Survival Preparedness

Many areas of the world are particularly vulnerable to devastating demonstrations of the destructive capacity of natural power in the form of earthquakes, hurricane, floods and more.

But now, survival preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones.

Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

We know that survival preparedness works. We can take action now that will help protect our families, reduce the impact an emergency has on our lives, and deal with the chaos if an incident occurs near us.

Being prepared and understanding what to do can reduce fear, anxiety and losses that accompany disasters. Communities, families and individuals should know what to do in a fire and where to seek shelter in a tornado.

They should be ready to evacuate their homes, take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area-hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold or flooding.

Your immediate concerns are: shelter, first aid, food, water and sanitation.

You also need to prepare for the psychological impact of being in a situation in which you are struggling to survive.

When under stress, people can become irritable, fatigued, hyperactive, angry and withdrawn.

Children and older adults are especially vulnerable to post-disaster psychological effects.

You can also get involved in local emergency preparedness and response activities by volunteering in your community.

For even further protection you can ask your local emergency management office for more information about which disasters could strike your community. They will know your community's risks.

You may be aware of some of them, others may surprise you. Also ask for any information that might help you prepare and possibly reduce the risks you face.

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