Washington, D.C.
November 4, 2011 – From
Hurricane Irene to wildfires in Texas, communities across the country braced for
a multitude of extreme weather events this year that displaced countless
residents and injured or even killed others as a result. These and other
natural disasters underscore the importance of being prepared.
Setting
your clocks back on Sunday, Nov. 6, for the end of daylight saving time, provides
an extra hour to prepare you and your family for unexpected emergencies by
replenishing emergency stockpiles with essential supplies such as canned goods,
batteries and bottled water.
In
the event a disaster or emergency strikes your community, there may be limited
or no access to food, water and electricity for several days. The best way to
ensure the safety of you and your family and your community is to check and
replenish your stockpile with essential medical and food supplies so that you
will be prepared for any unexpected event you may face.
“Though
we can’t predict when or where disaster will strike, there are simple proactive
steps each of us can take now to mitigate the impact and keep ourselves, our families
and our communities safe,” said Alan Baker, MA, interim executive director
of APHA. “If you don’t have an emergency stockpile at
home or work, today is the perfect opportunity to create one. If you already
have a stockpile, it’s important to replenish it.”
APHA
has created a list of important tips to help prepare your stockpile:
- Check your
stockpile and make sure the contents are still good. If you have not made
a stockpile before, take this opportunity to make one.
- Make sure you
have at least three days’ supply of food and water stored. For water, plan
for at least one gallon per person per day. For food, choose items that
don’t need refrigeration and aren’t too salty, as they may make you
thirsty.
- Update your
family emergency communication plan, which should detail how you will get
in touch with one another during an emergency.
- Collect all
your medications together in one place and make sure you have enough
supplies in case you or family members have to stay home due to illness
for a few days. If you are too sick to go to work, you should not have to
run to the store to pick up essential supplies and medicine.
- Stockpile on a
budget. Make a list and buy items when they go on sale. Or shop at stores
that carry bulk items and then split the cost with a preparedness buddy.
APHA’s
reminder to check you emergency supplies is part of “Get Ready: Set Your
Clocks, Check Your Stocks,” the Association’s biannual campaign to raise
awareness of the importance of having a stocked emergency preparedness kit
complete with food, first aid supplies as well as food for your pets. APHA also
encourages you to support your local food bank by dropping off canned food.
More in-depth
information and resources, including free fact sheets on what to include in
your emergency stockpile, budget stockpiling and flu stockpiles and more, are
available here.