Are You and Your Family Prepared for the First 72 Hours?
Experience gained from past disasters has shown that it can take up to 72 hours or more to mobilize a significant relief effort during an emergency. Therefore everyone needs to be preparing to cope on his or her own for at least the first 72 hours – that’s 3 days – of an emergency.
Of course common sense dictates that we should be prepared for any emergency situation, however the fact is that only a few of us are ready for even the smallest crisis, let alone one of larger significance.
One obvious advantage of being prepared – it allows emergency workers to focus on people in very urgent need of their help. To support their efforts, the rest of us must to be prepared to look after ourselves for at least 72 hours.
The San Francisco area is exposed to a wide variety of hazards, both natural and man-made. The path of destruction that Hurricane Katrina left in its wake across the southern U.S. in August 2005 and the widespread flooding of 2007 – 2008 have provided a horrific reminder of the importance of being prepared for disasters. Unfortunately no part of our country, or North America for that matter is immune to a natural or a man-made disaster.
Earthquakes, power outages, floods, fires, severe storms and acts of terrorism are just some of the potential emergencies. Many of these emergencies have been deadly in the past. Being prepared can save lives and can help to reduce the impact of a disaster on you and your family.
Why prepare your family?
Imagine for a moment that you have no electricity, no gas, no water and no telephone service. Imagine that all the businesses are closed and you are without any kind of emergency services. What will you do until help arrives?
What will you do if your local authorities issue and emergency evacuation order? Remember, in such a circumstance there will be no stores open for you to acquire anything, the store personal will be evacuating also!
If you have not prepared beforehand for either of these events, both you and your family may have a very difficult time when a disaster strikes your hometown.
While governments are working hard to keep citizens safe, we all have an important role to play in emergency preparedness and response. By being prepared to take care of yourself, you allow community resources to be used more effectively during an emergency and you help keep your own family safe at the same time. Very simply put, emergency preparedness must begin at home.
Start to plan today!
As neither man-made nor natural emergencies can be predicted; therefore it is imperative that we are all prepared well in advance of the disaster.
I cannot over stress this point.
Prepare your emergency kit and your family – so in the case of a major emergency like a flood or blackout – you are ready to take care of yourself and your loved ones for at least 72 hours. You should be prepared to live without running water, electricity, gas, telephones and assistance from safety services for at least three days following a disaster.
What do you need?
You need to have an “Emergency Kit” in your home, ready to go at a moments notice.
Your family Emergency Kit is comprised of two separate parts, a First Aid Kit and a Go Bag.
Your own 72-Hour Emergency Kit should be tailored to meet the basic survival needs of your family. Store your emergency supplies in an easily accessible if evacuation is required. Items may be stored in a 32-gallon trashcan, suitcase, duffle bag, backpack, footlocker or individual pack.
Your First Aid Kit
In any emergency situation, you or a family member may be cut, burned or suffer other injuries. It is imperative that you keep basic first aid supplies handy so you are prepared to assist when someone is hurt. Medical help may not be available during or immediately after a large-scale disaster.
My personal list of items that should be in your First Aid Kit:
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
Gauze pads and bandages
Butterfly Closure bandages
Sterile dressings to stop bleeding (Blood stopper)
Elastic Wrap
Instant cold pack
Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect
Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
Burn ointment
Sting Relief Pads (for insect bites)
Sunscreen packets
Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant
Cotton tips
Scissors
Tweezers
At least two pairs of disposable gloves
A First Aid Instruction Guide
Hygiene kits
Flashlight or brightstick
Medicines such as Aspirin or other pain reliever, laxative, anti-diarrhea medication
Your Go Bag:
A major component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Every household should pack a Go Bag — a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation order.
Your Go Bag may be assembled or purchased as a ready-made kit for convenience. Your Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy backpack or suitcase on wheels.
The Go Bag should be easily accessible if you have to leave your home in a hurry. Make sure it is ready to go at all times of the year as an emergency evacuation order can occur at any time of the year.
Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each is tagged with the name of the person it was packed for. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work.
