We are happy to share with our readers that September is officially National Preparedness Month, and here in our home state of California, it couldn’t come at a better time. Our sister companies back east and in the Midwest are bracing for the winter weather, while here in SoCal, we’re watching our hillsides get dryer and dryer, and waiting for that smell of smoke in the air that signals a wildfire.
And the word “wildfire” is misleading—it’s not that the fire is out in the wilderness, although sometimes they are. It’s more that they are wildly out of control, what with our strong Santa Ana winds that come out of the desert and rush across to the coast. It seems to be Mother Nature’s cruel joke that our end-of-summer heat that sucks all the moisture from our terrain coincides with the hot Santa Ana winds, which can create a disaster out of a small fire.
Earthquakes seem to ramp up this time of year in California too, and these unpredictable events can cause fires and floods on their own. And what can you do to protect yourself? That’s why the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (yes, that’s FEMA) has rolled out the “Ready Campaign” for National Preparedness Month.
We at Paul Davis Restoration Inland Empire recommend that you create an emergency plan with your family and practice that plan. Statistics show that you are more likely to survive an emergency if you do this. “We recommend that each family member gets a basic emergency kit, make a plan, and stay informed,” explains Eli Shapiro, co-owner of Paul Davis Restoration Inland Empire. “Here’s our top items for a basic emergency kit.”
- Water – one gallon per person per day for at least three days
- Food – at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Clothing – A change of clothing and a sleeping bag for each person
- Filter masks – cover mouth and nose with 2-3 layers of a cotton T-shirt, towels or filter mask
- Duct tape, heavy weight garbage bags, plastic sheeting – to protect against debris and toxins
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio, a NOAA Weather Radio, extra batteries
- Cell Phone and charger
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit – sterile gloves; adhesive bandages; antibiotic ointment; gauze pads; iodine/alcohol pads; medical tape; pain reliever; emergency Mylar blanket; thermometer; prescription medications, and prescribed medical supplies.
- Waterproof, portable containers – for documents like IDs, insurance policies, bank account records, site maps, employee contact, computer backup files, emergency and law enforcement information, and other priority documents. Store a second set of records at an off-site location.
And don’t keep this information to yourself! Encourage your extended family, your friends and co-workers about planning for the fires, earthquakes and other disasters that are on their way. This year has seen some unprecedented weather and disasters, so being prepared doesn’t just make sense, it’s essential! With the fires already started in Southern California, it points to big floods when the winter rains start.
And whether it’s fire or floods, Paul Davis Restoration is here for you, for all of your water, fire and mold damage clean up and restoration services. Call us on (877) 732-8471 at any time, literally 24 hours a day, for help, or fill out our contact form if you need further information. We also speak Spanish! (¡Se habla Español!)