Thanks to CaliforniaVolunteers, I have 10 disaster kits to give away. I originally posted this contest last month, but I am going to extend it. To win a kit, send me one of the following: an emergency preparedness tip, something you have done to prepare for a disaster, or a suggestion to improve preparedness in your community to the Comment section below or in an email to jsolomon@incaseofemergencyblog.com. I’ll choose the 10 winners by random.
As you can see in the photo below (taken by my daughter), the kit contains drinking water packets, a block of survival food, a glow stick, flashlight, whistle and some first aid supplies.
I got the idea for this contest from a blog called Wendolonia which did something similar with CaliforniaVolunteers earlier this year. It was part of an initiative by the state agency to reach out to “Mommy Bloggers” like Wendolonia to promote the WE Prepare family readiness program . (I wrote about that effort last month and then spoke with CaliforniaVolunteers about doing the same kind of contest.) CaliforniaVolunteers is the office that oversees that State’s volunteering initiatives.
Again, to win one of the 10 kits above, please send in either a preparedness tip, something your have done to prepare for a disaster, or a suggestion to improve preparedness in your community to the Comment section below or in an email to me at jsolomon@incaseofemergencyblog.com.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Scott Kidder // Jun 22, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I recommend keeping backup copies of your personal records in electronic form both at home and off-site. This can prove very useful in the event that your home is severely damaged or destroyed in a disaster. I purchased several rewritable DVDs with a capacity of 4.7 GB. Rewritable CDs may work, too, depending on how much information you want to store. To keep the information secure, I created an encrypted disk image (256-bit AES encryption) that contains all of my sensitive and valuable information. I consider it important to encrypt the data on the DVD so that the information is inaccessible should the disc become lost or stolen.
Information I store on the backup disc includes personal finance records (Quicken, Money, etc), tax returns, insurance policies, a home inventory (photos, videos, receipts), and irreplaceable photos and videos. I update the contents of the DVDs at roughly 6 month intervals. The update process takes only about 1-2 hours. You might keep a copies of the discs at work, in your briefcase/work bag, and in your go-bag/emergency kit at home. Having the information distributed lessens the likelihood of a total loss.
2 Mike // Jun 22, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Here are a couple I’ve gleaned from various sources:
1) Get several hundred dollars out of the bank, in small bills (ones and fives). If there’s a power outage, the ATMs and credit card machines will be down. Stores will run out of small bills quickly. Put the money in an envelope, and store it some place where you won’t spend it.
2) Make sure at least one of your phones can be powered with just the phone line, again in case of power outage you’ll still be able to make calls.
3) Keep a pair of old slip-on shoes under your bed, and a flashlight at hand. I use a Pak Light ( http://www.9voltlight.com/ ), attached with velcro to the underside of the bed frame.
3 j.k. // Jun 22, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Here’s what I’ve done:
*I’ve gathered important documents i.e. birth certificates, medical cards, insurance papers, will, placed them in a ziplock bag, and put them in my emergency kit. I’ve also scanned digital copies of each of them and uploaded them to a jump drive and emailed them to myself.
4 Richard // Jun 22, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I have been through three hurricanes. It is certain that I will lose electrical power. I have started a spreadsheet listing the battery powered items that I have and the number and type of batteries it requires. I also have added an inventory of the batteries I have. This way I know how many to buy when a hurricane is noted in the Gulf. I have a 12 volt marine battery for my television and a solar charger to keep it charged. My current problem is my digital to analog converter. It is 9 volts. I will have to get a 12 to 9 volt adapter or a inverter to get 110 volts for the converter.
5 Antone P. Braga // Jun 23, 2009 at 5:40 am
Some thoughts on disaster preparedness/recovery and big insurance:
Are You Disaster Ready?
What do you expect in case of loss? Who cares? Who has disaster preparedness/recovery money for that?
I don’t have all the answers, but I do have this one:
A letter pertaining to disaster (hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, etc.) has been sent to President Obama on behalf of all insurance policyholders. As a matter of transparency on the record of insurance consumer protection, any response by President Obama will be posted on the following Website for review: http://www.disasterprepared.net/president.html
Qui potest et debet vetare, jubet: (Law Maxim)
HE WHO CAN AND OUGHT TO FORBID A THING [IF HE DO NOT FORBID IT] DIRECTS IT
6 John Armstrong // Jun 23, 2009 at 5:49 pm
This emergency light can be used hands-free (it has magnets and a hook for hanging) produces enough light to light a large room and runs for 5 hours.
7 Bruce Curley // Jun 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Besides entering an ICE (in case of emergency) number in your cell phone, for important contacts, identify a role along with your contact numbers.
For example, you could enter “Robinwife” and not just Robin, or “Dr Finzi” rather than just “Eric.”
That way, in an emergency, when first responders or others are quickly trying to identify who to contact from your cell phone contact list, they know who to call because you have identified them in advance.
8 Jonathan D. Abolins // Jun 23, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Minor tip the came out of ponderings while on a train this weekend and reinforced by the DC train accident….
Mentally prepare for resilience in daily activities. One way is to develop the habil of “having an exit plan” mapped out as you go along.
In the train carriage, note where the exits — including the pop-out window emergency exits — are. Count how many seats you are from the nearest exist. Similar practice applies to plane travel.
When going into an office, school, etc. pay attention to the emergency exits, fire alarms, extinguishers, and such.
9 David P. Chesler // Jun 25, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I work for the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross. As part of our Community Disaster Education (CDE) program I provide to any group or organization a free one-hour Disaster & Emergency Preparedness presentation. I promote Be Red Cross Ready… Build a Kit, Make a Plan and Get Informed. I start out with a ‘Shelter in Place’ scenario to get the group thinking. I enjoy this part of my job. I let them know when it comes to Disaster & Emergency Preparedness… I talk the talk, but more importantly I walk the walk.
10 Preparedness Tips From Winners Of ‘In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog - CaliforniaVolunteers Disaster Kit Contest’ // Jul 6, 2009 at 8:22 am
[...] are the winners of the ‘Send Me A Preparedness Tip, Win A Disaster Kit’ Contest. Readers were asked to send one of the following: an emergency preparedness tip, something you have [...]
Leave a Comment