Items that should be in your Go Bag:
The prescription medications you take every day such as insulin or heart medication.
All prescribed medical supplies such as glucose or blood pressure monitors
Drinking Water
Non-perishable food such as food ration bars or Meal-in-a-Box
Manual can opener
Plates, utensils and other cooking supplies
Flashlight and extra batteries or Hand-charged Flashlight
Pocketknife or Multifunctional Tool
Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries
Whistle
Waterproof Matches
Water filtration bottle
Duct Tape, permanent marker, and paper
Cable Ties
Light Stick
Rope or twine
Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
Heavy work gloves
Disposable lighters
Phillips Screw Driver
Standard Screw Driver
Folding Shovel w/Sheath
Trash Bags
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Personal Hygiene kit
Shave Kit
Maps
Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, gloves and a warm hat
Emergency Survival Sleeping Bag
Rain Ponchos
Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
List of emergency contact phone numbers
List of allergies to any drug or food
Copy of health insurance and identification cards
Extra prescription eyeglasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
Prescription medications
Extra keys to your house and vehicle
Disposable camera
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities.
Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.
Remember that if you have to leave your house due to an evacuation order, you will be living and sleeping somewhere else for a while. It is therefore a good idea to add some activity items to the kids Go Bag.
Some suggestions may be a couple of favorite books
Crayons, pencils and plenty of paper
A puzzle
A favorite toy such as a doll or action figure
One or two board games
A deck of cards
A Favorite stuffed animal or puppet
Favorite blanket or pillow
I sincerely hope that this article will provide the incentive for you to get prepared for an emergency now. Don’t put if off for another day. The safety and well being of your family is at stake.
Allan Wright
First Aid Kit Products
Allan Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/are-you-and-your-family-prepared-for-the-first-72-hours-705740.html
Justin V Says:
can a apartment manager lawfully evict a family from a tenant within 8 hours of eviction notice?
Today my friend’s family got evicted from his apartment tenant at manor sweets apartments. the reason was for skateboarding. from what i know my friends little brother got cought skateboarding 5 days ago and then he got cought today to and the manager went to his house and just told tyler’s parents about the incedent today and gave them 8 hours to move out or she would call the police. aslo tylers mom tried paying rent but the manager would not acept the rent. i think she did this unlawfully. i lookd up some stuff and this is some stuff i found
The Eviction Process starts for nine reasons specified by law:
1. Nonpayment of rent;
2. Extensive and continuing physical injury to property;
3. Serious and continuing health hazard;
4. Illegal drug activity and formal police report filed (lease provision must allow for termination);
5. Violation of the lease provision and the lease allows for termination;
6. Forceful entry OR peaceful entry, but forceful stay OR trespass;
7. Holding over after natural expiration of lease term;
8. "Just cause" for terminating tenant of mobile home park;
9. "Just cause" for terminating tenant of government-subsidized housing;
The Eviction Process starts with a proper Notice of Eviction and may involve court appearances and a trial. An Order of Eviction may be issued and a court officer or someone from the sheriff’s office may remove the tenant and tenant’s personal items from the rental property.
However, there are many steps in the eviction process before the tenant is physically removed.
Most managers and tenants reach a settlement or agreement long before the matter moves that far.
Each reason for eviction has a specific amount of time that MUST pass before the landlord may commence a lawsuit – either 24 hours or 7 days or 30 days. For details follow the link above.
Once the proper notice is prepared it must be delivered to the tenant:
* In person to the tenant, OR
* By first-class Mail, addressed to the tenant and all occupants.
The tenant is not required to move out when the eviction notice expires – he/she may have a valid defense to the landlord’s reason for eviction. Expiration of 24 hours or 7 days or 30 days time period only enables the landlord/ manager to file a lawsuit.
VIOLATING AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE LEASE OR LANDLORD-TENANT CODE
Most leases include rules and promises by the tenant. Some examples are: a promise to not make noise that disturbs the neighbors, or a promise not to run a business out of the house without the landlord’s permission. The Landlord-Tenant Code also includes rules that are made a part of all leases automatically, even if the lease is not written down. Some of these are: a promise to keep the property clean and safe, and a promise not to damage or destroy any part of the property.
