EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK - Missouri

While I am doing Prepper posts on Friday, I wanted to do this one today. Today begins Missouri Emergency Preparedness Week.

Living on the edge of Tornado Alley, ear marks us for a bit of earlier preparation than most other states. The National Emergency Preparedness Week comes up in May and we'll be talking about this again then in some other capacities.

If you, someone you know, or you've seen the devastation a tornado can leave in its path on TV, then you know how important being prepared is. Spring brings unsettling weather patterns. Like our systems battle the seasonal change, so do the elements. We just can't give the elements Nyquil and tuck them in to bed (where I spent a good portion of last week).

Instead, there are definitive things we can do to at the very least, come out on top.
National Weather Service  has a great breakdown of what you need to look for ahead of time, how to prepare for a storm and what to do following a storm.

Here are the basics:

Knowing your risk, taking action and being an example by sharing your knowledge and actions with your social network are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared and save your life and others.

Know Your Risk: Hurricanes, tornadoes, storms - every state in the United States experiences severe weather. Visit weather.gov to get the latest on weather threats. THIS LINK will take you to great information about the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING as well as other key information. THIS LINK from Missouri.gov is another great source.

Take Action: Take the next step in severe weather preparedness by creating a family communications plan, putting an emergency kit together, keeping important papers and valuables in a safe place, and learning about Wireless Emergency Alerts. 

A 72 Hour Emergency Kit should contain: (but not limited to the following items)

Information from Ready.gov

   WATER - one gallon per person per day

    FOOD - a 3-day supply of non- perishable food per person. 

   BATTERY -POWERED (or crank) radio

   FLASHLIGHT & extra batteries

   FIRST AID KIT

   WHISTLE - to signal for help

   DUST MASK

   BABY WIPES

   MANUAL CAN OPENER

   CELL PHONE w/ charger/ inverter/ solar charger

A Complete list can be found HERE as well as links to separate items, such as the First Aid Kit

Be an Example: Once you have taken action to prepare for severe weather, share your story with family and friends on Facebook or Twitter. Your preparedness story will inspire others to do the same.

Don't be caught un-prepared. A few minutes now will save you pain and suffering later.