Disaster Preparedness Tips

Every April and October, around the anniversaries of the devastating 1906 and the 1989 earthquakes respectively, are good times to review the contents of your earthquake kit — if you have one! — and add and replace things as necessary. By having a disaster preparedness kit at the ready with your most essential items placed conveniently near your front door, you won't have to make crucial decisions in a moment of urgency. Here are a few things to consider including in your go bag.

  • A first aid kit.

    • include medications, both over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

    • Throw in some N-95 or equivalent Masks. Even if you’re not concerned about disease transmission, consider that the air quality may be poor after a serious disaster.

  • Water and shelf-stable food.

    • Do yourself a favor and include comfort food items that you’ll actually want to eat, as well as just sustenance. Indulge in your favorite junk food.

    • Also include instant coffee or teabags if you do caffeine.

    • Hydration amplifiers like Liquid I.V. help when water is scarce.

  • Practical supplies.

    • Boots with sturdy soles. After a major disaster there may be a lot of debris. If you’re in a flood risk area, flip flops are practical.

    • A multifunction tool like those from Leatherman.

    • A portable power supply.

    • A flashlight.

    • Phone chargers.

    • A hand-crank radio.

    • Spare car and house keys.

    • Garbage bags

    • Toilet paper.

    • CASH! (Best to keep a stash in small denominations.)

    • A deck of cards or other entertainment. You’ll probably have a fair amount of down time.

  • Pet supplies

    • Collars, leashes, harnesses, crates as needed.

    • Booties for dogs as streets may be strewn with broken glass.

  • Digital backup of important files.

    • Make sure your vaccinations are registered with the state.

    • Your California driver’s license can now be stored in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.

    • Update contact info for family and friends.

  • Anything else you consider essential.

Also consider keeping a second, smaller emergency kit in your car, in the event that you cannot access your home kit, or you are not home when a crisis occurs.

Establish a communication plan and meetup point with family and friends. Keep in mind that in case of a very serious disaster, it can take a long time to reach the meetup point, even if it’s close to home.

Try to keep your gas tank at least half full. There have been stories of evacuees being on the road for several hours before reaching safety; make sure you have enough gas to get where you need to go.

In the possibility of flooding, put sensitive documents, treasured photographs, and anything else that would be badly damaged by water in your dishwasher. Its one job is to keep water in while it’s running, so will keep water out when it’s flooding.

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