I found out last week that earthquakes and hurricanes are hugely inconvenient. What a massive pain since I’m still experiencing the side effects of Ms. Irene.

Bright side? It could have been worse. No trees fell on our cars or house. No friends/family were hurt. Hubby and I lived through both and are still here. My dog still loves me. And, we were prepared as much as possible.

Here’s quick “by the numbers” look at my life over the last couple of days…

0        Number of times I attempted to pull my hair out (Aren’t you proud of me?)

1        Generator

2        Bathtubs filled with water* & cars filled up with gas

3        Number of days we expected to wait for power to be restored

4        Gas cans (filled)

5        Extension cords/power strips 

6        Appliances plugged into generator (not all at the same time)

7        Number of times I checked Facebook & Twitter (yep, plugged the router into the generator)

8        Number of blog posts I wrote on Sat/Sun (same # of movies watched, too)

9        Flashlights & lanterns

10       Hours without/with spotty cell service

15       Paper plates used

29       Batteries needed (AAA, AA, & D)

30       Hours without power

100+   Number of times I habitually flipped on the light switch or turned on the faucet 

*Well water systems require power. No power, no water. Good news, the power came back this morning. =) Now, we get to pack away the emergency supplies and put everything back in place.

Our Wednesday article normally features tech or time management info, but today, in honor of yesterday’s 5.8 magnitude earthquake along the East Coast (I felt it…did you?) and the arrival of Hurricane Irene, we’re posting some helpful info on how to prepare for emergencies.

You may not think you need to get ready, but why not err on the side of caution? If you’re still not convinced that you need to get some things in order, I have two words for you. Humor me. =)

OTR Articles

• Are You Ready for ANYTHING? 

• Quick Safety Tip: Emergency Evacuation in 10 Minutes

• Quick Tip: Get Ready for Emergencies

• Jaime’s Jem: ICE

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• What to Do Before an Earthquake

• Be Informed: Hurricanes

• Be Informed: Tornadoes

American Red Cross

• Be Red Cross Ready – Hurricane Safety Checklist 

• Be Red Cross Ready – Earthquake Safety Checklist

• Preparedness Fast Facts

• Safe & Well  *Let family members know that you’re safe or search for friends/family

Other

• DisasterAssistance.gov

Yesterday, the hubby and I watched an amazing and awe-inspiring program on NatGeo - Witness: Tornado Swarm 2011. It was shocking that a record number of tornadoes occurred in April 2011…folks, this was just last month and over 300 people were killed.

So, I turned to my husband and said: “I don’t think we have everything in place if there’s a tornado in DC.” It might seem unlikely that we’d get a tornado here, but there are other things we should get ready for. We get storms all the time and it seems like the weather has turned on its ear lately.

Are you ready for any emergency? You can be by checking out Ready.gov. This site can help you to:

1. Create an emergency supply kit.

2. Create a family emergency plan.

3. Be informed about several types of disasters and threats.

Do you already have a kit and an emergency plan? How long did it take you to pull it together?

Read More About Emergency Preparedness

Do you watch detective shows? Not just Law and Order (love Stabler and Benson), but those reality TV shows where the detectives tell you how they finally solved that crime and caught the killer. I watch those shows. I’m intrigued by how law enforcement and forensics experts piece together all the minute details to solve cases.

I’m impressed by how organized those detectives are and how they work together to get the job done. But, I’m also amazed (not in a good way) that the bad guys are pretty organized themselves. I watched one program where a serial rapist kept all his tools together in a bag in the trunk of his car. He was a planner. He was careful. He picked his victims strategically. He made them take a bath after the ordeal was over. He took the sheets and all evidence with him.

There were others who even eluded capture for 30 or more years. Some spare your life but try to take your money. All of it.  A couple years ago, Chris Hansen of MSNBC investigated people who try to con Americans into giving away their life savings. They’re smart and they get away with it.

Is that just luck? Seems like they don’t need any, which means that the rest of us need to be prepared. Maybe I watch too much TV and you can call me paranoid, but it can’t hurt to do everything we can to prevent the bad guys from getting another win…especially since they’re so great at planning and executing.

Do the Basics

Ok, folks, you know the drill. Get an alarm system and keep your doors and windows locked. Here are a couple more that you’ve probably heard before…

1. Be alert. Look around and be aware of your surroundings. A little hard to do if you’re always on your cell phone chatting away, so keep that in mind.

2. Have your keys out and ready to use.  Don’t fumble around at your car or house door looking for them. That’s just enough time for someone to get the jump on you. Once inside, lock the door straight away.

3. Those dark, lonely alleys. Don’t go down them. Even if it will get you to your destination quicker. Remember Jack the Ripper? He liked dark alleys. Can you tell that I watched a profile of Mr. Ripper recently?

4. Travel in a pack. You don’t need a huge entourage, but you, by yourself, that’s a no-no.

And, Do a Little More

5. Take a self defense class. Why not take a class? You’ll get a little exercise and learn a few self-preservation skills.

6.  Get a pet. You’d be surprised how even the smallest pet can deter someone who wants to get up close and personal with your valuables. A barking dog can send that person away quickly.

7. Install automatic light timers. These timers will turn lights on at random times, so it will look someone’s home when even when no one is.

