Prepare for Any Type of Emergency Conditions

Depending on where you live, you may feel anywhere from uncomfortable to truly afraid about the prospect of a terrorist attack in your town or city, especially since it could come in so many forms. Will we have to deal with nuclear emissions, biological agents, chemicals, suicide bombings, cyberspace attacks?

Planning and Preparing

Not knowing the how, when and ifs keeps us on edge, even if the threat is just a thought we keep tucked away, and not truly something we worry about every day. FEMA and the Red Cross offer suggestions to help us prepare for a disaster, and the majority of the plans include things we should all consider doing even when terrorism isn't a threat.

Nearly every community in the U.S. is subject to some kind of natural disaster:

• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Heavy snowstorms
• Hurricanes
• Mudslides
• Tornadoes

The list goes on and on, so it makes sense to prepare our homes for a variety of disasters.

Starting Your Disaster Supply Kit

Gather water, food and emergency supplies to last at least three days-longer is better. You probably already have most of the items on the list below. The trick is gathering them in one area and packing them so that items are easy to transport.

Containers

Rubbermaid and other similar manufacturers make plastic, seal-able containers in many sizes and shapes, some with carrying handles that make them easy to transport. Clean trash containers with tight-fitting lids are another choice. Find a variety of container sizes that you can pack into your car in a short time if necessary.