The last few years have been far from easy for Ventura County and the surrounding area. Fires, mudslides, and shootings have taught us all that life is precious. (And if you’re still dealing with the aftermath, here’s a little reminder that we’re offering no-cost therapy.) The tragedies we’ve been through together have also taught us the importance of emergency preparedness.
And there’s no time like the present to focus on being ready because September is National Preparedness Month. We love this year’s theme: “Prepared, Not Scared.”
You can’t predict when disaster will strike. But you can be ready when it does. By stocking your own home or apartment with an emergency preparedness kit, you can take some of the stress out of dealing with a disaster.
Building your emergency preparedness kit
A fire extinguisher and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors aren’t the only things you should have at home to keep you safe. Stock your house with an in-place emergency kit and build a go bag in case you need to evacuate.
At-home emergency kit
In case you need to weather a storm in your home without water or power, stock your house with:
- Three gallons of water per person in your household (this is enough to cover you for three days)
- A three-day supply of non-perishable food that doesn’t need to be heated to be safe to eat (don’t forget to include a can opener)
- A hand-crank or battery-powered radio
- At least one flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Particulate-filtering face masks (e.g., N95 masks)
- Charged battery packs for your cell phone
- Moist toilettes (for hygiene)
- Prescription medications
- A first aid kit
Go bag
In case you need to evacuate in a hurry, stock a go bag with:
- A first aid kit
- Prescription medications
- Bottled water
- Cash
- Non-perishable food
- Important documents (birth certificates, marriage licenses, passports, deeds, insurance policies, etc.)
- A list of important phone numbers and addresses
- A portable cell phone charger (make sure it’s charged)
- A change of clothes for each person in your family
- A large blanket
- Local maps
- N95 masks
- Entertainment (toys for kids, crosswords puzzles, etc.)
More tips for disaster preparedness
Building your kit and go bag is just one step you can take. Here are a few additional things you can do to be prepared, not scared.
+ Save money towards disaster recovery costs and check your insurance policies to make sure you’re covered everywhere you need.
+ Make an emergency plan with your family, naming safe out-of-town locations where you could all meet up if you got separated.
+ Map several routes away from your house in case of road closures.
+ Learn your local evacuation zone and sign up for warnings and alerts.
+ Bookmark VC Emergency to get updates during disasters.
Being ready during a disaster can help you rest easy. But if you still have feelings of anxiety and dread after exposure to the recent disasters in our area, we can help. We’ve got talk therapy, art therapy, reiki healing, yoga, and more available to help you bring calm back into your life. Get in touch today!
