I am not an alarmist, so when it comes to being prepared for disaster, I have always taken a passive approach. Not so anymore... I attended a lecture on the topic and after two hours I became a survivalist (just kidding)! Previously, I had only thought about natural disasters, completely neglecting man-made or accidental disasters.  

 

Do you live near a Hazardous Liquid and Gas pipeline? Check out this map  on the National Pipeline Mapping System site and find out where they are. How about the Limerick Nuclear Power Plant? If you're outside the 10-mile radius of the plant, you won't be included in their yearly mailing of safety information, so it's up to you to educate yourself. After some online digging, I was able to find the pamphlet, "Emergency Planning for the Limerick Area" -- well worth the read. It includes an explanation of warning systems, a packing checklist, evacuation routes, and more.

 

Some things I've never thought of: What could we barter should we run out of cash? Liquor, tools, lighters, batteries... How will we survive in the winter if we are out of power for days? We don't have a generator, but we do have wood stoves and wood (when we run out of wood, my husband has plenty of lumber to burn and I have furniture... kidding) What will I do when my cell phone dies? What will I do when my FIOS land line dies after eight hours? I depend on my phone for my contacts, flashlight, and compass. I better have backups!  

 

 

For $99, you can purchase a ready-made, 2-person survival kit from Amazon.com

After attending the lecture and learning the potential for man-made disasters, my husband and I decided to develop a plan. We began by preparing emergency kits. Should any disasters strike, at least we'll have a better chance at being safe. Below are some resources to help your family prepare. When it comes to emergency preparedness, a well-organized plan could be a life-saver! 

Emergency Education for Kids

http://www.ready.gov/kids 

Get "Ready" with this fun and informative FEMA website for kids, parents, and teachers.    

 

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/first-aid-app 

Tornado App

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/tornado-app/setup-alerts 

 

Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/29791

Its important to keep family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. This Emergency Financial First Aid Kit helps organize your information. 

 

Cloud-Based Emergency Financial First Aid Kit

https://www.safelyfiled.com/home/    

File all your important documents online with safelyfiled and you can retrieve them remotely (that is, if you have access to internet).  

 

From topics ranging from downsizing to keeping digital records, Anna's organizing wisdom touches on all areas of life. Done with a lighthearted approach, she is informative and entertaining.
Call 484-432-8692 for more information.

I have been working with a client on a large renovation project. At one phase we had to rearrange the garage and mudroom. In the garage there were two 10-gallon water jugs. I asked what they were for and the client said that in case the power went out, they would have water (they have a well and it is powered by electricity). Good. They are prepared, thinks the organizer!

As we emptied the mudroom, I find a six rolls of duct tape... What are you going to use these for? To tape up the windows! Good. Now, where was the plastic sheeting for the windows?

My next question is, Shouldn't we put all of the emergency supplies together? I wouldn't want my client running around the house collecting all of these things...

Once we get the house back together, we will be creating an emergency plan and kit where everything is gathered together in one area!

Want to get organized,
but don't know where to begin?