Disaster planning—are you “ready for whatever happens?”
BOYCEVILLE, WI – According to local disaster cleanup professional Andrea Hanestad, Owner of SERVPRO® of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties in Boyceville, Hurricane Isaac was a recent, powerful reminder about the importance of disaster preparedness – not only for those in the path of the storm, but for homeowners everywhere.
“Natural disasters come in different forms, depending on where you live,” said Hanestad. “For some, tornados pose a threat. For others, it’s drenching rain, high winds, flash flooding, lightning strikes, snow and ice, or even out-of-control brush fires. The one thing all of these extraordinary events have in common is that they can strike with little warning and can turn your life upside down.”
Each year the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) designates September as National Preparedness Month. SERVPRO®, as a coalition member of FEMA’s Ready Campaign, says that this is the perfect time to take some simple steps to help weather a sudden emergency. SERVPRO® Franchisees, including Hanestad, are trained professionals in helping homeowners prepare for natural disasters, cope with the immediate aftermath and then put a plan in place to restore their properties.
Hanestad says, one important disaster readiness step all families can take is to build a basic emergency supply kit, stocked with necessities to keep each family member (and pet) supplied with water, food and required medications for at least three days. A basic “Readiness Kit” would include:
• Water (one gallon/person per day)
• Three day non-perishable food supply
• Manual can opener
• Battery-operated radio, preferably a NOAA weather radio
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Dust masks or bandanas
• Local maps
• Important documents, such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account information
• Matches (in a waterproof container)
“Of course, your family members may not all be at home when disaster strikes,” said Hanestad, “so another key component of your readiness planning is to set a place to meet and a plan for contacting each other. Taking the time to prepare and plan now can make all the difference in the first few stressful hours after disaster strikes.”
SERVPRO® of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties specializes in disaster restoration, cleanup and repair services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened,” for both commercial and residential customers. Boyceville area residents are encouraged to visit SERVPRO® of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties for free readiness resources including emergency supply checklists and tips on emergency planning. Residents also have access to SERVPRO’s free Ready Plan Mobile Application, available on all smartphones. For more information about the App, visit www.servpro.com/ready
For more information on disaster preparedness, please visit the FEMA website at www.ready.gov. For more information about SERVPRO® of Barron, Dunn & Rusk Counties, please contact Andrea Hanestad at (715)643-7171 or ahanestad@centurylink.net or visit www.SERVPRO.com.