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This Kit will help a lot during natural disasters.

FAMILY PREPAREDNESS

Preparing for natural disaster, whether it’s a hurricane, tsunami, flood, or some other event can mean the difference between life and death. Taking the time to assemble a Disaster Supply Kit before a disaster strikes will help cope with the temporary loss of everyday conveniences. What would you do without food, water, and electricity? Your supply kit should be built around basic items that help cope with these and other potential personal hardships.

The time to prepare a disaster supplies kit is now. During an emergency, supplies are in high demand and stores run out of inventory quickly. Once disaster hits, there isn’t time to search for supplies.

The American Red Cross recommends six basics to stock at home: water, food, first-aid supplies, clothing, bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. A good rule of thumb is to have enough supplies to cover your household for at least three days. Keep items you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container.

For more information, contact your county civil defense agency or local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Below are guidelines to consider for basic disaster supplies.

WATER

Store 1 gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food preparation and sanitation). Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household.

To purify water for safe drinking supply: Boil vigorously 1 – 3 minutes; or Use purification tablets available at most drug stores. Follow package directions; or Use household bleach (must contain 5.24% hypochlorite.) For one gallon of water, add 8 drops if water is clear; if water is cloudy, add 16 drops (1/4 teaspoon). For five gallons of water, if water is clear, add ½ teaspoon; if cloudy, 1 teaspoon. Let water stand at least 30 minutes before drinking.

FOOD

Store at least a 3-day supply of nonperishable food. Select items that don’t require refrigeration, preparation, or cooking, or require little or no water. * Include selections from the food list below in your Disaster Supply Kit.

Ready -to -eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables. Canned juices, milk, soup. If powdered, store extra water. Staples – sugar, salt, pepper, etc. High energy foods – peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix. Vitamins Foods for infants, elderly or persons on special diets. Do not use left-over baby food if not refrigerated. Comfort foods -cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, instant coffee, tea, etc. Extra pet food

WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT

Without electricity, food in refrigerators and freezers will spoil. If you know in advance that power will be shut off: Use perishable foods in refrigerator and freezer first. Make extra ice. Freeze extra freeze-pack inserts and keep them frozen for emergencies.

Buy a cooler. Freeze water in plastic containers, do not fill to top before freezing – allow for expansion. Know where to buy dry ice. 25 lbs. of dry ice should hold a 10-cubic-foot freezer cold for 3-4 days. Note: dry ice may be limited on some islands.

FOOD SAFETY

How long food remains frozen in the freezer depends on the amount, type, temperature, and freezer insulation. Keep freezer door closed for as long as possible to prevent loss of cold air. Large cuts of meat or poultry will stay frozen longer than baked goods or small items. In fully-loaded separate freezers, food may remain frozen for 48 to 72 hours. Food thaws quicker in a refrigerator/freezer, but should remain frozen about 12 hours or longer in a side-by-side unit or up to 24 hours in a top or bottom-mount freezer.

Use refrigerated foods as soon as possible. It is difficult to make general recommendations about food safety as this depends on the type of food, its preparation, and handling. Some guidelines:

Butter, margarine, and hard cheese are safe unless it has mold or a rancid odor. Fresh fruits and vegetables are safe as long as they are not mushy or slimy. Eggs will be safe for several days if shells have no cracks. Fresh meat, poultry, luncheon meats, or frankfurters should be discarded if allowed to warm to room temperature for more than two hours. Milk and cream will probably be sour after eight hours without refrigeration. Commercial (purchased) mayonnaise should be kept refrigerated once opened. Discard if left without refrigeration for more than two hours. Vinegar and oil salad dressings, jellies, and jams may be left unrefrigerated unless poultry or meat juices have contaminated them. Discard mustard, catsup, and pickles if moldy.

Previously frozen foods: Meat, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables can usually be safely refrozen if they still have ice crystals present or are very cold (40 degrees F or lower), but there will be some loss of quality. Refrozen foods should be used as soon as possible. When cooking, remember that refrozen foods have been thawed once. If thawing is necessary, do it in the refrigerator or microwave, not by thawing at room temperature.

Discard any food that has an off color or odor, or food that has warmed to room temperature for an unknown length of time.

Generally, if in question about the food safety, discard it.

