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TextAdd Emergency Preparedness to List of New Year's Resolutions
Fairfax County Office of Public
Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935, FAX 703-324-2010
Dec. 28, 2004
Add Emergency Preparedness to List of New Year's Resolutions
With the approaching new year also comes the inevitable New Year’s resolutions. Many residents will resolve to start a new diet, or to lose a few extra pounds or even to exercise more in 2005. However, the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to add preparedness to the list of resolutions.
Unlike starting an exercise routine or shedding 20 pounds, it’s a resolution that’s fairly easy to accomplish and one that will prepare you and your family in case of severe weather, loss of electricity or potential terrorist incidents.
The Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to assemble an
emergency preparedness kit – or purchase a prepackaged kit available from
several sources, including the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org). Your
kit should contain supplies for at least three days, and should include
the following types of supplies:
• Food – energy bars; ready-to-eat canned meals, fruits and vegetables;
peanut butter; crackers; trail mix; canned milk or soup; comfort foods,
such as hard candy, cookies, sweetened cereal or instant coffee.
• Water – a minimum of one gallon per person per day (two quarts for
drinking and two quarts for food preparation/sanitation) – stored in
plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles. Do not store water in
glass containers.
• Flashlight and battery-operated radio, with extra batteries.
• Medications – both prescription and nonprescription; vitamins.
• First aid kit – to include bandages, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic
ointment packages, aspirin, gauze, scissors, first aid instruction
materials.
• Personal hygiene items – toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush, soap,
contact lens solution, feminine supplies.
• Clothing and bedding – at least one change of clothes and shoes for
each person; sturdy shoes or boots; rain gear; sleeping bags;
blankets.
• Sanitation – toilet paper; towelettes; hand sanitizer; disinfectant;
plastic bags, ties; household chlorine bleach.
• Other supplies – such as paper plates, cups and plastic utensils;
aluminum foil; plastic storage containers; matches in a waterproof
container; map; wrench (to turn off gas and water connections);
non-electric can opener; cash, change or traveler’s checks; paper, pens
and pencils.
• Special items – games or books; important family documents – such as
insurance policies, passports, important telephone numbers, family
records, etc. – in a waterproof, portable container; any supplies for
persons with disabilities or special needs for infants or elderly
persons.
• Communication Plan – an important part of any kit is to include a
family communication plan, with all important phone numbers and contact
information. This will speed up your ability to communicate with family
and friends in the event of an emergency.
Emergency preparedness kits can be customized to meet your individual needs, but should include a minimum of a three-day supply of food and water. These kits cannot provide all the supplies you might need in an emergency, but should be designed to provide the basics needed to sustain you and your family for a minimum of three days should an emergency or disaster occur.
For more details, contact the Office of Emergency
Management at 703-324-2362, TTY 711. Additional emergency information can
be found on the Fairfax County emergency information Web page at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency. During times of
emergency or severe weather, residents may call the Fairfax County
Government Emergency Information Line at 703-817-7771, TTY 711, watch the
county government cable Channel 16 or visit the county Web site (www.fairfaxcounty.gov) for updated information.
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