ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE,Okla -- National Preparedness Month might be coming to an end, but Airmen should always be ready for a disaster. A natural disaster can happen without warning so Airmen should take preemptive measures to help themselves and their families.
“It can happen at any time,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ronnel Tennant, 97th Civil Engineers Squadron emergency management craftsmen. “Even severe thunderstorms can turn into something much worse, and with tornado’s you never know when they could hit. At any given time a disaster can strike, you just never know.”
With that in mind, it is important to always be prepared with some essentials. Here is a list provided by 97th CES and some from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Food and water, 3 days supply
Flashlight
Cellphone, or 2-way radio, with extra batteries
Maps
Alert radio
Medications, if you need them
First Aid Kit
Clothes
Matches
Dust Mask
A Whistle
The theme for this past month was ‘Don’t wait. Communicate,” highlighting the need for families, co-workers, friends and other people during emergencies.
“Don’t wait until the last minute to get your emergency prepared kits ready and don’t wait to communicate with your family,” said Tennant. “Make sure your family members have a plan. That way if something goes wrong, everyone’s on the same page.”
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tyler Pennington, 97th CES emergency management craftsmen, emphasized the importance of communication and having some extra supplies.
“When it comes to emergency kits,” said Pennington. “Definitely a cell phone, with a charged battery. A three days’ supply of food and water for each person. Maps, if you find them beneficial. Those are just basic recommendations, but tailor your emergency kits to your needs.”
The month might be coming to an end, but that does not mean preparedness stops here. There’s always something Airmen can do to be ready in the case of an emergency. For more information and items to put in your emergency kits refer to the 97 CES emergency management flight here on base or http://www.beready.af.mil/.