Apr. 2005
"Be Prepared" is the Boy Scout motto. It's one of the very first things every tenderfoot scout learns and is good advice for homeowners, too. Since 9/11, security and preparedness have been in the thoughts, if not on the lips,
of everyone.
Recent devastating tsunamis and the resulting publicity have underscored real estate's vulnerability to natural disasters. In an effort to encourage emergency preparedness, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Homeownership Alliance have developed an Emergency Preparedness Guide.
The new guide describes practical measures homeowners can take to prepare their families and their homes for different emergencies, from natural disasters to terrorist strikes. The booklet includes information on emergency supplies, emergency plans for families, various threats homeowners may face, and
available resources.
For example, the booklet recommends each home have an emergency supply kit with sufficient supplies to make it your own for at least three days, and longer if possible. This includes fresh water and food. Medications you take every day should be included, but they must be rotated periodically.
The emergency supply kit should be stored in an easy-to-carry bag, such as a shopping bag, backpack, or duffle bag. Two kits are recommended — one for everything you need to survive where you are and the other a lightweight, smaller version to take should you need to move to another location.
Because your family may not be together when disaster strikes, the guide recommends you plan how you will contact one another. For example, each family member might call or e-mail the same friend or relative in the event of an emergency. An out-of-state contact may be best as local communications may
be affected.
Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the disaster, the first important decision may be whether you stay put or get away. Plan for both possibilities; the booklet gives guidelines to help you make that decision. In fact, there are some circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between you and the potentially contaminated air outside, a process known as "sealing the room," is a matter of survival.
One section of the booklet deals with specific terrorist threats — biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiation from a so-called "dirty bomb." The booklet explains that it's important to remember there are significant differences among potential terrorist threats that influence the decisions you make. By learning about the specific threats, you prepare yourself to react and be ready.
While REALTORS® nationwide will soon be distributing the nine-page booklets to their clients, it also can be downloaded for free in .pdf from homeownershipalliance.com. And you don't have to be a homeowner to benefit from the information.
I'm going to put together a survival kit following the suggestions in the booklet. But I know I will add at least one item the homeland security folks didn't mention. It's the book that has taught millions of Americans survival basics from starting fires without matches to first aid. It's the original primer on how to be prepared. Of course, I mean the The Boy Scout Handbook.
