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Be prepared in case emergency strikes Everyone remembers the heart-wrenching pictures of the people in the Gulf Coast following hurricane Katrina. In many ways that disaster was a wake-up call to citizens to be prepared in the event of such a tragedy, and it pointed to the inability of government to act quickly when overwhelmed by a disaster of such proportions. Kevin O'Hara, a lecturer, emergency medical technician and instructor with the Nassau County EMS Academy, recommends that citizens be capable of caring for themselves for at least three days in the event an emergency hits in order to give government time to react and come through with assistance where needed. Even then, it is likely that those most in need will be helped first, while others are likely to have to wait even longer for aid to come. "We need to count on you to also be ready," O'Hara told residents at an emergency meeting held recently. The first thing is to have emergency kits prepared for your car, your home and your work place. Work or car emergency kits should include food, water, flashlight, batteries, flares, jumper cables and a comfortable pair of shoes in the event you need to walk long distances in an emergency. A home emergency kit should include supplies and a five-day supply of water for each person, generally a gallon a day. Non-perishable foods, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a whistle to signal for help, a filter mask, moist towelettes, garbage bags, personal items such as prescription medications or baby formula and a battery powered radio with extra batteries are recommended. The radio is particularly important because it will be how the family will receive important notices about the conditions of the emergency. All family members should be aware of the home emergency kit, and know where it is kept. Family plans can also help in emergency situations. O'Hara suggests having an emergency contact person who should have all of the family's cell phone numbers. A "get-away Plan" so all family members know what to do and where to go when advised to evacuate during an emergency, should also be drawn up and reviewed by everyone in the family. Last, but not least, O'Hara said that citizens must be informed and get involved. "An informed community is a community that doesn't panic. A prepared community is a community that doesn't panic," he said.
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