Are you prepared for a disaster?

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, December 28, 2006

No doubt about it: We got spanked.

Record floods, damaging windstorms and snow pounded Snohomish and Island counties the past few months. Many of us were woefully unprepared.

After the windstorm, thousands shivered in the dark for days without electricity or running water. Downed trees blocked roads. Drivers waited to fill empty gas tanks at the few stations with power. Stores ran out of batteries and generators.

So many people called Snohomish County Emergency Management the phone system was overloaded.

Many expressed surprise and shock at what happened, said Steve Hagberg, a volunteer who answered calls for the office.

“A lot of people said, ‘I didn’t plan for this; I didn’t think was even a possibility,’” Hagberg said.

People should have the ability to survive on their own for a few days if disaster strikes, said Edward Madura, a program manager for the county’s emergency management office.

It’s Madura’s job to think of everything that could go wrong and figure out how to prevent it. He also finds ways to minimize damage in the event there is a disaster.

Many folks get lulled into complacency with groceries and gas so easily available, said Madura, who taught survival skills while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard. When disaster strikes, it’s unlikely you’ll have more with you than what’s in your pockets or purse, he said. Help could be delayed for days.

At the minimum, folks need to assemble a kit with some basic supplies, enough to last three days in case help is slow in coming, Madura said. Everyone in the family should know where it’s kept. The kit should be packed into a backpack or some other “grab and go” container in case the family needs to evacuate.

Put together similar kits for each car and for work. Madura keeps a sleeping bag and a plastic container with granola bars, instant oatmeal and bottled water under his desk.

Have some cash or credit cards on hand, enough money to travel to a relative’s home or get a motel room, he said. Talk with family members about where and how you’ll find each other after an emergency, and identify a friend or family member who would put you up if you can’t stay in your own home.

Survival is about being able to find and use the tools and supplies, too. Madura bets nearly everyone owns a flashlight, but does it have batteries? Can they find it in the dark? People may own a fire extinguisher, but do they know how to use it?

When he teaches survival classes, he tries to reinforce the idea that one of the best survival strategies is being ready all the time. Keep the gas tank at least half full, the car serviced and the cell phone charged.

“We need to practice situational awareness,” he said. “We just plain need to be aware of what’s going on around us.”

What you need for a home disaster kit