By Victoria Loustalot

Dare to Bare






58% of moms think they're prepared for disaster. But are they?

As hurricane season draws to a close in the eastern and southern parts of the country, wildfires are destroying homes in the west. How prepared is your family to handle severe weather and natural disasters? According to a study conducted by the Home Safety Council (HSC), while 58% of mothers feel they are prepared for natural disasters, none of the study participants reported having complete Ready-to-Stay kits, and only 27% said they have Ready-to-Go kits. Dr. Angela Mickalide, the Director of Education and Outreach at HSC, explains more about these kits and other steps you can take to help ensure that your family survives any natural disaster safely and securely:

"Ready" Kits
It is important to have supplies ready if something happens.

  • In your Ready-to-Go Kit, which you will need if your family is forced to evacuate without notice, you should have:
    • One gallon of water per person
    • Food that doesn't have to be refrigerated and a manual can opener
    • Plastic/paper plates, cups and silverware
    • Flashlight and extra batteries
    • Battery-operated radio
    • A change of clothes
    • A card with your contact information and the number of someone out of state to call
    • Pet food and supplies for one or more days
    • Small first aid kit
    • Personal identification card
    • Personal hygiene items such as soap and hand sanitizer
    • Medicine you usually take (store it near your Ready-to-Go Kit)


  • In your Ready-to-Stay Kit, which you will need if your family is forced to stay home, you should have:
    • Three gallons of water for each family member
    • Canned food and snacks for at least three days
    • Non-electric can opener
    • First aid kit
    • Medicine you usually take
    • Toilet paper
    • Clothes set aside for each family member
    • Blankets
    • Books and games to keep you busy
    • Paper and pencils
    • Pet food and supplies for three days
    • Non-scented bleach

Communication Planning
Every family should have a communication plan. Your plan should include:
  • Places in and out of your town where you and your family could meet
  • Phone numbers of in-town contacts
  • An address and phone number of someone out of town (this could be a friend or relative)
  • A card including all of this information that each family member can keep with him

Making Children Feel Safe
  • Discuss and learn together about the different types of weather that can affect your area
  • Tell your children that you or another grownup will be there to help if something happens. Talk about how a relief worker, firefighter, police officer, teacher, neighbor or doctor might help
  • Put a list of emergency numbers by each telephone in your home. Tell you children what each number is for. You should also list the work and cell phone numbers of family members
  • Encourage your child to enter the HSC's Kids Prepare America Contest. The council is inviting all third and fourth graders to submit a poster depicting what they would do to help their families and communities stay safe in the event of a disaster. Ten grand prize winners from across the country will be selected to travel to Washington, D.C., for an awards dinner

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