Today’s (Wednesday) focus for Severe Weather Awareness Week in Iowa is on general preparedness. Carroll County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Coordinator Jeff Cullen says being prepared means different things for each person or household, but some items should be on every Iowan’s list.
Cullen adds that the best way to determine your food and water needs is to track what essential items you use in a day and multiply them by three. Carroll County Communications Center Director Jason Hoffman says preparedness is more than just stashing a supply of food and water in your home; it’s also having a few pieces of equipment to stay informed when disaster strikes.
Even everyday items like a flashlight or can opener would be good additions to a disaster kit. It is also wise to prepare for what comes after a disaster: the recovery. Navigating claims and sifting through debris can be overwhelming, so having a list of your possessions can make the process much easier.
They add that the most important part of preparing for disaster is something they’ve said all week: having a plan. Know where the household’s severe weather safe spot is, where the family will gather after evacuating from a fire, and where to go if people become separated. Many people don’t think of these things until it is too late. Cullen says it can be overwhelming, but the county EMA team can help if you don’t know where to start.
That site is ready.iowa.gov. Severe Weather Awareness Week is all this week in Iowa. Tomorrow’s (Thursday) topic is on hail and wind safety.
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