(Family Features) Thousands of people are impacted by severe weather threats every year, yet many are unprepared to handle Mother Nature’s wrath. Before storms strike, families should have an emergency supply kit on hand and a crisis plan in place.

Create a Crisis Plan

Busy families spend most of their days apart, at school, work, sports practices or other activities, so your family may not be together when disaster strikes. Before an emergency occurs, gather your family to make important decisions about what to do in the event of a crisis:

• Establish meeting places in your home, neighborhood and a nearby town.
• Discuss the best ways to communicate. Make sure to share cellphone numbers and email addresses with family members, school personnel and close neighbors.
• Schools, daycare providers, workplaces and apartment buildings should all have site-specific emergency plans that you and your family need to know about. Keep a copy in a readily-accessible location.
• In your cellphone’s address book, label the contact information for one person as “ICE” or “In Case of Emergency.” If you are in an accident, authorities are trained to check phones for an ICE listing.

Keep Emergency Supplies On-Hand

An emergency supply kit is made up of basic household items that become critical in a crisis. Essential supplies include:

• Each family member will need food, infant formula, pet food and water for three days. The average person needs one gallon of water per day for drinking and sanitation. Check your supplies every six months for expired food or water.
• Extra cash and copies of personal documents.
• A battery-powered or hand crack radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert are essential.
• Stock a small toolbox with a flashlight, extra batteries, wrench for turning off utilities, manual can opener, and whistle to signal help.
• A cordless telephone.
• Medications and measuring spoons for each family member.
• Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape to create a safe room in a damaged home.
• Change of clothing for each family member, along with personal hygiene items, diapers and trash bags.

Source: Panasonic

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