Evonne Richards stands next to some of her family’s emergency water supplies outside her tornado-damaged home in Apison, Tenn.RESOURCES• For more information visit www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org.• Preparedness kits can be purchased from many suppliers and from the Red Cross at www.redcrossstore.org.• The Red Cross offers free disaster preparedness classes to schools, businesses, community groups and churches. For more information, call the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross at 423-265-3455.A BASIC SURVIVAL KIT• Water, 1 gallon per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation• Food, at least a three-day supply of nonperishables• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both• Flashlight and extra batteries• First-aid kit• Whistle to signal for help• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air, plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities• Can opener, if kit contains canned food• Local maps• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar chargerSource: ready.gov
Get a kit.” “Make a plan.” “Be informed.” For years, Evonne Richards had seen the signs and read the messages urging her to prepare for an emergency.
A mother of four, she found it easy to push off the task. After all, the only threat that seemed likely in the landlocked 21 acres where the family had lived 27 years was a house fire.
In September, she finally printed off the checklist from ready.gov. She stockpiled about 60 gallons of water in empty milk and juice containers, adding a dash of bleach to each.
She bought a three-day supply of dried beans, brown rice, oatmeal and raisins. She stored gas for their generator, fuel for the camping stove and extra batteries.