Hunkering down with a flashlight and a book is a good way to get through a power outage. Photo courtesy of Tivistar on Pixabay.
September is National Preparedness Month. It seems like almost every week we are reading about some disaster affecting entire towns or regions due to weather, wildfires, earthquakes or the many other dangers nature has to offer. As college students who may be living somewhere for only a semester at a time, going back home miles away and returning for another semester, it might be hard to decide how to prepare.
Living on or off campus, you should have UAA’s emergency numbers and alerts. Dial 911 for emergency and 6-1120 for University Police. You can also download the Rave Guardian app, which you can use for UAA campus notifications, contact authorities and find other resources. The Municipality of Anchorage even has a website on emergency preparedness.
Emergency manager for Brigham Young University, Ryan Rasmussen said in “The Daily Universe” that “It’s not a matter of if an emergency will happen, but when.” He recommends that students create a 72 hour emergency bag.
What each person needs and where each person would go in an emergency is highly variable, but we all need some of the same things. CollegiateParent advises students to create a kit “that includes a three-day supply of non-perishable food (dried fruit, nuts, bars, tuna packets, crackers, etc.) and water, a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, first aid supplies, any medications they take, rain gear and warm clothes.”
Ready.gov, a national public service campaign that prepares Americans for disasters, also reminds readers to keep a manual can opener, moist towelettes and garbage bags with ties. Whether you have to grab your stuff and leave, or you just need nonperishable foods for a snow day, the bag is there.
There is always something you can add to make your bag better.It can be easy to start thinking about what can happen and get swept into spending beyond your budget and available space. FEMA has a basic list that is a great place to start when assembling a bag.
BYU recommends three tips on maintaining your 72 hour bag. First, change out your food and any medications regularly. Second, make sure the kit is actually portable. Third, have a kit for your car and for your home.
Changing out food regularly includes switching out your medications and looking at your nonperishables. Peanut butter has a short shelf life, as do rice and dried fruits. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stock these things, it simply means you need to look at the expiration dates and remember to change them out when you go grocery shopping around that date.
Costco has a car kit for $49.99 with many basic car repair items in case of emergency such as jumper cables. I have become nervous about having a bag of any kind in my car at local parks because they invite burglaries, but sometimes it is wise to pack an extra emergency bag. If you are driving out of Anchorage to Girdwood, the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su or beyond, you should be prepared for possible delays. Have period protection, infant formula, drinks, snacks and clothes that protect you and your passengers from the elements.
For your mental health, it’s a good idea to pack some books you like along with board games and playing cards into your home emergency bag. If you are waiting out a power outage, you won’t want to keep your phone on. A paper book, especially one that you love, is a good way to pass the time.
So create your emergency bag and have something for your car. Hope you won’t need to use either. In the event that you need them, they will be ready for you and you will be glad you thought ahead and prepared.
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