 If you thought that disaster
could strike only ordinary mortals, nothing can be farther from the truth. Even President
Bill Clinton had to be evacuated from a Washington hotel along with 800 other people
attending a business awards ceremony on Friday last after a small fire broke out in the
laundry room. Forewarned is forearmed. President Clinton was cautioned and had his
security team at his disposal. Can you hope for the same, not wishful thinking. Self-help
is the best help. A disaster could strike anyone anytime, of course, without warning. It
can either force you to leave your home or confine you to your home. You can cope with a
disaster much better if you are prepared for it in advance. Remember prevention is better
than cure. This makes you aware of what to do in such situations. To plan out for any
disaster you need to identify what disasters can affect you.
 Can you create your own disaster management plan? Yes,
you and your family can discuss and plan to share responsibilities and work together as a
team in case disaster strikes you. Keep your plan simple and with very few details so
every one can remember them. A disaster tends to create confusion. Discussing disasters
ahead of time will help reduce fear and anxiety and will help everyone know how to
respond. Everyone should know what to do in case all the family members are not together.
Pick two places to meet: Right outside of your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a
fire. Outside of your neighborhood in case you can't return home or are asked to leave
your neighborhood. Everyone must know the address and phone number of the meeting
locations.
 Develop an emergency communication plan. In case family
members are separated from one another, have a plan for getting back together. Separation
is a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school.
Ask an out-of-town relative or friend to be your "family contact." Your contact
should live outside of your area. After a disaster, it is often easier to make a long
distance call than a local call. Family members should call the contact and tell him or
her where they are. Everyone must know the contact's name, address, and phone number.
Discuss what to do if the authorities ask you to evacuate. Make arrangements for a place
to stay with a friend or relative who lives out of town and/or learn about shelter
locations. Be familiar with escape routes. Depending on the type of disaster, it may be
necessary to evacuate your home. Plan several escape routes in case certain roads are
blocked or closed. Remember to follow the advice of the local officials during evacuation
situations. They will direct you to the safest route; some roads may be blocked or put you
in further danger.
 Prepare a checklist. Jot down the steps that you
intend to take. Jot down emergency telephone numbers (fire, police, ambulance, etc.). You
may not have time in an emergency to look up critical numbers. Teach all responsible
family members how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at the main
switches or valves. Check if you have adequate insurance coverage. Ask your insurance
agent to review your current policies to ensure that they will cover your home and
belongings adequately. Homeowner's insurance does not cover all losses. If you are a
tenant, your landlord's insurance does not protect your personal property; it only
protects the building. Tenant's insurance pays if a tenant's property is damaged or
stolen. Contact your insurance agent for more information.
(To be continued)
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