It’s the Season for Emergency Preparedness!

Posted on Dec 12, 2012 in Disaster Preparedness | 1 comment

If you’re a friend or family member of Mills-Peninsula emergency preparedness coordinator Deborah Tauscher, you may find emergency granola bars, a flashlight, whistle or museum putty to secure TVs and bookcases in your stocking.

“These may not seem like traditional holiday offerings but gifts to help your loved ones prepare for emergencies and disasters can be much appreciated,” says Tauscher. “This year instead of getting another tie for dad or sweater for mom – theme your gifts around emergency preparedness to show how much you care.”

Here’s a list of top gift items that will help keep your loved ones safe if disaster strikes:

• LED flashlight: choose the gift of bright light to replace those ancient flashlights that dim when you turn them on.
• Well-stocked first aid kit: to replace the old one with expired items and missing supplies.
• Sleeping bag, camping gear and roadside emergency kits: these gifts have many other uses but are also emergency and safety preparedness essentials.
• Your gift of time: offer to help a family member scan cherished photos and other important documents onto a thumb drive that can be stored in the family disaster kit.

“If you are at a loss as to what to get for family or friends this holiday season, you don’t need to be,” says Tauscher. “Give the gift of emergency preparedness wrapped up with a bow!”

For more preparedness tips, see our monthly series of blog posts on disaster preparedness.