Home, sweet home. Our nest, our haven. The place where we feel the safest and wrap our protective arms around our families. But in times of disaster, natural or man-made, our little corner of the world can quickly be turned upside down, writes Linda Haymes in HomeStyle.
Here in Arkansas, the mention of disasters usually brings to mind tornadoes, floods, ice storms, earthquakes and fires. But as illustrated by the March 29 Exxon Mobil pipeline rupture in Mayflower, which spilled an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil and forced residents of 22 houses in the Northwoods subdivision to evacuate, emergencies vary. And they usually arrive with little or no warning.
What’s the best way to keep your family, yourself and your home safe in an emergency? Prepare for it by creating an emergency plan and assembling an emergency supply kit of helpful items in a container that is transportable if an evacuation becomes necessary.
Several agencies and organizations, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross, offer advice on how to assemble a home emergency kit as well as what to do in an emergency. See Saturday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for tips on making an emergency kit for your home.