FIRST AID KIT

Assemble a First Aid Kit for your home and one for each car. Each kit* should include:

Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes 4 to 6 two-inch sterile gauze pads 4 to 6 four-inch sterile gauze pads Hypoallergenic adhesive tape Triangular bandages (3) 2-inch sterile roller bandages, 3 rolls 3-inch sterile roller bandages, 3 rolls Scissors Tweezers Needle Moistened towelettes Antiseptic Thermometer Tongue blades (2) Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant Assorted sizes of safety pins Cleansing agent/soap Latex gloves, 2 pairs Sunscreen

Non -prescription drugs

Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever Anti-diarrhea medication Antacid for stomach upset. Syrup of Ipecac used to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center. Laxative Activated Charcoal, use if advised by the Poison Control Center.

For prescription advice, see your family physician.

Contact your local American Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first aid manual.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Mess kits, or paper cups, plates & plastic utensils Emergency preparedness manual Battery operated radio and extra batteries Flashlight and extra batteries Cash or traveler’s checks, change Non-electric can opener; utility knife Fire extinguisher, small canister, ABC type Tube tent Pliers Tape Compass Matches in waterproof container Aluminum foil Plastic storage containers Signal flare Paper, pencil Needles, thread Medicine dropper Shut-off wrench to turn off household gas and water Whistle Plastic sheeting Area map, if needed for locating shelters.

SANITATION

Toilet paper, towels Soap, liquid detergent Feminine supplies Personal hygiene supplies Plastic garbage bags, ties – for personal sanitation uses Plastic bucket with tight lid Disinfectant Household chlorine bleach

CLOTHING AND BEDDING

Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. Sturdy shoes or work boots. Not slippers. Rain gear Blankets or sleeping bags Sunglasses

SPECIAL ITEMS

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants, elderly, or disabled persons.

For Baby

Formula Diapers Bottles Powdered milk Medications

For Adults

Heart and high blood pressure medication Insulin Prescription drugs Denture needs Contact lenses and supplies Extra eye glasses

Entertainment – games and books

Important Family Documents Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container. (Important documents and valuables are best kept in a bank safety deposit box.)

Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, s
tocks and bonds Passports, social security cards, immunization records Bank account and credit card numbers, companies Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers Family records – birth, marriage, death certificates

SUGGESTIONS AND REMINDERS

Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the Disaster Supply Kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in air-tight plastic bags. Change stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Rotate stored food every six months. Re-think supply kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothing, etc. Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

YOUR FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN

Getting started… NOTE: Most shelters in Hawaii are not equipped to provide meals, beds, or emergency care. You must bring food, clothing, bedding, and special items with you. Pets are not allowed in shelters. Contact your local humane society or vet for information on how to care for pets and livestock in a disaster.

Contact your local civil defense office or American Red Cross chapter for information on preparedness. See the Emergency Information section in the white pages of telephone directories for information and instructions. Meet with family members to discuss what to do in an emergency. Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by disaster.

Pick two meeting places:

a location a safe distance from your home in case of fire; a place outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

Choose an off-island or out-of-state friend or relative as a “check-in contact” for everyone to call.

Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone. Show responsible family members how and when to shut off water, gas, and electricity at main switches.

Install a smoke detector on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms. Test monthly and change batteries at least twice a year. Contact your local fire department to learn more about fire hazards. Learn first aid and CPR. Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross for information and training. Hold neighborhood meetings to plan how the neighbors can work together after a disaster. Practice and maintain your family emergency plan regularly.

Floods have become one most of the most destructive natural disasters for around two years now. It has destroyed homes and eroded precious land in several parts of the world. The destruction caused is often so enormous that it takes years to repair the damages, and the mental trauma encountered is colossal. Those who have lost their homes during these floods would appreciate a few helpful pointers that could aid them in bearing up with the consequences of such floods.

Monetary aid-

1. Firstly, something as basic as insurance can go a long way in helping you bear up with the repercussions of flood damages. Contact your insurance company and verify whether the policy you have opted for covers the damages you have suffered. Investing in flood insurance would be a sensible decision during such times because homeowner’s insurance policies do not extend their coverage to flood related losses.

2. Secondly, other voluntary service groups extend help to all those victims of flood-zones who have incurred huge losses. You can contact agencies such as local church groups, Red Cross, and civic clubs. During national declared disasters caused by floods, telephone hotlines distributing such information are made available.

Measures for safety after the flood-

The first impulse of those who have been forced to evacuate their homes during the floods is to enter their houses after the flood has subsided. However, you should venture inside only when the local officials have declared it as a safe residence. Exercise precaution and avoid entering if the water still stands inside your home.