If you break one of these rules or promises, the landlord can go to court to have you evicted. To do so, the landlord must first give you a letter that does the following:
1.
explain what rule you have broken and what you are doing wrong,
2.
give you at least 7 days to correct the problem (not 5 days as when rent is late),
3.
tell you that if the problem is not corrected by the deadline, the landlord may terminate the lease and go to court to have you evicted,
4.
warn you that if the same rule is broken again within 1 year, the landlord can go directly to court without giving a new notice.
If you do not fix the problem, or if you fix it and break the same rule again within 1 year, your landlord can take you to court to have you evicted.
* Pay Rent or Quit Notices are typically used when the tenant has not paid the rent. They give the tenant a few days (three to five in most states) to pay the rent or move out ("quit").
* Cure or Quit Notices are typically given after a tenant violates a term or condition of the lease or rental agreement, such as a no-pets clause or the requirement to refrain from making excessive noise. Usually, the tenant has a set amount of time in which to correct, or "cure," the violation. A tenant who fails to do so must move or face the possibility of an eviction lawsuit.
* Unconditional Quit Notices are the harshest of all. They order the tenant to vacate the premises with no chance to pay the rent or correct a lease or rental agreement violation. In most states, unconditional quit notices are allowed only when the tenant has:
o repeatedly violated a significant lease or rental agreement clause
o been late with the rent on more than one occasion
o seriously damaged the premises, or
o engaged in serious illegal activity, such as drug dealing on the premises.
witch she did a unconditional quit notices witch she shouldent of done cause they did not break any of those rules
i just want to know can my friend sue them for what the manager did
Posted on March 9th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
M. S. Says:
You say the kid was caught skateboarding five days ago. Did the landlord warn the tenant at that time?
References :
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 3:20 am
candleinthewind7579 Says:
Must give at least 30 days notice
References :
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 3:22 am
The Wizard Says:
They did break ONE of those rules. But it might be tough to prove without Evidence. Destruction of property. Could be just running the skateboard over the lawn.
But MOST states require 30 days. And they would have to go to court.
And a 5 year old? Being thrown out for this? There must be other reasons other than this one. This might have been the straw that broke the camels back.
References :
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 3:24 am
loves christmas lights Says:
Theres more going on then you know of, but this is the straw that broke the camels back. There is indeed a legal way to evict, and there are rules broken, and yes a landlord can use the silliest rule to evict a tennat. It has to be done legally, there is no 8 hour eviction, that wont happen, but this family will have an eviction on thier credit and that is really super bad to have, super bad, when trying to rerent. If they try to move out now, in the next 30 days, it wont be on thier credit yet and will not hurt them, after a few monts, or the next time they move it will be on their credit. Kids wonder why they should listen to their parents, well this is one of the big reasons, kids dont know everything yet as they think they do!
Im guessing, that maybe the landlord would not start paperwork in an eviction if they packed, cleaned and moved with that notice, which was silly of her to post but she will do a real eviction, and if the court awards it, which they definatly will, the 3 day notice or whatever the state allows if they are not gone, the sheriffs will lock them out, and they will lose everything if they then dont pay whatever the terms of the settlement is. Former evictoion office employee. Dif states dif laws.
References :
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 3:27 am
smedrik Says:
No, you need a court order to evict a person. This is something which take about 30-90 days and has to be with reason, granted by the court.
There is np way this is done in 8 hours.
Let the landlord call the cops.
As for whether or not to sue, a quit notice is warning of court action. Unless, right now there are no damages. In order to sue you have the suffer justifiably damages. You can sue for anything, whether or not you can winn or what you will win is at issue.
References :
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 3:29 am
MelloYello56 Says:
No one is actually evicted until the judge says so. Usually an intent to evict is called a 3 day. In that time frame your friend has 3 days to leave the property or the management must file a court date. I would look into Fair Housing Laws that protect children. I highly doubt a judge will evict for something like that.
References :
Posted on March 10th, 2010 at 3:31 am