Friday, February 26, 2010

Storms a timely reminder: Check your emergency stockpile with March 14 clock change

If you had to stay in your home for six days without going out for food, toilet paper or other supplies, how would you fare?

For residents in the Washington, D.C., and mid-Atlantic region this winter, this question was more than hypothetical. Winter storms that buried the area in early February closed schools, stores, workplaces, public transportation, roadways and even the federal government — and left millions of people housebound for days. Those who weren’t within walking distance of grocery-depleted stores were left to make do with supplies that they had on hand, some without power or water. In the end, many people found that they weren’t nearly as prepared as they thought they were.

The storms brought home the message that everyone needs to have an adequate emergency supply on hand at their home at all times. And with daylight saving time just around the corner, now is the perfect time to help spread that reminder in your community. APHA’s Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign reminds Americans to check their emergency stockpiles when they change their clocks. People who already have an emergency stockpile of food, water, flashlights and other supplies are asked to make sure that nothing has expired or gone missing, while those without a stockpile are encouraged to create one.

The Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign includes free materials you can use to get ready or share with your community, including a shopping checklist (PDF), budget stockpiling tips (PDF), games for kids (PDF), fact sheets and logos. Many materials are also available in Spanish.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 14. Take a lesson from our friends who rode out those storms and find some time to check your emergency stockpile.


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