The Organized Life archives

Just In Case...of Emergency

Dear Subscriber,

I recently attended a Disaster Preparedness seminar here in the city. Of course this topic’s been at the top of everyone’s mind ever since the events of September 11, 2001, but during the seminar it occurred to me that it doesn’t take a tragedy with that kind of scope to require us to be prepared.

In fact just two years after 9/11, in August 2003, NYC and much of the East experienced a massive blackout during which thousands of people had to walk many miles to get home. This felt like a disaster on a thankfully small scale – but this summer we had 10-day power outages in the city that caused severe discomfort for many people. And I’ll never forget making it through Boston’s “Blizzard of ‘78”, which brought that city to its knees. Grocery stores ran out of everything and the National Guard had to come in to take control.

We may be veterans of this sort of thing, but it’s still hard to believe it when something actually happens. So get prepared now, and feel the sense of relief that comes with it. The basics of Disaster Preparedness can be found at many web sites (here are a few), but I thought I’d pick out a few things that have struck me over the years, items to keep on hand and things to keep in mind, just in case things go terribly awry.

General Things To Do
A plan: Create a list that everyone in your household is aware of that includes the primary place you ’ll meet in case of a disaster, plus a backup place and a nearby community center.

That list could also include a plan for getting together with your nearby extended family. In my case, my closest relatives live over 200 miles away, so I am creating a plan to meet up with close friends in this area, many of whose relatives also live far from the city.

Review these plans with your family and friends at least once a year.

Make it easier for emergency workers to care for you by programming the letters ICE (for In Case of Emergency) into your cell phone, with the name and phone number of the person you want them to call in case you are incapacitated. EMT workers are starting to recognize this acronym universally.

At home
Plan for 5 days “off the grid”, in case grocery stores are out of stock or your water or power are turned off.

Phone: The first thing to go when the power is off is the telephone, if you, like most of us, have a phone that requires electricity. So get yourself an old-fashioned landline phone that plugs directly into the wall and which doesn’t require electricity. With any luck you’ll never need to actually use this phone, but nevertheless keep it in a place where you’ll remember that you have it.

Other basics: A battery-operated radio is a must; many transistor radios even pick up TV sound signals. Be sure you have extra batteries. A few flashlights (and batteries), candles and a lighter. A can-opener for canned goods. Garbage bags, toilet paper, disposable utensils, and even things like playing cards, plus a few hundred dollars in cash. Remember that you might be on your own for at least a few days.

Water: Keep at least 1 gallon of water on hand per person per day (so, for example, 10 gallons for two people). Bottled water will last at least 2 years unopened, so write the date on the bottles when you put them aside.

Paperwork: copies of things like your driver’s license, a bank statement and a utility bill, plus a photo of you and the other members of your household, will make life much easier in case you need to prove your identity.

At the office:
Grab & Go kit: Fill a small fanny pack with a flashlight, a bottle of water, a dust mask and a nutrition bar, and keep it in a desk drawer. During the 2003 blackout I was working on the 46th floor of a midtown office building. These items were given to everyone who worked there that day, helping us all to get home safe and sound.

Also store a spare pair of walking shoes, in case you have to cover a long distance – or walk down 46 flights of stairs, as I did -- unexpectedly.

It’s true that these aren’t the happiest things to think about, but consider the great feeling of support these plans and kits will give you. The only constant in life is change. Being prepared for something that’s likely to catch you off guard is a way in which “getting organized” can serve you best: it’s organizing at its most focused and purposeful.

Until next month,

Sincerely,

Ann Bingley Gallops
The Organized Life

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Ann Bingley Gallops
The Organized Life
646-382-3878
ann@theorganizedlife.net
www.theorganizedlife.net

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Copyright 2006, Ann Bingley Gallops