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THE BASICS

Storms or other emergencies may happen at any time and the immediate effects may last for a while.  It’s best to be prepared with supplies for 7 to 14 days.

Water:  You can live for a while without food, but not without water.  Store 7–14 gallons of water for each person in your family.  Keep in a cool, dark place and replace with fresh water every 6 months.

Food:  Stock up on the food you normally use and enjoy.  Foods that don’t need refrigeration or cooking are best.  Remember babies, older people and those with special diets as you prepare.  If the electricity goes off, use foods that might spoil first.  Then use foods from the freezer.  Finally, use others that don’t need the refrigerator.

Medicines:  If you use prescription medicines, keep an extra supply on hand to rotate.  If anyone in the family uses special medical devices, talk to your doctor about what to do if there’s a problem with them.  Buy or put together a first aid kit.  Take it with you if you’re asked to leave your home.

Bank records:  Keep paper copies of your bank, credit card and other financial records. Keep a little extra cash on hand in small bills and change.

If the power goes off:  Have several flashlights and extra batteries and bulbs ready to use.   Be careful using open candles.  They may cause a fire.  Have a battery-powered portable radio. Listen to radio stations selected to broadcast emergency information.

If you don’t have heat:  Bundle up with extra warm clothes and blankets.  Use a hat. Be very careful if you use a fireplace or wood stove.  They might cause a fire.  You may need to go to a relative or friend’s house, hotel or motel or to a Red Cross shelter.  Listen to the emergency radio or TV stations to find out where the shelters are.

The pages that follow have more suggestions for getting your family and neighborhood ready –

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