Consumer Reports release personal preparedness info | 12.21.2005 | 06:01:37 | Views: 5128 | ID: December 21 '06: Consumer Reports has released a personal preparedness info sheet on their website to help families and individuals prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies. The goal of the website is to teach people "the needed steps to take, practice with your family, create a communications plan, stock supplies, and be ready to act." Understanding that any federal, state or local response will not be immediate, Consumer Reports' message is that "You can't rely on the government to protect you in a disaster," for the first 72 hours after a natural or man-made disaster. The website was posted earlier this summer during the hurricane season. Guidelines to help prepare citizens include: encouraging families to create a list of possible natural disaster likely to occur in the area and ways that the family can prepare for them; stocking up on non-perishable foods, having bottled water, batteries, flashlights and antibiotics on hand as well as identification papers such as social security number cards, passports and birth certificates. Families are also encouraged to know the "safe spots" in their houses. Those spots may include "load-bearing interior walls or doorways during an earthquake and the basement during a tornado or nuclear emergency." Other preparedness plans include teaching family members how to shut off services such as gas, power and electric lines, having a rendezvous point, having an out-of-state or region call contact - it's easier to call long distance during an emergency, Consumer Reports said. Finally, individuals and families are told to have an emergency plan for their pets as well.
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