Reducing Anxiety and Fear About Disaster

How to Reduce Anxiety and Fear

For most individuals, the thought of being thrown into the middle of a natural disaster is terrifying. Unfortunately, the number of natural disasters that occur around the world is quite frightening. Depending on location, natural disasters can range from hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, flooding, blizzards, and even human triggered disasters such as chemical spills. Naturally, the thought of having to be in the midst of such events can leave one with anxiety, fear, and questions of “what if.” Fortunately, feelings of fear and anxiety can be decreased by a few simple steps that can help leave families better prepared for a variety of natural disasters.

Make a Plan:
One of the most important parts of any survival kit is a plan. Although one may not be able to prepare for all types of disasters, having a firm plan on what to do if something goes wrong can help save lives. For example, if an area is prone to tornadoes, it can be imperative to have a “shelter” or safe place to go underground. No matter what type of natural disaster one’s area is prone to, making a plan and practicing it can ease fear and anxiety.

There are a few key elements to devising an emergency plan for one’s household:

• Know the area’s warning signals and shelters: It’s important to know what an area uses as a warning signal; most places uses sirens, but signals can vary. Keep in mind that one’s family may be at different places during a natural disaster. It can be extremely important to know the warning signal so that all family members are aware of the disaster and ready to take action. Knowing the location and availability of shelters in one’s area can help ensure that family members are safe and can provide a common meeting place.
• Devise a plan: Sit down with the household and talk about what would happen in the event on a natural disaster. During the discussion, it’s important to talk about the type of natural disasters that could occur. Additionally, pick at least two meeting spots for the family. Next, have an evacuation plan. Once the plan is formed, the next step is to practice it: “The plan” needs to be like a fire drill for the household.Survival Kits:
  Although fear and anxiety about natural disasters primarily center around death and loved ones dying, it can also be triggered by not having the right “tools.” Thankfully, a variety of survival kits are available for any income!Food & Water:
  Most individuals will have anxiety about food and water sources depleting in the wake of a natural disaster. Fears of dwindling food and water sources is valid: having a storage area for emergency food and water could save lives. Back up food and water should be kept in a place that would be easy to access in the case of a natural disaster.

  My website at Survival-Concepts.com offers a template (under Community Info – Forms)emergency plan for anyone who would like some ideas or a head start.  Natural disasters are increasing every year and we never know when it could happen to us.  Be Prepared!

  For more information, I can be contacted at info@open-concepts.com.

 

Do One Thing a Month – Month 10

Emergency Supplies

Any emergency is easier to handle when you have prepared ahead of time. Put together an emergency kit with important items to keep at home, and a go bag with items you will need to take with you if you evacuate. Think about what you and your family would need in a disaster. You can make kits for your home, car or workplace. Emergencies can happen anywhere.

Gather your emergency supplies in an accessible place.

Have a go bag ready if you have to shelter in place or evacuate your home. Your go bag can be part of your emergency kit, just make sure it is in a bag or easy to carry container and that it is easy to get to.

THINK ABOUT THESE ITEMS FOR YOUR GO BAG:
• Battery powered radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Lightweight blankets
• Emergency information, including insurance policies
• A list of medications and correct dosage, and doctor’s names
• Personal items such as toothbrushes, soap, extra glasses, etc.
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Change of clothing
• Nonperishable snacks
• Books, cards or magazines to pass the time

Along with the basics above, think about these items for your go bag when special needs are involved:

FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN:
• Baby formula and food
• Diapers
• Baby wipes
• Blanket or toy

FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
• Empty pill bottle(s) or a list of current medications (Make sure you update your go bag when your medications change)
• Your doctor’s phone number

FOR PETS:
• Pet food & water
• Collar with ID tags
• Pet medication(s)
• Pet carriers and leashes
• Medical records from vet
• Photos of your pet
• Microchip information

Create an emergency supply kit for your pet, your car, and your workplace or school.

Disasters can strike when you are away from home. If your office or school does not have an emergency kit, offer to help make one. The kit should include:

• First aid supplies
• Flashlights or light sticks
• Building emergency procedures
• Building maps showing evacuation
and shelter areas
• Pens or pencils
• Signs with the words “Need Help” and
“All Clear”
• Clipboard with class/staff names

Make or buy an emergency kit for your car. If you travel with your pet regularly, make sure that you have an emergency kit for them as well. Some items to think about for your car kit are: a small first aid kit, flashlight or light sticks, flares or reflective cones, a blanket, cell phone charger, jumper cables, bottled water, nonperishable snacks, and a “help” flag or brightly colored cloth that can be tied to the antenna.

