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Have you ever been camping somewhere
where there is nothing around?
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No grocery stores, no hospitals,
no hardware stores, no clothing shops.
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No electricity, heat, or
refrigeration.
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No clean drinking water, and no
toilets.
If you have had this experience, you
may already understand what is meant by being "self-sufficient"
after a disaster. During a disaster, those vital services that we take for
granted may not be available. Emergency responders are very busy, and
cannot be everywhere that help is needed. You may truly be on your own for
a while. At a minimum, you should expect to be self-sufficient for at
least three days. But in some cases, you may need to take care of yourself
for even longer.
Some people have likened disaster
preparedness to getting ready for a wilderness camping trip. You may not
be as comfortable as you would prefer to be, but learning some basic
safety rules, planning ahead, and wisely stocking up on certain supplies
can not only greatly affect your comfort level, but can literally be
the difference between life and death.
Explore the links on this page and
take charge of your own preparedness. You can find additional information
and resources if you take the interactive quiz.
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Your packing list for a camping trip may look very similar to a
checklist for a very complete emergency preparedness kit.
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Things to Do
| There are many things you can
do or learn about now to increase your personal safety and
well-being in a disaster, as well as help others around you. |
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Things to Get
| Some supplies are essential
to getting through a disaster. You probably have most of them in
your home already. Assemble them in a kit, and make a plan to buy
any critical missing items. |
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Special Situations
| You may have special needs
that require different preparedness steps. Or you may wonder about
specific disasters and want to take additional measures to
increase your safety in those emergencies. |
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