Disasters....that can be small (like a car accident, or a fire in your home) or big...like hurricane Katrina.  We never know when it will touch us personally.  But we do know that if we are prepared -- we will be in a much better position than if we just ignore the possibility.

Here in Wisconsin we know all about tornados, and even in our own community of Beaver Dam we experienced a tornado a few years ago.   We have had small glimpses of disaster.  We know that in a crisis it is sometimes hard to think clearly.  We hope that everyone will take some time to visit the websites below and make some basic preparations for disaster...it will be time well invested! 

Disaster Preparedness

FlyLady's 11 Points to Preparedness for Evacuation 

Ready.gov

Red Cross - Prepare

Purchase an Emergency Preparedness Kit

FEMA for Kids
http://www.fema.gov/kids/

PRINT a copy of the Family Communications Plan  (pdf file)

Put an ICE entry in your cell phone

The Truth about Terrorist Attacks

The information below may be helpful as you pray for and work with with fire/tornado/flood survivors. 
 
Prior to being evacuated
 
1).  Take detailed pictures of your home and pets.
2).  Take inventory of your belongings
3).  Get some cash for small purchases
4).   Keep batteries and a portable radio
5).   Pack up your
 Medical supplies and a 2 weeks supply of Medicines
 Computers and Software   (desktops and laptops)
 Clothes for a week
 An extra pair of eyeglasses 
 An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash
 Pet food, pet carrier, leash, and your pets
 Photographs, personal and of the Inside of the home
 Personal Records, Birth Certificate, Mortgage, passports etc.
 Insurance Records - Keep them so you can get to them
 Inventory list of home.
 Household bills
 A first aid kit
 Emergency tool kit
 Sanitation supplies
 Snacks, Food that won't spoil for 3 days
 Water for 3 days  (one gallon per person per day).
 Business items and records kept at home
 Business Software, books, trademark and publicity rights
 Flashlights, batteries, Portable radio's, I-pods, alarm clock
 Cell Phones, and phone chargers
 Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members 
 Anything else you can think of.

Things to do If your home is lost:
 
1).  Call  local emergancy numbers provided to file a claim.
2).  Find a place to stay for a week with a kitchen for cooking.
3).  Look for a long term place to rent   (up to 1 year)   Do this today --  Buy a paper !

4).  Start looking for a contractor to rebuild.
5).  Keep all receipts...    You can't cook,  keep food, hotel, and every Additional Expense .
6).  Start making a list of everything you have room by room    Use the ads from newspaper to determine cost.
7).  Call insurance person with all your phone numbers
8).  Call the phone company forward all your Home and Business phone lines
9).   Make a list of all phone numbers needed.
10).  Go to Staples or Office Depot and buy file folders to keep everything organized.
11).  Try to suspend all services Trash, Landscaper, Pool Cleaner, SDG&E, Cable ETC...