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Disaster Preparedness: Ideas for Parents

© Irene Taylor

Just about a year ago, I wrote an article, We are Not Safe: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4221... , about the state of our preparedness for a terrorist attack. Today, I have disaster preparedness of another kind on my mind - preparing to face a natural disaster in light of what happened to the southern U.S. during and after Hurricane Katrina. It is clear that we are not only not safe from terrorist attacks, we are also not safe when a natural disaster threatens us. This tragedy has taught us that we must take steps to protect ourselves, since we can't count on help from our governmental agencies. It is time to think about having an emergency plan, survival supplies, and an evacuation plan in place. This article will be of use to parents, teachers, and homeschoolers, and will look at a few things you can do at home to get yourself and your children ready for the next storm. Use the teaching ideas here in your daily lesson plans, in your homeschool curriculum, and at home as ideas for you and your child.

As I watched the news coverage of the unfolding catastrophe following Hurricane Katrina, I began to think of how prepared was I at home for handling an emergency. We don't live in an area threatened by hurricanes on a regular basis, but we do face power outages and winter storms with their challenges of keeping warm. After talking with a co-worker, I began to look at how prepared we were at home, and what I could do to make us a bit more ready, should an emergency arise.

I found that there are many useful articles and sites on the Internet ranging from disaster preparedness checklists to survival supplies, to ways to prepare a pet for an emergency evacuation. I'll include a short list of helpful sites at the end of this article.

Getting ready is a family commitment. Most of the "big" things will, and should, be handled by the adults. But here are a few ideas for getting your children involved in the process.

Make an Emergency Preparedness Plan

To be ready for evacuation, be it from a fire, flood, or for some other emergency reason, making a plan is important. Your plan should include preparing for emergencies at home, in the car, and at work or school.

Make an evacuation plan for your home so that each family member knows how to get out safely and where to meet. Let your kids help in drawing up the plan - and be sure everyone practices it!