Los Angeles Area Resource for Eco-Friendly Parents

A Timeout

In this week's edition of Lulubel's newsletter we want to take a timeout to discuss a very important matter: Disaster Preparedness. We have seen the images from Haiti, New Orleans, New Zealand, Chile, Thailand and now Japan and it is a reminder that our beautiful Earth is ever-changing and evolving, but with that it can bring significant danger to our families. So the most important thing you can do this week for your family is get prepared.*

* not all products we mention today are eco-friendly, but we feel safety in this case is the most important factor

Getting Your Family Prepared

A "Go" Bag

It is possible that in an emergency situation you will need to evacuate your home quickly. This could be in the case where gas leaks, fires, tsunamis, structural dangers or more make it unsafe for you to remain at your home. In this case, it is important to have a "GO" Bag for each member of the house that can carry a backpack. Pack these backpacks with the following items and leave them in an accessible location in your home, perhaps along your exit path or in your car. Most of these products can be found for purchase here.

A Plan

Earthquakes and other disasters can happen without notice, so it is important to have a plan in place that your whole family is aware of in an emergency. Consider the different scenarios, such as what you would do while you are all at home sleeping or if you were at work and the children were at school. What about if the kids are at a friend's house or one parent is out of town? Where will your family meet if you need to evacuate your home? Who is an out-of-state contact that everyone can call to check in with? Who is responsible for getting the "GO" Bags, the pets, the kids out of the house? What is the best exit route and an alternate route out of your house and neighborhood? Who will turn off the utilities in your home after an emergency? How is that done?

Consider typing out your plan and emailing it to your out-of-state contact and making copies for the "GO" Bags and each family member. In an emergency situation it is helpful if everyone has a job to do, even the children. This can be simple such as counting supplies or feeding the pets, just so long as the job is their own and it is well known.

What To Have On Hand

In the best-case disaster scenario your family can remain in their home. However, it is very possible that accessibility to food, water and gas is going to be limited if not, non-existent, so you should be prepared with home supplies.

QuakeAlarm

This alarm will notify you of an earthquake seconds before it begins. While seconds is not a lot of time, it is enough to run into your children's rooms to protect them from glass or falling objects.

Water

You will need a Gallon of water per day per person (and pet). Do not store plastic bottles on concrete as a chemical reaction will occur and the plastic containers will break-down. Tap water service can be out for weeks, even months depending upon the pipe damage. Your water heater can hold up to 40 gallons of usable water so long as you shut off the incoming water supply to it right away. Keep a water filter in the house such as a Berkey Water Filter.

Emergency Toilet

With taps being off, sewage services will be unavailable.

Storable Food

Canned foods, freeze-dried products, grains, beans, baby formula, dehydrated goat or cow's milk, salt, sugar, flour and any other food that has a long shelf-life should be stored as emergency food in a cupboard.

Solar Charger, Candles, Lighters, Matches, Propane and Propane Camping Stove

Essentials for the home when there is no electricity or gas.

Resources for Your Family

Scrubby Bear Song to teach kids about washing hands

Earthquake Myths

Dare to Prepare

Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country

LAFD Emergency Preparedness