Disaster Preparedness is up to You –Dave’s Diary

Are YOU ready for whatever disaster comes next?  Floods, cold weather, winter travel on the mountain passes are all real possibilities.  According to Men's Health Magazine your odds of dying as a result of a natural disaster are 1 in 3,357.   Here's how you can prepare to ride it out.

• Stock the essentials -- Keep at least 3 day's worth of nonperishable food and three gallons of water per person. A first aid kit, the Red Cross Delux Family First Aid Kit ($25) is cheaper and more complete than one you'd make yourself. ATMs will be useless if the power goes out, so keep $50 to $150 per person.
• Gear up -- Pack a wrench to quickly turn off utilities. Also include work gloves, duct tape, and a multi-tool like the Leatherman Skeletool. Some sort of light a headlamp or flashlight, a hand-cranked radio, and a face mask.
• Prepare -- Designate an out-of-area relative to relay plans if the phone service is disrupted. Make copies of critical documents, prescription bottle labels, a list of IDs and passwords for financial accounts, and a video of your possession. Keep copies in your kit and store it remotely.

A little extra preparation now can pay huge dividend if a disaster hits.