Emergency Services
By Michael J. Marks
A month ago, our nation marked the two-year
anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The mismanagement of that disaster caused
controversy that rages today. Sadly, the Gulf Coast is still recovering. One
report says it will be 15 years before New Orleans is fully functioning.
In an ideal world, the government takes care of its citizens during a
disaster. In the real world, the government may not always be able to do so. The
sobering lesson of Katrina is that during any emergency, of any scope,
individuals must create their own plans to take care of themselves and their
families. Even if aid from local, county, state, and federal organizations
arrives quickly, in those first hours of a disaster, the onus is upon you to protect yourself and your neighbors. What if you
have medication that needs to be refrigerated and the power goes down? What if
you were evacuated from your house? Where would you stay, who would pay for it?
Who would board your pets?
September is National Preparedness Month. In
honor of this occasion, I encourage you to plan for the unexpected. Don’t wait
for the day of an emergency to get help. Websites will be overwhelmed with
traffic, police and fire agencies will be busy, and even wireless access may be
compromised. The time to plan is today, while the sun is shining and the weather
is warm. Here are a few ways to help you get started.
Get on the
Internet—now. Start with www.ready.gov, the preparedness site of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS). There you’ll find plans designed for
homes, business, and kids. Print out paper copies of the information you need,
like lists of emergency contacts and shopping lists for emergency supplies. If
you don’t have Internet access, reserve a computer at the Medford Public
Library.
Are you disabled, or a senior citizen? There are plans tailored
to you. The DHS has partnered with several national organizations to develop
free brochures and other information for older Americans and people with
disabilities. Among the partners are the AARP, the American Red Cross, the
National Organization on Disability, and the National Fire Protection
Association. They are part of what is known as the “Ready” program. Learn more
by calling 1-800-BE-READY, or visit
http://www.ready.gov/america/about/factsheets.htm for a list of resources.
The DHS also addresses diversity. With the Advertising Council, the DHS
has created instructional emergency planning videos in English and Spanish.
These support the main DHS campaign in showing families how to get an emergency
supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the different
types of emergencies in their community.
Finally, for the pet lovers out
there, you’ll need to plan for your pet. To help you care for your furry friends
in emergencies, visit www.petfinder.com/disaster/ for information about animal
rescue organizations, animal welfare alerts, and disaster preparedness plans for
pets.
Draft your plan today. You may just save a life.