Stash some cash in case ATMs and credit card machines are not usable in a disaster.

Many things that we take for granted are not available when there is no power. ATM machines may not work. Grocery stores and other businesses may not be able to accept your credit or debit card. Cash could be the only acceptable means to make a purchase. Some experts say you should have at minimum $150.00 in cash stashed away. Realizing this may not be possible for everyone, any amount is good to start with. Take $1.00 dollar a week and place it in an envelope in your emergency kit. In just a little time, you will have some cash stashed away for use in emergencies.

For high quality and the best prices available, please visit the Open-Concepts Survival Store.  It is a great place to purchase and get great ideas for YOUR preparedness supplies.

 

Do One Thing a Month to Prepare – Month 9

Work, School, & Community

Disasters can happen at any time. If you are away from home do you know where to find safe shelter locations? Do you know what the emergency procedures are for your child’s school or for your workplace? Will people who count on you know what to do if you can’t reach them? Know how to make sure you and your loved ones are safe in a disaster, no matter where you are.

Make sure emergency procedures are in place for your workplace or school.

Talk to your employer about emergency plans for the building where you work. Think about other places that you and family members regularly spend time, like your child’s school. Talk to administrators at those places about their emergency plans as well.

WAYS TO BE SAFE AT WORK AND SCHOOL:
• Make sure evacuation routes and tornado shelter locations are marked on a map and posted in the building.
• Hold emergency training and drills.
• Help create an emergency kit for the facility.
• Know where fire extinguishers and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are located.

Give emergency kits to people who count on you (college students, elderly parents, etc.).

Put together basic emergency kits for people who may not be able to do so for themselves or for those who may not think of doing it for themselves. Show them what is in the kit and talk to them about disasters.
Make sure the kit meets their specific needs. For instance, if someone takes prescription medicine, include a list of medications and dosages. For a college student, make sure the kit is small enough to store in the space they have available.

COLLEGE STUDENTS
Talk to your college student about how you will stay in touch if a disaster occurs. Make sure they understand that cell phones may not work during a disaster. Choose an emergency contact who does not live near you or the college. Arrange with your student to call that person if they can’t reach you during a disaster.
Visit the website for your student’s college to find out about the school’s disaster plans and procedures. Some colleges will provide a phone number that you can call in an emergency. If you don’t find the number on the website, call the admissions office and ask. Add the number to your emergency contact list. Make sure your student knows to call you if there is an emergency on campus. Also, ensure your student is registered for any emergency notification system on their campus.

INSURANCE
Talk to your insurance agent to find out if your policy covers your student’s belongings while they are away at school. You may need to buy an additional renter’s policy. Also check with your health insurance carrier to find out where your student can find covered healthcare at school.

Know how others in your community will respond in a disaster.

Talk to other people when you are developing an emergency plan for a school, workplace or organization. Get input from people who work there and other people who use the building. It is especially important to include people with disabilities. Think about asking your local police and fire departments to review the plan. Make sure that what you are planning won’t interfere with emergency response.
Find out if your community has designated evacuation routes for floods, hurricanes, or other disasters. Include that information in your plans. Make sure that the plans you develop will work for everyone.

For additional information on how to prepare and ideas on what to do, please visit www.open-concepts.com.  The Open-Concepts Survival Store is a great place to review and purchase all of your survival needs.  If you do not find what you are looking for, any of our affiliates will have it!

 

Do One Thing a Month to Prepare – Month 7

Identify Unique Family Needs

Every household is different. Is there an infant or young child in your home? Does someone in your family have a medical condition that requires medication? Do you have a pet? Before disaster strikes, talk to your family about your household’s unique needs. Make a list of special items you may need in a disaster.

Talk with family members to identify your household’s unique needs.

What kinds of things can members of your household not be without for 72 hours? Here are some examples of things that can create unique needs for your family:

• Infants and young children
• Prescription medication (keep a three day supply with you)
• Health-related supplies (For example, diabetics need insulin syringes, alcohol wipes,
and glucometer supplies)
• Assistive devices (glasses, canes, etc.)
• Pets

When you are in a hurry, it is easy to overlook small and important items. Common items like diapers and pet food might not be easy to find right after a disaster. Trying new brands of food or formula, or not having a comfort item, can make disasters more stressful for both children and pets.

