— By Joy Steele, CMCA, AMS of HOA Organizers, Inc. — E


veryday life requires certain emergency- prevention protocols. One such example is using the facilities before venturing


onto the freeway during rush-hour—a practice that is even more vital with juvenile passengers. Kidding aside, in the case of real emergencies, not everything can be prevented. To protect your home and loved ones, it is important to be prepared.


The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘emergency’ as: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action. This begs the question of how to plan for the unforeseen. This is where preparedness becomes vital.


In the spirit of National Preparedness month, the tasks below will help you be ready in the event of an emergency.


Make and Practice Your Plan


You can go online and learn how to create an emergency plan. The plan should include:


` EARLY WARNING—Have you signed up for alerts specific to your area? Hurricane alerts for southeastern and Gulf State areas, earthquake and tsunami alerts for Western Coastal states, ice floe and cheese shortages in the Great Lakes region. Okay, maybe not the cheese thing, but you get the idea.


` EVACUATION ROUTES—How can you quickly and safely get out of the area? Do you know alternate routes?


` FAMILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION— How will you stay in touch if your family gets separated during an evacuation? It’s helpful to arrange for a point of contact outside the affected emergency zone—someone family members can contact who will remain calm and relay information.


Arrange for a point of contact


outside the emergency zone. ` MEDICAL NEEDS—If you must evacuate, you’ll need enough of your regularly prescribed medication for 7-10 days. Is the first-aid kit fully stocked? It’s a good idea to check supply levels in your kit and expiration dates on medications at least once a year.


` PETS—Remember to include family pets in the emergency plan. Anticipating your pet’s needs before an emergency strikes will save valuable time and avoid confusion during an evacuation.


Anticipating your pet’s needs before an emergency strikes will save valuable time.


A helpful checklist for creating a solid family plan can be found here: ready.gov/make-a-plan. Continued On Page 30 


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