WK: 4 Emergency Preparedness Plan:What happens AFTER disaster strikes? Win $25 GC

Emergency Preparedness Plan: Check! Emergency Preparedness Kit: Check! – What happens AFTER disaster strikes? What do you do when you get home? This is the 4th week in our Emergency Preparedness Series and this week we need to talk about what happens AFTER disaster strikes. In the wake of disaster, there is much to do as you assess the health and safety of your household as well as next steps to rebuild your life. I would immediately start taking pictures of the damaged area if you have  a camera. It will be easier for thos who have a camera  their phone. You will also want to make sure that friends and family know your safe. Social Media  is also a great way if phone lines are down. You’ll want to check communication channels to ensure that local officials have declared it safe to return home.
When home, cleaning up after a natural disaster can be a daunting task so it’s important keep your health top of mind using these steps:

• Before entering the home, look outside for loose power lines, damaged gas lines,foundation cracks or other damage.
• During cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots.
• Look for flooding or large pools of standing water surrounding your home. These waters can be contaminated with high levels of bacteria that can make you sick, so disinfecting with a solution of bleach and water may help to remove mold and prevent the spread of infections and illness. They are also a breeding ground for mosquitos.

General Health & Safety Tips:

Keep your hands clean, either by washing your hands or using a hand sanitizer.

If you feel feverish or sick after a disaster or during clean-up, see a doctor immediately.

Eat healthy foods and drink lots of clean water.

REMEMBER – your emergency preparedness kit should include a minimum three-day supply of water for evacuations (2 weeks for home) for your entire household. This means approximately one gallon per person, per day for washing and drinking.If water supplies are compromised and you are unable to boil water for one minute (three minutes at high elevation), you can create drinkable water by using un-scented disinfecting bleach such as Clorox. You can also use bleach to clean non-porous surfaces in your home.

To Disinfect Surfaces: Use 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, or as directed on the abel, to disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces in your home.

To Disinfect Water: If you need to purify water during an emergency, (and do not have the means to boil it for 3-5 minutes), you must disinfect your water using bleach. If water is clear, add 8 drops (1/8 tsp.) of bleach per gallon of water. If water is cloudy, add 16 drops (1/4 tsp.) of bleach per gallon of water. Mix the solution thoroughly and let it stand for about 30 minutes before using it. Properly treated water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn’t, repeat dosage and allow water to stand an additional 15 minutes. The treated water can be made drinkable by pouring it between clean containers several times.

For more information please visit www.clorox.com/redcross and download the  preparedness  guide:Prepare Yourself Now for Peace of Mind Later

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I was compensated for my time by The Clorox Company for participating in this project. All prizes and giveaways were provided by Clorox at no cost to me. All views are my own.