Are You Ready for the Next Terrorist Attack?
On the weekend, during our drive back from skiing, I spotted a billboard that showed a map with a red arrow. The deeply unsettling message on the billboard asked: “You are here. Where is your family?”
The web address at the bottom of the sign was: www.ready.gov.
The thought of going through a disaster – natural or man made - and not knowing where my family members are and whether they are safe was so disturbing, that I came back home and did some research.
As it turns out, this is not a new campaign, although I haven’t noticed it before. It was launched in 2003 by the Department of Homeland Security as a way to urge Americans to put together emergency kits and communication plans in case of a terrorist attack. Obviously, the underlying assumption here is that a major terrorist attack *will* happen. The government basically tells us “we are trying really hard, but we can’t protect you – you should protect yourself”. On the other hand, it seems perfectly reasonable to recognize that some disasters cannot be prevented and to expect citizens to be prepared for them on the individual, family and neighborhood levels.
It also turns out that despite the campaign, most Americans haven’t taken steps to prepare for a disaster, and only about a third have made plans with family members about how they would communicate with each other during a crisis.
I was so upset by the message on that billboard, that I sat down with my husband last night to make a mental list of three places where we can meet, or try to meet, in case of a disaster, if we can’t reach each other on our cell phones or using a land line. We do have an emergency kit that I put together a couple of years ago. I plan to go through it today and make sure that everything looks OK, that medicines aren’t expired and that the change of clothes for the kids is the right size. Our kids’ school has an emergency plan, including an automated phone emergency system.
A few more important tips from the website:
1. Sit down with your family members and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go and what you will do in an emergency.
2. Fill out a card for each family member to keep with them at all times. In the card you should specify a name and a phone number of an emergency contact; a name and phone number of an out of town emergency contact (it might be easier to make a long distance call during a local emergency) and a meeting place.
This is probably applicable to families with older kids or teenagers, not so much to families with very young children. Families with young children should be mostly concerned with whether their kids’ daycare or school has an emergency plan.
3. Inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time: work, daycare and school. Ask how they will communicate with families during a crisis. Ask if they store adequate food, water and other basic supplies. Find out if they are prepared to “shelter-in-place” if need be, and where they plan to go if they must get away. If no plan exists, consider volunteering to help create one.
4. Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together during an emergency. Find out if anyone has special equipment such as a power generator, or expertise such as medical knowledge. Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors. Make back-up plans for children in case you can’t get home in an emergency.
5. Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit. The most basic kit should contain:
a. Water (one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days).
b. Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
c. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and extra batteries.
d. Flashlight and extra batteries.
e. First aid kit.
f. Moist towelettes and garbage bags.
The website also suggests ways to prepare for specific disasters, natural or man-made.
If a disaster is big enough, no personal measures will withstand the chaos that it brings. But if you follow these guidelines, at least you’ll know that you are doing your best to protect your loved ones and yourself.
Photo: Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
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Jen responds:
Posted: March 18th, 2008 at 11:47 am →
This is depressing. But you are right: it needs to be done. I’m on it. Thanks.
KS responds:
Posted: March 26th, 2008 at 1:43 am →
I mad sure this post is passed to as many people as possible- since we seem to forget how important preparation is! It seems that in this word, day and time, preparing for emergencies is as important as the saving funds for our kids’ college.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: March 26th, 2008 at 6:38 am →
Thank you. I do believe it is important to be prepared.