In the first weeks of spring, Kansans have seen several severe storms sweep across the Midwest. There are three elements that can keep you ahead of the game this season, said Cody Charvat with Sedgwick County Emergency Management
THREE CRUCIAL STEPS TO STAYING PREPARED
1. Make a plan. That should include a thorough plan for where your family will go to if disaster strikes. Do you have a basement or a storm shelter you can always rely on? Charvat says you shouldn’t rely on public shelters. They could be closed or locked up by the time you arrive. In 1979, a tornado swept across Wichita Falls, Texas, leaving tragic consequences.
“Forty-two people died in that tornado and over half of those were people that were in vehicles,” he said. “They had left a perfectly reasonable shelter area to try to drive to somewhere that they thought might be safer. In the meantime, they get caught by the tornado and end up losing their lives.”
2. Have a kit. You can buy kits or make one yourself.
3. Be informed. You should follow the KAKE First Alert Weather team, have the KAKE News app and a NOAA Weather Radio.
As a part of that plan, people are encouraged to carry a thorough emergency kit. The kit should include food to feed each person for three days. Ready.gov has its recommendations as to what people should carry in their kits.
BASIC SURVIVAL KIT
Here are items suggested for a basic survival kit:
• 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 and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• 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, inverter or solar charger
Ready.gov suggests you change stored food and water supplies every six months. (Perhaps when you change your smoke detector batteries during Daylight Saving Time, as a reminder.) To be sure you’re supplying yourself with safe food, be sure to write the date you store it on all containers.
People are also encouraged to keep items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack or duffel bag, per the website.