As I sat in front of my TV and read the messages on various discussion groups it is painfully clear that we, as individuals,
need to be personally responsible for our own safety and the safety of our animals. This is not a new concept but it is something
that many people tend to ignore because they think the government agencies will save them...no matter how big the disaster.
This is unrealistic. Each of us need to have some degree of accountability for our own safety.
The first step is to assess the possible emergency situations in your area. As you look at your community you will discover
that what might be a big hazard for you isn't going to be a problem for someone else in another location in the country.
Those who live in the country may have different hazards to prepare for than those that live in the city. Living along the
coast poses different problems than living in the middle of the country. Warm climates have hazards that are different than
cold climates. Be aware of those potential emergency situations and develop a plan for each one. If they are situations
where you can "shelter in place" then plan for that by making sure you have enough supplies to be comfortable for a certain
amount of time. Katrina is clearly showing that a one week source of food and water is not enough. I would recommend a minimum
of two weeks however we each should do what we feel comfortable doing. If the emergency situations are such that authorities
demand, for your own safety, you evacuate...have a plan and practice it now.
Have a bag (Its called a Bug Out Bag and a search of the internet will give you ideas as to what you will need in your situation)
ready and waiting...just in case....which contains emergency supplies and that you can grab quickly if you must evacuate.
I have a bag in my vehicle at all times and in the winter I have a blanket The bag contains a change of clothing, extra pair
of shoes and socks, water and basic snacks that will keep, paper towels, toilet paper, pain meds, a knife and flash light.
Don't wait till the last minute to find what you need. For those in areas where there are wildfires and floods those last
few minutes could be the difference between life and death.
In my area I know that we are often stranded because of blizzards and we also have the potential to loose power for extended
periods of time....so we have a generator to insure that all the animals have a reliable water source. I pay attention to
weather reports so I am not caught off guard without the supplies I need. I make sure that I don't let hay supplies get down
too low and I always have a two week supply of pet food on hand. Since my job is 30 miles from home I have talked with the
neighbor to make sure they will take care of the animals if I am stranded at work. Sounds drastic but the peace of mind that
having a plan gives me is well worth the chuckles I get when I mention that I have these plans. Call me crazy but I strongly
feel that if I truly look at my animals as my family...which I do...then it's up to me to make sure I am as prepared as I
possibly can be to keep them safe.
If you feel you cannot evacuate in an emergency that requires evacuation...such as what is going on in New Orleans...how will
you protect your pets while waiting for help? Think about these things and prepare for them....and understand that there
is a chance that help will not be able to get to you if you make that choice. In New Orleans many people chose not to leave
and many could not leave. If you know you aren't leaving when you get a mandatory evacuation order then plan for it when
there is no emergency. Even the people in New Orleans that couldn't leave knew for years they were living in a bowl below
sea level and knew that the threat of flooding was huge. There was time to protect their pets and their families with this
knowledge. Each of us can be prepared if we just accept the fact that we are responsible for ourselves and our pets.
The key to emergency preparedness is personal accountability....my opinion. The government cannot do it all and it is unfair
to expect them to be able to do that. It is also unfair to expect emergency responders to be there instantly risking their
lives because you didn't have the common sense to plan ahead. Check out web sites for information on emergency preparedness....the
basics.
National Preparedness Month
Lots of basic information
Nuclear disaster preparedness
What to do in case of a nuclear attack. This site deals with how to live through a nuclear attack HOWEVER many live near
nuclear power plants and there is always a chance there will be an accident at one of these plants. Learn what to do and
what the risk is. You would be surprised at how survivable a nuclear accident or attack is if you are prepared.
Personal preparedness is critical and then, once you are on your way to being prepared personally, suggest to friends and
neighbors that they do the same thing. There is nothing more comforting than knowing that you and your neighbors will do just
fine until help arrives...or until the emergency is over. The first step in helping our animals is making sure we take responsibility
for our own safety. Listening to the stories coming out of New Orleans only reinforces the idea that we all need to help
ourselves...which means instead of being part of the problem we are part of the solution. If our animals are important enough
to us (which they are) to stay with them when we should be evacuating, then we need to be prepared to care for them for the
long term. Staying with them and then watching them die because we didn't plan ahead isn't doing anyone any good.
I hope this information will be useful to those who really want to be a part of the solution. I would be happy to assist
anyone who is interested in how to proceed in making their family, their home and their pets safer during any emergency.
Diana Oliver
Assistant County Coordinator
County Animal Response Team
Bradford County/PA