8.  Get a bodyguard. Ok, just kidding. =) …at least try #4 first.

Whether you live in an apartment, townhome, or home-home, there are some things you should definitely do to ensure your safety.  Being proactive and prepared can help you and your family avoid lots bad stuff, and by bad stuff, I mean:

1. Radon. This sneaky, radioactive home invader is silent:  you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it.  The good news is that you can test for it. Get a radon testing kit.

2. Lead.This dangerous substance can be found on toys, in drinking water, residential soil, dust, paint, etc.  Children are most susceptible to the ill effects of lead. Get a lead testing kit.

3. Carbon Monoxide. Just like radon, CO is odorless and is not easily detected.  The EPA offers several suggestions on how you can reduce the presence of this toxic gas in your home.  Get a carbon monoxide detector.

Related Articles

• 20,000 Americans Killed in their Homes by Radon Last Year (treehugger.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently, I watched an interview with Melissa Rivers, Joan Rivers’ daughter.  She mentioned that her mother gives her lists all the time.   I was a little surprised – not by the fact that she uses lists – but the reason for the lists.

Here’s what Melissa said…

“She always makes lists…[Joan says] ‘so when I die, I don’t want you to accidentally auction off the wrong stuff.’  So, I’m always getting lists from her…’this is good, this a is reproduction.’ A little twisted, but I understand it completely.”

I thought this was pretty interesting.  It’s definitely not the way I use a list.  Usually, I have reminders to return phone calls, finish a blog post, put oil in the car, etc.  In this case, Joan uses a list to remind her daughter to keep the good stuff!

I love this “new” take on an old way of staying on top of things.  It’s also a bit of a precursor, as well as a complement, to one of the most important documents you will ever own – a will. Did you know that 58% of adults do not have a will?¹ No one wants to have to deal with the death of a loved one, but when that person has a will, it makes the process go a little easier, at least from an administrative standpoint.

The key to having a will is that your wishes will be carried out.  If you care who gets any properties you own, you need a will. If you have children, you need a will. If you care who gets guardianship of your (young) children, you need a will.  That said, once you do get one, you have to sign it. I know it sounds obvious, but sometimes it’s the simplest things that we overlook.  If it’s not signed, then it’s like not having a will at all.

Two last things:

1.  Make copies of your signed will.
2.  Put one copy – along with copies of your insurance policies – in your in home file and keep the originals in your safe or safe deposit box.  If you use a safe deposit box, be sure it is not in your name only.² Alternate option:  give the original to your attorney.

Remember…

“Wills are not just for the rich. Regardless of how much or how little money you have, a will ensures that whatever personal belongings and assets you do have will go to family or beneficiaries you designate. Without a will, the court makes these decisions.” ~About.com

¹ Why You Need a Will · Forbes.com

² If the safe deposit box is in your name only, it will be sealed upon your death, which could delay the process. · What You Should (and Shouldn’t) Put in a Safe Deposit Box · Mint.com

Get More Information

Emergencies happen at any time and any place.  That means that some crazy, unexpected thing (like a fire, flash flood, etc.) could happen while you’re in your home.  This is the time of year when a fire can very likely occur (lights – lots of ‘em – everywhere) and as with anything else, it helps to be prepared.

What would you do if a catastrophe occurred?

What if you got separated from your spouse/children?

What about your pets?

Important papers?

Elderly parents?

Medications?

Photos?*

What if you only had 10 minutes to get out?

Check out this video and take the 10-minute evacuation challenge.

Can you believe we’re already half way through the year, that we’re already in September?  The year seems to have flown by, almost unexpectedly, but don’t get caught off guard – get prepared.

September is National Preparedness Month and it’s a good time to assess how prepared you’d be if something crazy and unexpected happens.  While it might seem impossible to be ready for anything, you can give yourself a fighting chance.

Check out Ready.gov to download emergency checklists.  There’s information for almost anyone, so check out the links below, and poke around the Ready.gov site.  It’s pretty thorough and has lots of helpful information.  Since it is a lot of information, tackle one checklist at a time and involve your family members in gathering everything you need.

•  Families
•  Military Families
•  Older People
•  People With Special Needs
•  Pet Owners
•  Businesses.
•  Emergency Supply List

Do you have a plan?  I don’t mean a plan for what you’re having for dinner this week, or a plan on how you are going to get everything on your to do list completed, though it’s good to have a plan for those things as well.  I mean an emergency plan – do you have one?

The other day I was driving with my husband and we passed a pretty bad accident on the road.  I asked him if he had emergency contacts in his phone and to my surprise, he did not.  I then said to him, “If, God forbid, something were to happen to you, how would anyone know who to contact?”

I am sure they would eventually find the info, but how long would that take?  I remember quite some time ago seeing something on Good Morning America about ICE, which stands for In Case of Emergency.  Some cell phones may have an Emergency Contact option already in the phone, but for those that don’t, a great idea is to enter ICE into your contacts.  Under that name, you enter the number of whom to call in the event of an emergency.

As a back up, I also keep a card in my wallet, and have my husband do the same, with emergency contacts.  There is always that chance that your phone is dead, or you forget to grab it as you walk out the door, but you have less of a chance of forgetting your phone AND your wallet.

It just takes a few minutes, and then you won’t have to worry about who will be contacted or how you will be notified if you are needed in an emergency situation.  Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but if it’s needed you can remain cool with ICE!

Have a great week!