Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! Series - Part 2 - Gather Emergency Supplies

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

#2 Gather Emergency Supplies

If a disaster strikes your community, you might not have access to food, water, or electricity for some time. Take steps now to put together an emergency supply kit so that you will be prepared in case something happens. You should have emergency kits for your home, office, school, and vehicle. You never know where you will be during an emergency.

Emergency Supply Kit

·         Consider storing two weeks-worth of food supplies. You may be able to use many of the canned goods and dry mixes already in your cupboard.

·         Store at least a 3-day supply of water for each member of your family – that means 1 gallon per person per day.

·         Don’t forget about pets; they’ll need food and water too.

·         Learn where your gas, electric, and water shut-off locations are and how to turn them off.

An emergency supply kit is a collection of basic items that you might need during an emergency. It's good to involve whoever is going to use the kit, including children, in assembling it.

Assemble the following items to create kits to use at your home, office, school and/or in a vehicle:

·         Water—one gallon per person, per day

·         Food—nonperishable, easy-to-prepare items

·         Flashlight

·         Battery powered or hand crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

·         Extra batteries

·         First aid kit

·         Medications (7-day supply), other medical supplies, and medical paperwork (e.g., medication list and pertinent medical information)

·         Multipurpose tool (e.g., Swiss army knife)

·         Sanitation and personal hygiene items

·         Copies of personal documents (e.g., proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, and insurance policies)

·         Cell phone with chargers

·         Family and emergency contact information

·         Extra cash

·         Emergency blanket

·         Map(s) of the area

·         Extra set of car keys and house keys

·         Manual can opener

Special Needs

You may need some additional supplies to meet the needs of all family members, such as children, pets, and those with special medical requirements. Suggested items to help meet additional needs are:

·         Medical supplies (e.g., hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, or a cane)

·         Baby supplies (e.g., bottles, formula, baby food, and diapers)

·         Games and activities for children

·         Pet supplies (see expanded list below)

Once you’ve gathered your supplies, pack the items in easy-to-carry containers, clearly label the containers, and store them where they are easily accessible. In a disaster situation, you may need access to your emergency supply kit quickly - whether you are sheltering at home or evacuating. Make sure to check expiration dates on food, water, and batteries throughout the year.

Involving Children

Involving children is the first step in helping them know what to do in an emergency. There are many ways children can help.

·         Ask them to think of items that they would like to include in an emergency supply kit, such as books or games or nonperishable food items. Ask them to help you remember to keep the kits updated.

·         Children can help mark the dates on a calendar for checking emergency supplies. Remember to rotate or replace emergency food and water every six months and replace batteries as necessary.

·         Children can also help prepare plans and disaster kits for family pets.

Disaster Supply Checklist for Pets

·         Food and water for at least 3 days for each pet; bowls, and a manual can opener.

·         Depending on the pet you may need a litter box, paper towels, plastic trash bags, grooming items, and/or household bleach.

·         Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container.

·         First aid kit with a pet first aid book.

·         Sturdy leash, harness, and carrier to transport pet safely. A carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet may have to stay in the carrier for several hours.

·         Pet toys and the pet's bed, if you can easily take it, to reduce stress.

·         Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become separated, and to prove that they are yours.

·         Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and telephone number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

Be Ready, Nat´l Preparedness Month is Here! Series - Part 1 - Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Would you be ready if there were an emergency? Throughout September there will be activities across the country to promote emergency preparedness. More than 3,000 organizations – national, regional, and local public and private organizations – are supporting emergency preparedness efforts and encouraging all Americans to take action.

September 2014 marks the eleventh annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the US Department of Homeland Security. One goal of Homeland Security is to educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies, and terrorist attacks.   Visit our Blog all this week to learn valuable tips for preparing for unexpected events.

Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Families can cope with disasters by preparing in advance and working together as a team. If something were to happen, how would you contact one another, how would you get to a safe place, and what would you do in different emergency situations? Planning what to do before a disaster strikes provides the best protection for you and your family.

Create a Family Communication Plan

Because you and your family may not be together when a disaster hits, it’s important to create a communication plan to help you and your loved ones connect and get help. Complete a contact card for each family member. Have them keep these cards handy in a wallet, purse, or backpack.

More Tips:

·         Identify an out-of-town contact, such as a friend or relative, who family members can call to let them know they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, because phone lines can be jammed. An out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

·         Teach your family members how to text. It may seem like second nature to some of us, but not everyone texts. During an emergency it’s often easier to get a text message delivered rather than a phone call.

·         Subscribe to an Emergency Alert System. Check with your local health department or Emergency Management Agency to see if there is one offered for your area. Post emergency telephone numbers by home phones or save them in your cell phone (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).

·         Teach children how and when to call 911 for help.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debunking Insurance Myths - Series Final

Insurance is about managing risk. Insurance companies use sophisticated algorithms to determine how risky each of us is, and they price policies accordingly. That's why smokers pay more for health insurance and bad drivers pay more for car insurance.

Still, insurance can be confusing and aggressive sales agents only make the problem worse. To help clear things up, we're debunking some of the most pervasive myths about different types of insurance.

Life Insurance

Myth: Everybody needs life insurance.

If you have dependents or shared debts with anyone else, then you absolutely need to have life insurance. But if you're single with no outstanding debt, life insurance is optional. The only benefit of having it is to cover the cost of medical or funeral expenses that may come up. But if you have sufficient assets to cover those costs, than life insurance isn't necessary.

 

FACT:

When the beneficiary receives the death benefit from a life insurance policy, the money is free from income tax. The money that is accumulating in the cash value account is also tax free. If you decide to borrow against your policy by receiving a policy loan, the money will not be subject to taxation. However, your policy proceeds can bump your estate value above the federal threshold and trigger a tremendous federal tax hit--as much as 55 percent. The easiest way to avoid estate taxes on your policy is to assign it to another owner, such as the beneficiary, who isn't named to your estate. As long as it is outside your estate at the time of your death, the policy is safe.
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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.





 

Debunking Insurance Myths - Series Part 3

Insurance is about managing risk. Insurance companies use sophisticated algorithms to determine how risky each of us is, and they price policies accordingly. That's why smokers pay more for health insurance and bad drivers pay more for car insurance.

Still, insurance can be confusing and aggressive sales agents only make the problem worse. To help clear things up, we're debunking some of the most pervasive myths about different types of insurance.

 

Homeowner's Insurance

Myth: If something happens to your home, you'll be given the money to replace your items.

Many people mistakenly believe their homeowner's insurance will pay for them to replace an item if it's damaged or stolen, but that's not usually how it works. If you lose an old computer most policies won't foot the bill for a brand new one. All they'll give you is the amount of cash your old one was worth when you lost it. Policies do exist that cover full replacement of items, but you'll pay a higher monthly premium for those.

FACT: According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), homeowners insurance covers the structure and contents of your house in case of damage. It is also required by lenders as long as you have a mortgage.

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This blog is brought to you by SERVPRO^® of Great Neck/Port Washington, a leading provider of fire and water cleanup, mold mitigation, remediation and restoration services. For more information and a full list of our services, please visit us online at www.servproofgreatneck.com or contact us at 516-767-9600.