I have been watching and reading about the Fort McMurray fires in utter horror.
My heart goes out to these families affected by this incredible disaster and I can't help but think about what would happen if it happened in Prince George.
What's the most important thing in your life that you would grab if you had two minutes to leave your house? Given the utter devastation that is occurring right now, it might be a good idea to have a plan with your family about emergency preparedness.
The Government of Canada has a guide to help us "Get Prepared" for emergencies and disasters and very helpfully, has a website (www.getprepared.gc.ca) that provides checklists and a guide to assist you in best planning for unforeseen circumstances. I urge every person in Prince George to read the manual and to build your own Emergency Preparedness/Survival Kit.
The guide says that in an emergency situation, it may take emergency workers up to 72 hours to reach you and it recommends that you should be prepared to take care of you and your family for a full 72 hours.
There are a few items on the checklist that I found interesting. The guide recommends having a crank-powered radio or flashlight as a part of your kit.
Many years ago, my husband received a gift in his Christmas stocking of a crank-powered flashlight and radio from my mom.
After many years of sniggering at the silliness of a crank-powered flashlight, I can let everyone know, that my mom was right.
Check!One item off the list.
As a side-note, the crank-powered flashlight and radio came in handy one year in Victoria on a memorable Thanksgiving when the power cut out just as we were sitting down for dinner. Luckily the turkey was done and we could listen to the radio (pausing only briefly when we had to re-crank the machine).
One of the items not mentioned on the list was keeping your vehicle always topped up with gas.News reports of the gas stations in Fort McMurray running out of gas and people lined up on the highway because they ran out of gas are horrifying to me because I would be that person.
We would be on the side of the road, or relying on the kindness of strangers to help us leave town because I hate buying gas.I ride the bottom of the tank as far as I can possibly go before filling up the least amount of gas possible.
When the out-of-gas light bings, I think "meh, I can make it until payday."Usually, my husband will drive the vehicle in the meantime and fill it up for me.Apparently, this is not a good idea and I will endeavour to have gas in the vehicle at all times.
I pray that as of press time, that the fires are under control and that discussions are happening for the rebuild.
I have been reading articles about the generosity of people during times of crisis and I wanted to remind everyone that the best gifts that we can give
is money to a designated charity.
If you doubt this, please read about the 65,000 teddy bears donated from well-meaning people after the Sandy Hook Massacre in Newtown, CT.
Or read about the mountains of donated clothes left to rot after Hurricane Sandy.
There are relief organizations that exist entirely to deal with the overabundance of generously donated goods after a disaster.
To avoid this trend, monetary donations should be made to the Red Cross for Alberta Fires (www.redcross.ca) and individual donations will be matched by the federal government.
Please donate to a registered charity rather than a pop-up site that may not reach the people who need it.
Be safe and donate.
