Minimizing Anxiety and Staying Safe When Terrorist Risk is High
Preparing for an Emergency
For many, taking measures to help prepare and keep safe at a time of higher terrorist risk can help ease anxiety during these stressful times. Creating emergency plans at work and at home — so that everyone will know who to call, where to go and how to evacuate — can help ensure that if there is an emergency, everyone will know what to do. Knowing how a crisis would be managed can help to alleviate at least some of uneasiness.
In preparing to keep yourself, your family and pets safe, you may want to take some steps to help ensure that you have the necessary supplies and materials available if needed. For some, continually thinking about and/or acting upon preparation plans actually creates added anxiety. Choosing if and to what extent to prepare for terrorist attacks or other crises is a personal decision. Following are just some of the items you may want to consider having on hand:
Food & Water
- 3- day Supply of Water (one gallon of drinking water per person per day)
- 3-day Supply of Food (e.g. canned or bottled juice, crackers, nuts, peanut butter, dry cereal, granola, fruit or meal bars, canned meats/fruits/vegetables, dried fruit, pasteurized or soy milk, "comfort" foods, vitamins, etc.)
- Pet Food and Supplies
First Aid
- Sterile Gloves
- Sterile Band Aids or Wound Dressings
- Antibacterial Cleanser
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Eye Wash Solution
- Thermometer
- Aspirin
- Antacid
- Diarrhea Medication
- Laxative
Supplies
- Hardware (matches, batteries, wrench, scissors, pencil and paper, fire extinguisher, compass, etc.)
- Face Mask or Cotton-weave Barrier (for chemical, biological or other debris exposure)
- Flashlight
- Portable Radio/Television
- A Whistle
- HEPA Filter Fan
- Cell Phone
- Personal Hygiene Items (toilet paper, moist towlettes, soap, sanitary items, antibacterial cleaner, toothpaste and brush, disinfectant, plastic bucket with lid, moisturizing lotion, tweezers, etc.)
- Change of Clothing (pants, long sleeve shirt, undergarments, jacket, hat, gloves, walking shoes, etc.)
- Bedding (blanket or sleeping bag for each person)
- Kitchen Essentials (plastic plates, cups, utensils, paper towels, can opener, knife, aluminum foil, plastic containers, garbage bags with ties, chlorine bleach, etc.)
Other Items
- An Evacuation Map and Local Shelter Locations (this information may be found at your local Health Department or Department of Transportation)
- Important Records and Documents (insurance, bank accounts, ID, passport, immunizations, etc.)
- List of important phone numbers (family, friends, doctors, etc.)
- Cash
- Prescriptions and Medications
For more information visit www.ready.gov.
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