Grab and Go versus Shelter in Place
There are some disasters and emergencies where you need to get out of the area immediately while other situations may require that you are prepared to shelter in place. An example of a situation where you might need to evacuate include a chemical spill or a wildfire. You need to get out of the area to get away from harm. In a situation like this, you need 72 hour kits that are easily available (like hanging on a hook in your garage and not on the highest shelf in the basement closet). You should also realize that the need to evacuate may occur while you are at work or driving the kids to school.
Being prepared wherever you are is essential to truly being prepared. At the very least, you want to make sure you have a first aid kit, a light source, and drinking water. You can store a few pouches of drinking water, a 12 hour light stick, and a basic first aid kit in your desk drawer or the glove compartment in your car. These simple preparations can be extremely helpful in the event of an emergency.
The basic needs you have: food, water, sanitation, light, shelter, and communication are the same regardless of if you evacuate or shelter in place. But having additional supplies to shelter in place allows you to stay safe where you are for a longer period of time.
A situation where you might need to shelter in place include an outbreak of pandemic flu. The government and health organizations have all declared that the best way to avoid getting the flu would be to stay in your home, away from public places where you would be exposed to the illness. By the time we get confirmation that the pandemic flu is here, the time to prepare is long gone. You don’t have time to run to the grocery store to stock up on things. You will need to live on what you have stored in your home. Having a portable potty with bags and chemicals as well as N95 and N100 particulate respirator masks to help prevent infection are invaluable.
Consider starting a shelter in place kit by looking at what would make your family comfortable. Stocking up on items like tissues, toilet paper, disinfectant, and soap can help prevent the spread of illness. Other items like freeze-dried food can provide essential calories without requiring excessive preparation. Make a list as to what would work best for your individual situation and then take steps to make your shelter in place kit a reality.
