Survival Planning Starts at Home

Terrorism, by definition, means no warning of when, or in what form, an attack occurs. The government recommends we prepare for a broad spectrum of attacks, but really, where does one even begin? If the need ever arose, emergency personnel will be mobilized, but it may take time for help to arrive or for aid supplies to become available. The best preparation, then, is to fill gaps between what your family needs to survive and when outside help arrives.

Plan Ahead
Plan ahead with the assumption that access to basic supplies may be interrupted. Your emergency plan needs to address survival issues during and after a terrorist attack. Among the issues to consider are communication, safety, medical needs, and food/water supplies. Ask yourself:

• How can we communicate with each other and the outside world?
• Where should we meet if we cannot get home?
• What health issues can be expected?
• What resources will we need if cut off from stores?
• What do we do and where do we go if ordered to evacuate?
• How do our schools to respond to an emergency?
• What do we do if we cannot evacuate, but the environment is unsafe?

Your plan must address each area. Decide upon a single contact residing outside your area. If phone lines are swamped, a nonlocal number is the best clearing house for information. Similarly, select a friend or relative in another neighborhood as alternative shelter if conditions prohibit reaching home or evacuation is ordered. Next, decide what your family needs in a disaster kit. Consider any chronic health issues, first aid, and basic food/water needs. Disaster kits should remain packed and portable, containing at least three days of supplies. Identify two escape routes from each room in your home and be sure family members know them. Learn how to shut off water, gas, and electricity in case advised to do so. Finally, learn 'shelter in place' techniques as part of your preparedness.

By all means, write down the specifics of your plan and share them with family members.

Stock Up
With your plan in place, next, gather materials. You’ll need to stock a disaster kit and 'shelter in place' supplies. Your stocks should include:

Disaster Kits

• A radio
• Extra batteries
• Three days worth of water (at least one gallon per person)
• Three days worth of nonperishable food (canned goods, nuts, cereals, dry milk, trail mix, dried fruit, etc.)
• Personal hygiene supplies
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
• Flashlights
• Manual can opener
• Copies of legal documents in water proof container

Shelter In Place Kits

• Duct tape and scissors
• Plastic sheeting
• Two weeks of food/water, medicines, and personal care supplies
• Flashlights
• Radio and extra batteries

When stocking water, use nonbreakable containers cleaned with one part bleach to ten parts water. Change your water stores every six months, and label each container with a date. Similarly, replace items in food stores every six months. You'll also want to keep a small amount of cash or traveler's checks on hand to cover purchases if banks are closed, too.

The thought of what could happen is nerve-wracking at best. The government and emergency agencies have response systems in place, but taking the time to plan and prepare for your needs as a family takes the guesswork out of coping with terrorism. A bit of forethought ensures your most basic survival needs will be met, no matter what the circumstances.