Make sure your family is always prepared for an emergency

Is your family prepared for an emergency?

American Red Cross Executive Director of Southern Missouri Lee Eastburn joined the Morning Newswatch to discuss what every family’s level of preparedness for severe weather in the area, such as tornadoes, flooding and snowstorms, should look like. 

If disaster strikes, sometimes the situation calls for getting your family out of your house, or meeting up with your family at a designated location. If that is the case, it is smart to have a “go” bag pre-packed of supplies.

“When we are thinking about how to get prepared, something to think about is meeting with your family, getting together a “go” bag, something that has some of your vital medications in it, maybe a change of clothes, toothbrush and things so that if you have to go quickly to an emergency shelter,” Eastburn said. “The American Red Cross also provides resources and there are shelters to provide those resources to people who might not be able to get together those items.”

Eastman noted that in case of a fire inside your home, it is important to get out as soon as possible. It is recommended that you get out within 90 seconds to avoid breathing in toxic plastic fumes that may be filling the home.

Another important measure to take is making sure you have emergency supplies in your vehicle at all times. Keep supplies out of direct sunlight, but still easily accessible in case they are needed at a moment’s notice.

“I would also recommend looking at your car, especially as we’re getting ready for fall, going into winter,” Eastburn said. “Think about if you were stuck on the side of the road, are there certain items that would be helpful for you? So in my vehicle, I keep a couple bottles of water, I keep a blanket, a pair of gloves, an extra set of boots just in case. We would love people to think about perhaps getting a radio, like a crank radio so that they are able to figure out where resources are when heading in that direction.”

It is also important for your family to be prepared for a possible extended stay inside your home without access to supplies like running water or food. You want to have enough water available for three days, while also making sure you have a quality first-aid kit as well as enough of your medications stored up as well.