online Resources

o Drug-Facilitated Rape: Looking for the Missing Pieces (NCJRS) -- This free download is a reprint from the National Institute of Justice's NIJ Journal (April 2000) and describes the phenomenon of drug-facilitated rape, including brief summaries on the most common daterape drugs, GHB and Rohypnol (www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/jr000243c.pdf).

o Stalking Resource Center -- This data, provided by the National Center for Victims of Crime, offers information, legislation, statistics, and resources in both English and Spanish (www.ncvc.org/src/main.aspx?dbID=dash_Home).

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

o American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org)

o Campus Blues (www.campusblues.com)

o National Eating Disorders Association (www.nationaleatingdisorders.org)

o National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

Additional Online Resources

o Depression Screening -- This site offers college students information about depression and its treatment. In addition, college students can take an online screening test (www.depression-screening.org).

o The Truth about Suicide: Real Stories of Depression in College --This film was produced by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Descriptions, factsheets, and videoexcerpts are available on the foundation's website (www.afsp.org).

o "What Do These Students Have in Common?" Booklet -- This online booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health helps college students to recognize and deal with depression (www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/students.cfm).

GENERAL INFORMATION RESOURCE SITES

o Go Ask Alice! (www.goaskalice.columbia.edu)

o Phoenix House (www.factsontap.org)

Additional Online Resources

o Internet Addiction Self Tests -- Free online tests for individuals to test their own addictions (www.netaddiction.com/resources), including an assessment called "Surfing, Not Studying," which deals with student Internet addictions.

Be Prepared--With the Word of God

TO COMBAT FEAR

o It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

o Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff--they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

o The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

o But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7)

o But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

o There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. . . . (1 John 4:18)

WHEN FACING DISASTER

o [The LORD] said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14)

o The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (Deuteronomy 33:27, KJV)

o As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore. (Psalm 125:2)

o For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12)

o ". . . And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)

FOR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION IN A CRISIS

o You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

o I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)

o You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor. (Psalm 73:24a)

o The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. (Psalm 121:8)

o Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

o I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. . . . (Isaiah 45:2)

o "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." (John 16:13a)

NOTE: This kit seeks only to serve as a clearinghouse of useful information. The author does not claim to endorse the sites listed.

Christopher Michael Jones is the author of What to Expect When You're Accepted: An African American Christian's Guide to College (http://www.judsonpress.com/product.cfm?product_id=11980). A Graduate Fellow and Research Assistant for the State of New Jersey Amistad Commission, Rev. Jones is a PhD Candidate in Speech Communications at The University of Memphis He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. In 2006 he was selected as one of America's emerging Young-Adult Leaders by the NAACP Leadership 500 Summit. Jones is the associate pastor at the historic Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, TN.