Editor’s note: Sept. 1 was the start of FEMA’s Disaster Preparedness Month, but recent weather-related events remind us that everyone needs to be ready at any time of any month. Below are tips to build a simple disaster kit at home from Carlene MacPherson, president of the Windward Neighborhood Security Watch Coordinators Group.<\/I><\/p>\n
Disaster Myth: Disaster preparedness is too expensive and complicated.<\/p>\n
Do we pay attention now or continue to hit the snooze button? Try now – because there are many simple, economical ways to get started.<\/p>\n
(To learn more about disaster preparedness, come visit us at the mini disaster fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Castle Medical Center, where you can enter to win a disaster starter kit for free.)<\/p>\n
By using items already around your home, plus about $5, you can put together a starter go kit. Using a cloth shopping bag (99 cents at Longs), add the following items:<\/p>\n
* Plastic trash bag (can be used as a poncho, to cover items during a storm, or to sit on at a shelter)<\/p>\n
* Snack items and canned food (granola bars\/hard candies)<\/p>\n
* Space blanket, which costs $1.69 at Sears (to keep you warm and dry; it’s lightweight and compact)<\/p>\n
* Flashlight and spare batteries<\/p>\n
* Can opener, which costs $1.99 for a two-pack military style at Sears camping section<\/p>\n
* Plastic cutlery and napkins from recent takeout order (put in a zip-lock bag)<\/p>\n
This pack can now be stored in a closet.<\/p>\n
Reminder: If you have an immediate evacuation order, quickly add final items – water, medications, important documents stored on a flash drive – and you are ready to go within 5 to 10 minutes!<\/p>\n
For more information, call Sgt. Duane Samson at 723-8874 or email kailuareadiness@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Editor’s note: Sept. 1 was the start of FEMA’s Disaster Preparedness Month, but recent weather-related events remind us that everyone..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windward","category-windward-oahu-news"],"yoast_head":"\n