1. Check whether the power lines inside your house are intact or not. Report to the local officials if you find any hazardous broken lines that have been lying under the water level. Turn off all such utilities before getting a thorough inspection and restoration done by professionals. Check your waterlines and sewage provisions systematically, because the water if infected can be a health hazard.

2. Next, inspect whether there has been a gas leak or not. Avoid switching on any electric appliance inside your house when you enter it because there is a risk of a fire in such cases. Use flashlights that use batteries for power generation while subjecting your house to a careful scrutiny.

3. Another feature that must be checked is the foundations of your house. Inspect the walls, staircases, and floors. Get a professional to repair such structural damages.

4. If your car batteries or other such tanks containing hazardous chemicals are leaking, make sure you take proper professional help to eliminate such risks.

Cleaning up after the flood-

Disinfecting your home after the flood should be on your priority list. You can procure a disinfectant or cleaning solution from the store or use your own homemade remedies like mixing 1/2 cup of chlorine with a gallon of water to clean the walls, floor, and every surface that had been drowned by water. Open all windows to ensure that the rooms are well ventilated. Sunlight too helps in killing germs.

Prevention is better than cure-

There is always a risk of your home being flooded once over again. Make sure you take measures like storing food for emergencies, chalking new plans for immediate evacuation, and getting flood insurance done. If the flooding was due to pipe leakages, make sure you have proper water alarms and detectors installed in such vulnerable areas of your residence.

Leaving home for work or vacation? Are you concerned about leaving your pets behind? No need to lock them up at a kennel! Your pets can stay home in the care of a professional pet sitter. Here’s what you need to know to help you choose the very best for your dogs, cats, snakes or gerbils.

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What is more nerve wracking than arranging your travel tickets, finding a hotel and rental car for your trip, and packing your bags? Today, internet travel sites make all that simple and fairly stress free. The most nerve wracking part of the trip happens well before you leave: trying to figure out who will care for your pets!

Among the choices available to you are commercial cat and dog kennels. A clean, well run facility is indeed an option. But the average pet would prefer not to be caged in a noisy environment, far from home, and packed with strange animals. Wouldn’t it be nicer if they could just stay home? Of course it would. Perhaps the neighbor kid would be willing to let the dogs out, feed them, and clean the litter box. Sounds great right?

But what happens when that neighbor kid is asked out on a date, breaks up with his girlfriend, or must stay after school? What happens is your pets might not receive the scrupulous care and attention you would give them.

The simple answer to these problems is to know your community’s professional Pet Sitter. What separates a professional from the random person who watches pets? The keys are: integrity, attention to detail, commitment and a deep love for animals. The best pet sitters are also bonded and insured by professional associations such as Pet Sitters International. This group provides educational resources and insurance to pet sitters to make sure that you and your animals receive the best care…as good as they would get from you!

If you hire a pet sitter who is not insured and bonded, you’ll have no way of knowing whether you have just turned your house and beloved pets over to an honest person. Bonding protects you against loss and theft from unsavory characters. Professional pet sitters want to offer you the best reassurance that they will treat your home and your pets just like you would.

The best pet sitters also study pet health and safety. I operate a pet sitting business in my own community, and I have studied with the Red Cross by taking their Pet First Aid course, and by taking the Red Cross certification. If something should happen, professionals like me would know how to best help your pet, and when to call for veterinary assistance. Will the child next door be equipped to handle an emergency?

Moreover, pet sitter do more that just feed and walk your animals! We also make sure they have quality human time, whether it be cuddling, playing fetch in the yard, or a long walk around the block. You don’t even need to go on vacation to hire a pet sitter. If you work long hours, we can make a mid afternoon visit to be sure he get’s a walk and a potty break.

Along with all that, while you’re away from home, a good pet sitting business will also bring in your mail and your newspapers, water your houseplants, and turn your lights on and off. You’re not only getting pet sitting…you also get a vacation security service as well.

All in all, it pays to know the professional pet sitters in your community. Use the internet to find bonded and insured professionals. Then invite them over for a brief interview and introduction. The next time you need to leave home, you can leave your pets behind with no worries.

Remaining home, comfortable in their own environment is healthier for your animals, and gives you greater piece of mind. When strange animals are grouped together, the chances for communicable diseases increase. So, too, does the stress level increase on your pets when they are housed in a noisy environment, in close proximity to animals they have never met before.