It always seems to happen. During every holiday season we’ll hear a news report about a Christmas tree or Menorah starting a serious house fire.
Each year, millions of lives are disrupted by natural disasters ranging from earthquakes and tsunamis to floods and wildfire. But all disasters – large or small – share a common attribute: they focus attention on the importance of disaster preparedness and the critical need to take action BEFORE disaster strikes.
The trick is to convert good intentions into good deeds, and according to Acting FEMA Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, there’s no time like the holidays.
"Disaster-ready gifts save lives, and are a wonderful way of welcoming in 2010," said Hunsinger. "Helping to better prepare neighbors, friends and loved ones for emergencies is a great way to say ‘I care’."
Emergency and preparedness items that might make great gifts include:
- NOAA Weather radios and extra batteries.
- Enrollment in a CPR or first-aid class.
- Smoke detectors.
- Appropriate fire extinguishers (kitchen, garage, car).
- Disaster kits for homes, offices and autos (first aid kits, food, water and prescription medications for 72 hours, extra blankets, flashlights).
- Foldable ladders for second-story escape in a fire.
- Car kits (emergency flares, shovels, ice scrapers, flashlights).
- The gift of a Gardner to cut back combustible vegetation from wildfire-vulnerable homes.
- National Flood Insurance.
A wealth of information and preparedness tips are available from the Department of Homeland Security at www.ready.gov or from FEMA at www.fema.gov.
Some might consider these gifts “the worst Christmas Gifts ever” but upon facing disaster they might save a life.
Thank you Big I Markets for providing this information for us to share with our policyholders.
What is the worst Christmas Gift you have ever received?