Words of Wisdom from SharLeigh

BEING PREPARED CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

Four years ago we watched in horror as the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked by terrorists. This summer we watched in horror again as Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. During the Katrina coverage, the television news reporters kept commenting that they had never seen devastation like this in the USA. I had to shake my head at that remark; this country is not special when it comes to Mother Nature or terrorists – in this world, we are ALL in harm’s way. But we did learn some hard lessons from Hurricane Katrina. We saw people separated from children and other family members; we saw people stranded without food and water; we watched people die because of lack of planning. Now is the time to talk with your family and form a plan. Learn what types of disasters may strike where you live and what type of supplies you will need to sustain life. Make a list of emergency contacts for the neighborhood and family members in state and out of state. And most importantly, practice these plans so your family will know exactly what to do if they have to evacuate the area. Remember, you are not always home and your family may not be able to reach you by phone. When Hurricane Katrina struck, all communications went down. The people that knew what was happening were the ones with transistor radios. Do not assume that because you have a cell phone you will be able to contact your family. If you are out on the road, your family must know how to react and be able to stay together by meeting in designated places. It is vital to maintain these plans of actions so that in a stressful situation no one will get confused and lose precious time in reaching safety. Other practical approaches include checking with your agent to make sure that your homeowner’s insurance and life insurance are up to date. Circumstances change in the wink of an eye. One moment you may have a home and the next moment there is nothing to salvage. It may cost a few dollars more to acquire flood or earthquake insurance, but those few dollars may be a lifesaver in the future. If something were to happen to you, life insurance would help ensure that the rest of your family will be provided for financially. These are just a few precautions - and hopefully you will never need any of them. Contact your local American Red Cross Chapter for details on how to create a disaster plan for your family. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Being prepared may be the difference between life and death!