Talk to your kids about what to do in a fire, a medical emergency, or a disaster. Make sure they know where emergency supplies are kept, how (and when) to call 911, and who to call if they can’t reach you in an emergency.

Make a plan to make sure pets are taken care of in a disaster.

A disaster may happen while you are away from home. Your neighborhood may be evacuated, or you could be trapped somewhere else and unable to get home. Consider asking a
trusted neighbor to check on your pets if you can’t get home because of a disaster or emergency. You may also ask them to take your pets with them if an evacuation is ordered while you are not home. Make sure they are comfortable with your pet, and that they know where to find leashes and other supplies.

If you or someone in your household has a disability, create an evacuation plan that works for them.
People with disabilities are more affected by disaster than others in the community. Accessible services might not be available. Hazards like wildfire, floods, and hurricanes can lead to evacuations. If you have a disability and you live in an area where these things can happen, make sure you have an evacuation plan:

• Make sure you are signed up for any emergency notification systems your community offers.  Some notification systems will only call landline phones. If you use a cell phone, you may have to sign up separately.

• Paratransit services may not be available once a disaster happens. Talk to your paratransit provider now to find out what services they can provide when evacuation is ordered.

• If paratransit services aren’t available, arrange for someone else to pick you up if an evacuation is ordered. Make sure they will come for you UNLESS you tell them not to. That way there won’t be any confusion when the time comes. If you can’t evacuate, call 911 to let them know your location.

• Talk to your local Red Cross chapter or other organizations who provide emergency sheltering in your community. Make sure that your needs can be met in an emergency shelter. Think about accessible entrances and bathrooms. What methods of communicating with shelter staff, medical services or assistive devices will you need? If you have a service animal, talk to them about what they can provide for the animal. Find out what you need to bring with you. Make sure you have batteries or a charger for any assistive devices in your emergency kit.

For more information on preparing for emergencies, please visit www.open-concepts.com and view our survival store.  Each purchase made in the military store benefits our military families!

 

Do One Thing a Month to Prepare – Month 6

Family Communication Plan

Today we have more ways to speak with one another than ever before. We are used to staying in touch with cell phones, internet, and email, but disasters can change things. These devices may not be available. Cell phone towers quickly become overloaded with people trying to reach friends and family. If the power is out at your home, cordless phones, internet, and email will not work either.

Have a phone with a cord and a car charger for your cell phone standing by in case of a power failure.

Phones with cordless handsets won’t work in a disaster because they need more electricity than they can get from the phone jack. Old fashioned phones with a cord connecting the handset to the base will work even in a power outage. Make sure you have at least one phone with a cord in your home in case of a power outage.

Keep a car charger for your cell phone in your vehicle. If the power is out in your home, you can still charge your cell phone in your car.

If you don’t have a landline and you use a cell phone as your home phone, remember that cell phone towers may be tied up with calls in an emergency. However, a text message from your cell phone may get through when a phone call doesn’t. Make sure everyone in your family knows how to send and receive text messages.

Develop a plan for how your family will stay in touch during a disaster.

Develop a plan so you can stay in touch with your family in a disaster. Include phone numbers for all family members and those who can give you extra help, such as caregivers. Also include all work, school, and daycare phone numbers, if applicable. A wallet-size form you can use to write down this information can be found at www.ready.gov. Be sure each family member has a copy of your communication plan. Post the communication plan by a phone in your home, and include it in your go bag as well.

OUTSIDE THE AREA CONTACT

Local phone calls and long distance calls work on different circuits. When local circuits are overloaded, you may still be able to make long distance calls. Choose someone outside of the local calling area to be your “outside the area” contact. Make sure all family members carry this phone number with them. If something happens when your family is not together and you are not able to reach each other, each family member can call the “outside the area” contact and leave a message for the others.

Program In Case of Emergency (ICE) numbers into all family cell phones.

If you are hurt and can’t talk, first responders and hospital staff may not know how to contact your family right away. If you have a cell phone, you can provide the phone numbers for your emergency contacts to first responders and hospital staff.

1. Create a new contact in your cell phone’s phone book.
2. Name the contact ICE.
3. Enter all phone numbers for the person you would like to have notified
in a medical emergency.
For more preparedness information or preparedness items, please visit www.open-concepts.com and our Survival-Concepts store!