Dear Friends,
I believe that this is the last Control Journal babystep that I am
going to give you. This document is personal to you. You can keep it
private or you can have it out for your whole family to use. Mine
stays at home. I do not take it with me unless it is an emergency.
This next section is for just those times. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY!
You are going to need to know insurance numbers. I like to make
copies of the cards and you will need to update them each time you
get a new card. You have already listed the phone numbers of people
to contact in a emergency.
Also here is the tough section. In the event that you are evacuated
from your home for hurricane, forest fire, flood, or any kind of
disaster. You need an list of things that you would want to take with
you and where they are. In times like this we can't think so our
control journal thinks for us because we took the time to write these
things down.
Here is an essay I wrote last year about this. You don't have to do
it right this minute, just printing it out and putting it in this
section is a good start. Then next week on anti-procrastination day
you can begin to take the babysteps to be prepared for any disaster.
You can do this. Just having this section in your control journal is
going to help you to stay calm.
FlyLady
*******************************************
Dear Friends,
We have all seen the news of late; people being evacuated from their
homes at a moments notice. During times like these we can't think. So
this is my challenge for you right now. This will not take long. I
want you to do this whether you think you are immune from a disaster
or not. No one gets a free pass on this one.
At the bottom of the email is my 11 Points to Preparedness in an
Evacuation. I wrote this when wild fires were everywhere last summer
My heart goes out all the families that have lost their
homes. One thing that the authorities have learned that when
the fire storm came through that houses with drapes shut and blinds
closed caught fire on the inside from the heat coming through the
windows. They recommended that you leave the curtains open or taken
down and the blinds up. I know this seems strange but the ignition
temperature is lower on fabric and plastic.
Get a pen and a piece of paper that will go in your Control Journal.
Now sit down with a cup of your favorite morning drink and start to
list the most important things that you would take with you. Think
about space constraints. Write things down in the order of
importance: People, Pets, Papers, Pictures and go from there.
Next think about where they are in the house. Make a note beside each
item their place in the house, so anyone can find them. Could you get
to them easily? Could you just grab one box and go? Do you have
copies of your family pictures in a lock box at the bank or at a
family member's home? Could you get your pets in the car? Do you know
where the leash is or the pet carrier? Do you have a box of emergency
rations for people and pets; Water, peanut butter and crackers and
other non-perishables, dog food and cat food, pet food?
Now put this list in the emergency section of your Control Journal.
Put a red mark on it so you can find it in a hurry. With this list
you will not have to think; you will just have to grab and go! None
of us want to think about this, but a little thought now will keep
you from running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Are you ready to FLY through an evacuation with calm on your side?
FlyLady
P.S. The next step to this challenge is to actually put together the
emergency rations and your Grab and go box!
I have added a few items to this list. This list is also in our
Control Journal that we have built for you. The list will do you no
good unless you actually sit down and put it together. Ask yourself;
Can I evacuate my home in less than 10 minutes?
11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation
1. PEOPLE: Have a plan for getting out of the house and make sure
everyone knows it. Have an emergency bag of food and water for your
family. Include wholesome snacks and treats for the children: dried
fruit, nuts, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars.
2. PETS: Keep pet carriers and leashes readily available to lead pets
to safety. Also take pet food with you.
3. PICTURES: Keep negatives or CDs of pictures in a lock box or at a
family member's home. Have picture albums in one place ready to grab
and go at a moments notice.
4. PAPERS: Have all your important papers in a lock box at a bank and
only keep copies at the house. This keeps you from panicking. If you
have them at home then put them in a folder that you can easily grab
if you have to move fast. Color code it so you can find it!
5. PRESCRIPTIONS: Take your medications with you. Don't forget the
ones that have to be refrigerated like insulin. Have small ice chest
and cold packs readily accessible to pack and go. If you have babies;
remember their formula or medications.
6. PURSES and PETRO: This is where you keep your identification,
credit cards and cash. Keep a stash of cash for emergencies and grab
it. You may not be able to use an ATM in the event of a power outage.
Make sure your car always has a half a tank of gas.
7. PROPER CLOTHES and COMFORT ITEMS: According to the weather
conditions; gather up a change of clothes along with outer clothing:
coats, rain gear, boots, gloves and hats. If you have babies remember
diapers. Remember to grab your children's favorite blanket, stuffed
animal or toy. A game or a deck of cards could keep them occupied and
calm too.
8. PLANNER/CALENDAR/CONTROL JOURNAL: These documents have all the
information you will need from phone numbers, insurance numbers and
important dates. They are small and filled with things you don't have
to try to remember.
9. PERSONAL PROTECTION: Many of us still have that time of the month.
Be sure and grab a box of your preferred protection. It may be hard
to find if you have been evacuated. Stress can cause our bodies to do
strange things too. So be prepared. Take medication for cramps too.
10. PHONES and RADIOS: Many of us have cell phones now. Always keep
them charged up and have a charger in the car or an extra battery.
They may not work in the event of power outages, but then they might.
Know which local radio station has emergency bulletins. Keep your
battery powered radio tuned to that local station and have plenty of
batteries for it.
11. PATIENCE: This is one of the most important things to pack. Keep
it inside of you so that you have a clear calm head. Having your P's
to Preparedness list guiding you will keep you patient. In the event
of an evacuation there will be lots of displaced people. Being
patient will make things less stressful. Your children need to see
you calm and collected. This will help keep them calm too.
We can FLY in the face of Danger and Emergency if we are prepared.
Don't wait till you are being asked to evacuate. Everyone thinks that
it could not happen to them. Well it could and it is up to you to
make sure you are prepared. Don't wait! DO IT NOW!!
-- FlyLady
Back
