GETTING YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS FOLLOWING A DISASTER

Do you have a list of the medications you and your family rely on in case of a disaster? Did you know that the government is prepared to provide medications at a point of dispensing, if the need arises? If a bioterrorism attack occurs, the local health department will set up temporary “points of dispensing” in affected communities to provide medication.

That’s a relief. I don’t take many drugs, but I do take medication for my restless legs, and without it, I believe I would surely go mad. While I have some extra medications in my Go Kit, I don’t have enough to last long. Knowing there is a plan in place so I could still get them, gives me some assurance, but that means I have to do my part too. I have to know what I need and when I need it.

In the event a disaster occurs, it will help to have a list of the medications you need, the frequency you take them, the dosage, and, if children are involved, how much they weigh.

A SIGN OF CARING

Making a plan for what you’ll do if disaster strikes, is just another way of caring for your family. It’s the same principle as getting a shot to prevent pneumonia or any other disease. We don’t think that we’ll actually get that disease, but we still get the inoculation to prevent it if we can or at least make it easier to survive. That’s the same reason you should spend a little time designing a plan for your family’s survival in the event of an emergency.

Making a plan isn’t all that difficult either. Ready.gov provides you with an outline so you know the basic things you should be looking at, the areas you’d most likely need to put some thought into to increase your chances of survival. Does a plan guarantee survival? No, of course not. But it will certainly increase your chances of making it through.

We don’t like to think that disaster might befall us, but earthquakes, high winds, tornados, hurricanes, fires, etc. all can change your life in a blink. A little advanced preparation will make it so much easier to cope. It’s worth it!

DISASTER PLAN

When I decided to make up a disaster plan for my business, I went on line to Ready.gov to get the format to help with designing my specific plan. That was really helpful since it showed me what areas I needed to consider.

Believe me, it was not easy deciding what to do with 17 dogs! But, I was successful in designing a plan that I believe will protect my financial investment as well as my emotional investment in my business.

My plan needed to look at not only where I would keep the dogs in the event I had to evacuate, but how I would transport them, what paperwork I would need to have on hand, and the food, water, grooming and veterinary supplies I’d need to keep them healthy. My dogs are a source of income for my retirement, and I depend on that money for my livelihood. It’s important to me to insure that the income I’m depending on continues even if something disastrous happens.

The plan also took into consideration who would provide care for the animals if something happened to me, and/or my business partner. While I didn’t like thinking about that, these animals are more than a financial investment to me. I am attached to each one of them and it means a lot to me to make sure they’ll be taken care of properly.

Thinking about disaster plans can be uncomfortable…but it’s worse thinking about what could happen if I hadn’t taken the time to make a plan! I read what happened to thousands of animals when other disasters hit. They died from starvation and lack of water when their owners left thinking they’d be right back. I don’t want my dogs left unattended, to fend for themselves. I care too much about them for that. I cared enough to make a plan.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Yesterday, I sat stuck in traffic for an hour on the way home from visiting my sister. We were returning from St. Paul and she was coming back to spend a week with me in Michigan. While I was glad we didn’t have to sit in traffic any longer than that, we put the time to good use as we talked about disasters and what preparations we’d made so far. She has extra food put up, water on hand, and a “Go Kit” all packed and ready to go.

I mentioned the book I’d read sometime back about what happened when Hurricane Katrina hit and so many people were evacuated to local schools. People had to sleep on the wooden floors in the gym with only a single blanket for comfort. I laughed as I explained to her that if that were me and I had spent a night sleeping on a wooden floor, I would not be getting up in the morning at all. I probably wouldn’t sleep in the first place, but I surely would not be able to stand up in the morning if I’d slept on a hard floor like that!

My sister readily agreed; it would be the same for her. We are older now and I have arthritis. She has had many broken bones, and she gets stiff from sitting too. To lie on a wooden floor would be a horror story for both of us. I told her that part of my “Go Kit” was an air mattress! Having given it some thought, that is one item I believe I would have to have if I were to survive with any kind of comfort. She decided then and there that she would add one to her kit when she returns home.

Have you thought about what special items or accommodations you may need in the same situation?  I know we all tend to think it won’t ever happen, but it only takes one fire, tornado, strong wind, etc. to leave you in a similar circumstance.  What would it take to make you comfortable?  How would your spouse, parents, children, or friends manage?  It might be worth talking it over with them and making a few plans. After all, your comfort might just depend on it