Blogville Emergency Drill -- Snowed in!

Attention, Blogville! This is Emergency Services Manager Casey calling a Blogville Emergency Drill! Today's theme is TRAPPED! 

Sometimes you end up trapped in your own home due to weather or other disasters. For you northerners, you might get snowed in and can't leave your house. Fur others of us, we might get stuck in our homes because of a hurricane or a tornado or something like that. So it's very impawtant if you live in an area where you might get stuck in your house for whatever reason that you PREPARE and have a PLAN in place!

To PREPARE, make sure that your home is stocked with all the impawtant things you'll need:
1. Food and water for everyone in the family, including all pets! Take stock of what you have and pretend you have to prepare and eat it without any electricity, just in case you lose power. It's no good having a big supply of canned food all ready to go and THEN remembering that you only have an electric can-opener!
2. Battery- or crank-operated radios, so you can keep on top of weather reports.
3. Alternative light sources. Battery-operated lights are safer than candles, but make sure that you have plenty of batteries. If you do decide to use candles, make sure they're on a stable surface where they won't be accidentally knocked over and not near anything else that might catch fire.
4. Alternative heat sources. If you have a generator, make sure it's in good repair and you have plenty of fuel for it. If you have a fireplace, have fuel handy. If you don't have either, have lots of blankies! 
5. Medicine. A basic first-aid kit is a good idea, especially if you might be trapped for a hurricane or tornado disaster. Also make sure that you have extras of any prescription medications that anyone in the family takes.

Once you're PREPARED, you can set your PLAN in place when your trapped emergency starts.
1. Check your supplies regularly. Rotate food, water, and medication to make sure everything is fresh.
2. Know where you're going to bunker down, if possible, and keep your supplies handy. All of our emergency supplies are in the same closet where we hide from tornadoes, so we have them right on hand in case we get stuck. If you're snowed in, pick a room to congregate in so you don't have to waste energy heating more. Close off unused rooms to preserve heat.
3. Know how to get out! If you might get snowed in, keep your snow removal equipment in repair and ready. If you're more in danger of hurricanes, tornadoes, or other disasters, keep in mind that you might have to get through a lot of debris to get out. Spare towels and blankets can be used to protect hands, feet, and paws if you need to dig out or walk over dangerous surfaces.
4. Figure out a way to communicate with the outside world! If you're in a disaster where you're going to need help getting out, you need to make sure people know you're in there! Emergency flares, flashlights, or even just bright cloth you can make into flags can all be used to signal to emergency personnel that you're in need of help. Don't count on being able to use your cell phone!

Remember that humans can panic in times of emergency. Walk them through the PREPARATION and PLAN so they know what they're doing and don't have to think how to react when an emergency comes. And when disaster strikes, be there to keep them calm and give them lots of snuggles and reassuring kisses. 

This is the end of your Blogville Emergency Drill. Thank you!