Emergency Contact Sheet: are you Ready? That’s what I said to myself after watching the news, day after day, of the devastation raging in Northern California. The memories of October 21 and 22, 2007, when we lost our home in the Southern California wildfire known as the Witch Fire, come flooding back as I watch endless pictures and frightening videos of out-of-control wildfires destroying everything in their path.
5,225 fires have been recorded by Cal Fire just in 2015 (through September 12th). You read that right: five thousand two hundred and twenty-fire fires in California since January 1, 2015. Nationwide, over 6,000,000 acres have burned this year.
It’s really hard to know the number of homes that have burned in these most recent fires. Some sources say 1,000, some 1,400 and I’ve seen reports as high as 1,500. But, no matter the number, the only number that matters is the ONE that belonged to the person whose home was lost. To that person and/or family, that one home represents shattered lives and dreams and now homeless, they have a long road ahead in navigating through the next steps.
Are You Ready?
If you’ve been following my “are you Ready?” series, welcome back. If you are a new visitor to my blog, welcome. Every month I release a post about emergency planning and preparedness around the 22nd of the month. That date is significant to me because of our loss in 2007. And although this year marks the 8th year since our loss, I find that still, to this day, I compartmentalize my life as either “before the fire” or “after the fire.”
I’ve written “our story” and you can access it here – Any Way the Wind Blows – and here – The Valley That Time Forgot. It’s a 20-part series about the fire and our rebuild and there are links in each post to take you to the next post.
This series is my small way to help people plan for emergencies as best they can. While you can never be completely prepared for every possible type of emergency, taking small steps to be better prepared could help you should an emergency occur.
Resolve to be Ready Project Checklist
I have an on-going Resolve to be Ready Project Checklist that corresponds to all of the posts in the series and even if you are just starting this project now, you can print it, get started and catch-up on the earlier projects as time permits. There is no wrong way or right way to work on this project. Just get started and check off the projects you’ve completed from the checklist and choose another. Before you know it, you will surpass me! Here’s a link to the current Project Checklist: Resolve to Be Ready Project Checklist updated 9-22-2015.
Emergency Contact Sheet
This new Emergency Contact form is meant to be printed on 8 1/2″ x 11″ copy paper. Once printed, complete it and add it to your Family Emergency Planning and Resources Binder. While you’re at it, make several copies of the completed Emergency Contact list and keep one on your refrigerator or family’s planning calendar and make enough copies to place one in the glove compartment of each of your vehicles. Here’s what it looks like:
You can try and print it from this photo because it’s a jpeg and it will print on 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper. However, the Pinterest “Pin It” button will probably interfere, making it a chore to print! So, guess what? I’ve made you a printable pdf version! It, too, will print to 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper. Here’s a link: Emergency Contact Sheet printable 9-22-2015.
But, it would be nice if you would also pin it to Pinterest and share it (thanks!).
That’s all I want you to do this month. Yep, that’s right. That’s all I want you to do. Print this Emergency Contacts list, add your contact’s names and their numbers, add the emergency contact numbers in the different sections, print it and put it somewhere for easy reference.
See – it’s so easy to follow along! Baby steps, each step leading you closer and closer to being better prepared for emergencies. If you’ve fallen behind on the rest of the project, take a few more hours this month to work on catching up!
Other Emergency Planning Posts from Toot Sweet 4 Two
Emergency Supplies Area: are you Ready?
Tootles,
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