Q&A: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Other Columnists
Recent natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina have
schooled many Americans on emergency preparedness. Storing food, water and
medicine can be essential to survival. But disasters like the fires ravaging
parts of Southern California can bring other headaches. Important documents,
including birth and death certificates, Social Security cards and deeds, could
be destroyed, making the return to normalcy much more difficult. Newsday home
columnist Gary Dymski offers some advice:
What's the first step?
Many state agencies advise that residents protect vital documents by first
making copies and keeping originals in fireproof storage boxes or safe deposit
boxes. Portable fireproof boxes are available in several sizes, many of which
can be carried like briefcases during evacuation.
What if you have lots of documents?
Documents scanned to computer disks or CD-ROMS or copied on paper can be
mailed to family members out of state for safekeeping. Reviewing documents and
important family records can be done two or three times annually. Update files
and discard outdated papers, like expired insurance policies, during the review
process.
What about valuables?
It also might be wise to inventory valuable belongings, including jewelry,
antiques and expensive electronic devices. Keeping store invoices and receipts
could strengthen an insurance claim.
Is there any advice for protecting photos and videos?
When warning is given, photos and other personal mementos can quickly be
collected in plastic storage containers for transport. In the case of old or
rare photographs, today's computer software can create excellent copies for
display, allowing the originals to be stored with important documents.
Is there advice online?
The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the
University of Illinois has prepared a 61-page manual/checklist to help with the
inventory of household goods and documents. It can be downloaded by visiting
the Federal Emergency Management Agency Web site:
fema.gov/plan/prepare/recordsplan.shtm.
Anything else to remember?
Power outages caused by natural disasters can close banks and ATM machines.
Having a reasonable amount of cash on hand can help sustain a household for
days or weeks.
TODAY'S OUTLOOK
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Melville is scheduled to report third-quarter
earnings today.
