Cordova Prepared: Have a ‘To Go’ kit ready in an emergency

When you rush out of the house, remember to bring the kit

Kevin and Nora Haisman read to pass the time at the shelter, as Isla looks on. Check out their orange ‘To Go’ kit. Photo courtesy of Joanie Behrends
Kevin and Nora Haisman read to pass the time at the shelter, as Isla looks on. Check out their orange ‘To Go’ kit. Photo courtesy of Joanie Behrends Kevin and Nora Haisman read to pass the time at the shelter, as Isla looks on. Check out their orange ‘To Go’ kit. Photo courtesy of Joanie Behrends

Were you READY when the 7.9 earthquake hit, early morning January 23?

Some people were REALLY ready. Others, many others, were not.

Fourteen members of our community have been trained by the Alaska American Red Cross to help manage shelters. They have prepared for the possibility, however remote, that Cordovans may need to evacuate their homes after a major disaster. The shelters would provide for the temporary housing and feeding of such displaced citizens.

Those volunteers, a Red Cross DAT Team (Disaster Assistance Team), spent three days training and preparing to become shelter managers. Now it’s our turn, as citizens, to prepare for that possibility.

Their job is to transform buildings in Cordova into places of refuge, shelters.

Our job, if we are evacuees, is to arrive at the shelter with some degree of readiness ourselves.

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Our job is to be self-sufficient. It can be accomplished by preparing a “To Go” kit. The classic “To Go” kit is pre-fashioned and specifically placed thus, we are able to grab it as we run out the door of our home. Be sure that, when you have packed your kit that you still are able to carry your kit!

Although many components of the “To Go” kit are the same for each family, it will not be exactly the same. It will be tailored to meet the needs of your specific family and will be stored in backpacks or duffel bags or covered trash containers.

In general, your kit should include:

  • Water, and some food that won’t spoil for at least 72 hours.
  • One change of clothing and footwear per person.
  • One blanket or sleeping bag per person. Bring a blanket with you to the shelter if you possibly can!
  • A first aid kit that has family medicines, prescriptions and vitamin supplements in it.
  • Emergency tools (knife, bungie cords, rope, gloves, bandana to put over your face, duct tape, a battery-powered radio (or wind-up!), and flashlight or headlamp. And lots of batteries.
  • An extra set of car keys and some form of monetary payment.
  • Special items for infants, including diapers, and for the elderly, or special needs family members.
  • An extra pair of glasses and toiletries, including toothbrushes, etc.
  • Copies of important family documents, in a waterproof container, or on a jump drive, or stored online in the “cloud.”
  • A good book, or something to keep you (and kids) occupied in a shelter.

PLEASE NOTE: This “To-Go” kit is different than the emergency supplies we suggest you have ready in your house for a two-week period of self-sufficiency. We’ll discuss more on that topic in the next Cordova Prepared article. This kit is a small one you grab as you run out the door in a hurry, heading to Mt. Eccles Elementary, our evacuation site.

The Haisman family settles in at Mt. Eccles evacuation site for a long wait, in a place that is warm and welcoming.  Photo courtesy of Joanie Behrends
The Haisman family settles in at Mt. Eccles evacuation site for a long wait, in a place that is warm and welcoming. Photo courtesy of Joanie Behrends

Once the family “To Go” kit is finished, make certain that someone is specifically responsible to grab it as the family evacuates the home. We heard of numerous folks who left the house during the recent earthquake and forgot the “To-Go” kit! Make sure everyone knows where it is and place the kit in a spot where it is easily accessible. The closet that is filled to the ceiling with junk is probably not a good choice.

However, making the kit is a good choice. Be prudent. Be ready. Be prepared. We had our “practice run” Let’s be MORE prepared next time.

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