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ARRL Alabama Disaster Go-Kits |
A common ARES question, “what personal items do I need to take when sent to a disaster”?
The short answer, take everything you would need to survive on a camping trip for a week, plus some disaster specific items.
Our Go-Kits need to be always on our minds and ready to Go. A complete Go-Kit will help us provide better support to our served agencies.
Your kit will need to be tailored to meet your specific needs but this is a suggested minimum content list for your personal “Go-kit”. Prepare and test your Kit well before-hand, as you may need to hit the ground running when called.
The idea of your personal kit is to help you survive, be more conformable and protect yourself from unknowns the best you can. We cannot be productive nor do our job if we are a burden on the system. Your communications/equipment “Go-Kit” would be a separate list, remember to register with your local EC and never self-deploy to a disaster.
Training cards: Training cards/certificates are very important items to take with you. Train before the event and be ready for a local or large-scale disaster. Cross-training is a good idea. Take your ARRL, various training cards and FEMA training certificates with you. Laminate your training cards to protect them. Minimal training includes FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 and ARRL EC-001, EC-002 and EC-003.
We are finding that our served agencies are requiring volunteers to have certain training and experience under their belt before deploying them. Training will help you to know the lingo, procedures and processes. Red Cross First Aid and CPR training is also a must. A good way to get general training is to enroll in the next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class. Then, take the Red Cross training, and all the while, take the ARRL and FEMA Independent Study online courses, one at a time.
Vaccinations and medications: Tetanus, Hepatitis-A, Hepatitis-B, TB all are recommended vaccinations. Check with your doctor to make sure you get the right shots. Personal prescription medications (copies of all prescriptions, including the generic names for medications, and a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationary for controlled substances and injectable medications should be carried).
Relief workers should plan for travel with the knowledge that there may be shortages of electricity, safe water, or food distribution systems in affected areas. They should try to pack to be as self-sufficient as possible and bring only those items necessary for their trip. Confined or little travel space for your “Go-Kit” might be necessary. In addition to a basic travel kit, relief workers should bring the following items:
Address, e-mail and phone numbers to family, friends, work, doctors
ID cards - make copies of everything in your wallet and leave it with someone at home
Bottled water and water filters/purification system/water purification tablets
Nonperishable food items
Cash or traveler’s checks, change
Gloves, leather
Gloves, medical, non-latex type
Comfortable, light-weight clothing
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts
Sturdy shoes and boots (at least two pairs)
Rain gear
Rubber boots
Hat/cap
Hard hat
Battery, cell phone chargers
Waterproof watch
Candles, matches, lighter in a ziplock bag
Ziplock bags
Safety goggles
First Aid Quick Reference card and Equipment manuals in zip lock bags
Paper towels
Signal flares
Paper, pencils
Personal hygiene items
Hand tool kit
Put extra clothing in zip lock bags
Put anything that can be ruined by water in zip lock bags
Spare AA, C, D batteries
Laundry detergent
Toilet paper
Towel (highly absorbent, travel towels if possible)
Extra pair of prescription glasses, copy of prescription
Soap, shampoo, anti-perspirant, shaving kit
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Knife, such as a Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman
Fork, knife, spoon kit
Insect repellent containing DEET (up to 50%)
Sunscreen (preferably SPF 15 or greater)
Aloe gel for sunburns
Antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, or other medication for pain or fever
Mild laxative
Anti-diarrhea tablets
Cough suppressant/expectorant
Throat lozenges
Antacid
Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams
Crank-powered Weather radio
Pair of FRS radios and spare batteries
Ropes of various lengths
Reference material, e.g., frequencies, net schedules, operator instructions for all equipment (you may not be the only operator at the site)
Reading material for spare time
Ear plugs, eye shades
Pillow, bedding
Air-mattress
Bungee cords
Kleenex
Signal flare kit
Chemical illumination sticks
Electrical tape
ARES message forms
Small hand saw, or tree limb saw
Small Teddy bear for yourself or in case you find an upset child
Put stuff in resealable plastic containers, and then pack them full of trash on the way out
Spare everything
The idea is to prevent you from becoming a problem in the disaster relief effort. Besides the new requirements and challenges are placed on amateur radio operators, we must show our professional side in this facet of our hobby.
73,
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK