Lessons from the 2017 San Jose Flooding
If the San Jose floods have taught us anything, it is that Mother Nature can, and will, strike without any warning. Quite often, she won’t show any signs of her impending danger and this really is where the problem lies for many families.
As the old saying goes: ‘Fail to prepare; prepare to fail.’ Even with planning, the unexpected can happen. Just ask San Jose’s city officials. An oversight on their part about the capacity of Coyote Creek led to the ‘sudden’ overflow in the first place.
For many, therefore, the flooding came with no warning. No sirens. No emergency warning systems. Indeed, the first they were aware of the danger was when firefighters arrived at their doors by boats to evacuate them. With such little warning, many of the estimated 50,000 evacuees were left with little to no time to gather even the most basic necessities, let alone any irreplaceable or priceless possessions.
Evacuations are much more common than most people would believe, with fires and floods being the main cause. It is up to you and your family then, to be prepared for any and every eventuality.
An Emergency Preparedness Kit and a corresponding Emergency Plan is something every family should have and everyone should be familiar with. You hope you will never have to use it, of course, but, should you have to, you will be eternally grateful that you had the foresight to prepare in advance.
There are a number of items that an emergency kit should contain, from the obvious to the not-so-obvious, though these are no less important. Each kit should be tailor-made to each family’s needs but the essentials stay the same for everyone: emergency food and water are arguably the most important contents; first aid supplies come a close second, whilst emergency contact information and important documents (passports, insurance details, prescriptions, and the like) could also prove to be invaluable in a crisis.
In addition to these well-known essentials, there are a number of items that often go overlooked. Cash or even traveler’s checks should be pre-arranged to provide funds for several days of living expenses. A credit card is an option too but should be exactly that: another option. In the case of a flood, a water-damaged credit card is going to be of no use to you.
Clothes, too, are an important omission from many emergency kits. Whilst, the kit should be as compact and easy to carry as possible, the addition of a few extra items of clothing far outweighs the need to save on weight.
Perhaps the most important item is your memories, in the form of photo negatives. Even if your prints are damaged or destroyed, the option to reprint them from negatives is sure to put a smile on your family’s faces even in a time of such despair and desperation.
The composition of a comprehensive, ready-to-go preparedness kit can be somewhat time consuming and, unfortunately, this will often lead to families putting it off over and over again until it is simply too late. Thankfully, the team at FirstMyFamily.com have handily combatted this potentially deadly problem by assembling a range of Emergency Preparedness Kits, each compiled by emergency and disaster preparedness professionals.
Along with one-person and two-person Deluxe Disaster Preparedness Survival Kits, a four-person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit is also available, providing 72 hours worth of survival and first aid supplies.
When combined with your own personal documents; emergency contact details; and clothes, the First My Family survival kit is the perfect all-in-one, ‘Grab-N-Go’ solution for your family's emergency preparedness needs.
Stay safe, we're here to help.
5 Emergency Preparedness Tips from Dad
Just in time for Father’s Day, we wanted to honor all those amazing dads out there who prepare their families for emergency situations through sharing the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe. Over the years, our Dad knew when something was on our mind, what to do to make us feel happy when we were sad, but also shared the importance of being prepared. Our dad continuously shared what steps to take in order to prepare for a disaster, so here are a few preparedness tips we’ve learned from the head of our household.
Make a plan with your family before disaster strikes
Always have a plan for your family before an emergency occurs so when one does you know exactly what steps to begin taking. Have a location and connection plan so you’ll know how to reconnect with your loved ones. Dad always said having a point person who lives out of the area to check in with is a good idea because making long distance calls are usually easier to do in a location-based emergency.
Have a Kit and Know What’s In It
It’s not enough to just have a disaster preparedness kit on hand if you have to know its contents or how to use them. The last thing you’re going to want to have to do in an emergency is figure out how to use your equipment properly. Familiarize yourself now and you won’t be sorry later. Take a look at our survival kits here.
Prepare For Pets
Pets are part of the family too and our dad always made sure to prepare for them ahead of time as well. You’ll want to customize a prep kit for them that includes food, leashes, bedding, and anything else you think they will need to evacuate the home.
Prepare an Emergency Contact Card for Each Family Member
Having an emergency contact card that you put in your wallet or purse can be very helpful and potentially lifesaving in any sort of emergency. For small children, a contact bracelet may be a good idea. Make sure the contact card includes all past medical history, allergies, as well as a local and out of town contact. This will make sure rescue workers have all the information they need during or after an emergency situation.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another important tip that our Dad gave us is that practice always helps make a plan go as smoothly as possible. He would suggest to practice any fire, evacuation, or emergency drill at least twice a year. If you know exactly what to do in an emergency you will be able to stay focused and clear, and feel more confident in quick decision making. Remember, less stress always leads to better results.
Stay safe and happy this Father’s Day and check back for more tips soon!
End of Daylight Savings Time Safety Tips
The end of Daylight Savings time marks the beginning of fall and winter; but instead of staying in bed an extra hour, take this time to be proactive with your family’s safety. Here are some quick tips to keep your family safe as we enter the final months of 2015.
- Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Get Your Vehicle in Shape
How long do you spend in your vehicle per day? A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that on average, Americans drive 29.2 miles per day. That’s enough time to make the safety and maintenance of your vehicle a top priority, especially as the sun begins to set much sooner in the fall and winter months. Make sure your vehicle's tire pressure is where it should be, your headlights are working properly, and that you have a fully-equipped emergency preparedness kit inside your vehicle at all times.
3. Update Your Prep Kits
Owning emergency preparedness kits are great steps toward being prepared for a disaster or emergency, however the change of the seasons poses a need for updating both your home and vehicle's kits. In order to increase preparedness during the end of Daylight Savings time, each preparedness kit should be updated to make sure the contents have not expired, checked to make sure items like flashlights are working properly, and customized with gear that is appropriate for the current climate; winter blankets and reflective gear are always recommended.
Don't own Emergency Preparedness Kits for your home and vehicles? We've got you covered: www.FirstMyFamily.com