The lion of winter and the lamb of spring often play hide-and-go-seek throughout the month of March making diverse Kansas weather threats hard to predict. The area’s common weather threats include tornadoes, thunderstorms, blizzards, and floods along with extreme heat, cold, and wind. Other emergencies your family may confront could relate to vehicle trouble, medical concerns, fires, and accidents.
Severe weather and emergencies can strike at any moment and will likely affect every family at some point. The best way to work through difficult situations and circumstances is to be prepared before a concern presents itself. It is recommended that every household and family have an emergency plan that is reviewed and practiced at least 2 times each year. In regards to your plan, here are some things to consider:
- What emergencies could affect my family where we live, work, learn, and play?
- What special needs (infant, elderly, medical, disability) does my family have?
- What are each individual’s responsibilities? How will we work together as a team?
- How will we be alerted and warned (tv, wireless alerts, radio) about potential hazards?
- Identify a place to meet if separated and the route to get there. How will you shelter-in-place? Where can you shelter away from home?
- Identify local and out-of-area ‘In Case of Emergency’ contacts. It is a good idea to clearly identify these contacts in your phone and in a wallet or purse.
- Assemble a basic emergency supply kit and place it somewhere that will be easy to access. Try to include enough supplies to last a minimum of 3 days.
By: Nora Rhoades
