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Dealing with Disasters

The Plural of Apocalypse

Robin Hoy

Sunday, March 3, 2013 • 3:45am

These days, there are reality TV shows for every possible scenario. Right now, I'm watching Doomsday Preppers on National Geographic. I've spent more than a few hours watching water treatment, bunker preparation, and food conservation.

We've lived through our share of apocalypse in the last few years: with the doomsday preachers, the Mayan legends, and the strange, off-season weather, it's easy to see how the apocalypse can be fresh in so many minds.

In our line of work, we spend a lot of time remediating disasters that have already happened, and as such, it's hard to not plan out what we would do in the future.

Now, our family is less intense than the reality show, but we do stop and think of how we can best prepare for unexpected hardship by following the CDC recommendations.  While we might not keep a basement full of preparations, we feel confident that our supplies will help us weather whatever storm will come our way.

 

  • Water—one gallon per person, per day (3­day supply for evacuation, 2­week supply for home)
  • Food—non­perishable, easy­to­prepare items (3­day supply for evacuation, 2­week supply for home)
  • Flashlight
  • Battery­powered or hand­crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
  • Extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Medications (7­day supply) and medical items
  • Multi­purpose tool
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items
  • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
  • Cell phone with chargers
  • Family and emergency contact information
  • Extra cash
  • Emergency blanket
  • Map(s) of the area

For more information: http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/

Over the next month, we will explore the practical, everyday ways that you too can prepare for potential disasters, even if you haven't been graced with a camera crew to follow the process!

Stay tuned next for ways that you can prepare your businesses and keep working, even in the event of a disaster.

Robin Hoy, Cranford NJ

 

After more than twenty-five years in the construction industry, Chris and Robin Hoy have learned the importance of quality mitigation in disaster relief. Now as franchise owners for PuroClean Restoration Services, they take pride in responding quickly and efficiently to the damage caused by fire, water, mold and biohazards, filling restoration and mitigation needs within the community.  Click here to visit our website.

The opinions expressed herein are the writer's alone, and do not reflect the opinions of TheAlternativePress.com or anyone who works for TheAlternativePress.com. TheAlternativePress.com is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the writer.

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