September 23, 2010 by onstarconnectioncom
Prepare for a natural disaster with these emergency essentials
Hurricanes. Tornados. Winter storms. These extreme weather events can all injure people and damage property by coming on quickly, sometimes without any warning. If an emergency or other natural disaster happened today, would you and your family be ready? There is no better time than right now to start your emergency disaster plan.
How to prepare for a disaster
To be prepared for possible disasters and other emergencies, the American Red Cross recommends these three simple actions:
1. Get a kit.
Gather basic supplies in a portable emergency kit, including:
- Water
- Nonperishable food
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications
See what other items the Red Cross recommends for your basic emergency kit.
2. Make a plan.
Gather your loved ones and talk about what you will do if a natural disaster happens while you and your family are at home, at work, at school or elsewhere.
You should have a plan for:
- Where to meet if you are separated
- What to do if you are evacuated
Find out what else should be in your emergency plan.
3. Be informed.
Being prepared means learning what types of emergencies, like tornados or mudslides, could occur in your area.
If you live in an area where hurricanes, tornados, wildfires or winter storms could occur, these preparation checklists from OnStar and the Red Cross can help:
- Hurricane Preparation Checklist: Includes disaster kit essentials, how to protect your property and how to set an evacuation plan for a hurricane.
- Tornado Preparation Checklist: Includes how to prepare an emergency kit, your home and family for a tornado.
- Wildfire Preparation Checklist: Includes how to prepare a disaster kit, how to protect your property and how to set an evacuation plan.
- Winter Storm Preparation Checklist: Includes what to include in your winter storm kit, what items to keep in your vehicle and what to do if you are stranded.
How OnStar works in a crisis situation
In natural disasters, specially trained Emergency and Crisis Assist Advisors like Tim Wagner can:
- Provide up-to-date evacuation routes.
- Help find gas stations that may have fuel.
- Locate accommodations for you and even your pets.
If you’re a subscriber in an affected area, all OnStar services will be made available to you, regardless of your service plan. And if cell phones and landlines are not working, OnStar can also help contact your loved ones so you can let them know you are safe.
See how OnStar Crisis Assist helped subscriber Patty Sea after an ice storm.
With a little bit of preparation — and OnStar on your side — you can be ready should a natural disaster strike.
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Tags: Crisis Assist, Driving Safety, Emergency Advisor, Safety