Letter from Regional Chief Operations Officer, Greg King - December 2019

Red Crossers Need to be Prepared for Disaster Too 

As Red Cross volunteers and staff members, we usually focus on the needs of others before our own needs. Today, I am asking each Red Cross member to spend some time making sure they can take care of themselves. I’m sure you all have an emergency kit tucked away in a closet and it has been sitting there safely for the past year. Daylight savings time is a good reminder to not only check your smoke alarms but to update your disaster supplies.

I am sure I am preaching to the choir, but I want to give everyone a reminder of the basic essentials for their kit. If you can have these items on hand in sufficient quantity to last 72 hours, you should weather most disasters just fine. What I recommend is:

• Water- one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation 
• Food - at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food 
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert 
• Flashlight 
• First aid kit 
• Extra batteries 
• Whistle to signal for help 
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place 
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation 
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities 
• Manual can opener for food 
• Local maps 
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery 
• Prescription medications 
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives 
• Glasses and contact lens solution 
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream 
• Pet food and extra water for your pet 
• Cash or traveler's checks ($100 in small bills) 
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container 
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person 
• Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes 
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water 
• Fire extinguisher 
• Matches in a waterproof container 
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items 
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils 
• Paper and pencil 
• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children 

Store this in a cool dry place in your home and you should be good to go. If you haven’t built a kit, start by buying one or two items a week and storing them in a five-gallon bucket. In no time, you will have put together some great supplies that will see you through most situations.

This is like putting on your oxygen mask on a plane. We need to take care of ourselves, then we can help others.

Sincerely,

Greg King
Regional Chief Operations Officer