How many of you and your families are prepared for a natural disaster? Following a catastrophic disaster, you and the community may be on your own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost communications, and un-passable roads. Emergency services personnel will be sent to the most critically affected areas first. Thus, for the initial period after a disaster - often up to 3 days and longer - individuals, households, and neighborhoods may need to rely on their own resources for food, water, shelter, and first aid.

Is your family prepared?

I live on the West coast of California in Earthquake country. In fact, I live right on the Hayward fault. It is very likely that in my lifetime an earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude will occur. An earthquake of that size will likely cause a Tsunami to occur. What I do today will have a critical impact on the quality of my survival and ability to help others.

Community Emergency Response Team

CERT is a critical program in the effort to engage everyone in America in making their communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient when incidents do occur. I have recently become CERT trained because I want to be part of a solution rather than an ill prepared victim. Also I have a family that I care very much about so I feel being prepared for a natural disaster is my responsibility as a parent.

For more information please visit the following websites:

[Link Removed]
www.fema.gov/areyouready/
www.ready.gov/
http:/www.redcross.org
www.pandemicflu.gov
www.firewise.org

I hope this will get everyone thinking about having a Disaster Plan and the emergency supplies needed for survival. I encourage you to become CERT trained and join me and thousands of others who want to make a difference. heart