MOUNT VERNON — Blizzards, tornadoes, floods, thunderstorms. There are any number of ways you could suddenly be without basic services such as electricity. Are you prepared to cope with and look after yourself and your loved ones until help arrives?
September is National Preparedness Month and a good time to make sure you’re ready for the next disaster.
“The rule of thumb is that you should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for three days,” said Mark Maxwell, director Knox Emergency Management Agency.
The storm of June 29, which knocked out power across a wide swath of the Midwest and East, illustrated how quickly disaster can strike.
And what if it was another blizzard like 1978 and you were cut off, unable to get anywhere and without electricity? Could you survive until help arrives?
“Three days gives rescue workers time to react and get resources to people who need them,” Maxwell said. They might get to you right away, or it might take time to get roads cleared, or ice to melt, he added.
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