Emergency Preparedness

Are You Prepared?

This is a question most of us don’t think about or plan for in the case of an emergency. 

Where do I go if a tornado hits? 

Do we have enough drinking water in the house if a flood knocks out our water supply? 

Do we have a “stash” of medication if we can’t get to the pharmacy? 

These are just a few of the questions raised by Nick Kohlberg, Public Health Emergency Planner for St. Charles County. Here is a list of ideas for us to expand on.

1. Emergency Kit: Food, Water, matches, blanket, toiletries, cash, batteries
2. Emergency Contact List: Who needs to be contacted if WV is hit by a catastrophe. Residents submit list to HOA Board.
3. Emergency Medication Stash: 2-3 day supply 
4. WV Emergency Alert Call Network: Establish ten 6 home cells, each board member heads a cell
5. WV Emergency Home Check Network: Establish ten 6 home cells, each board member heads a cell
6. Villas Evacuation Routes: front, rear, main level, lower level
7. Villas Safe Zones: basement, interior bathroom
8. Lake St. Louis Evacuation Route: Identify alternate routes in the event routes are closed.
9. Communications Equipment: cell phone, battery-powered radio
10. Warning Signal Education: What do sirens mean? Know the difference between “watch” and “warning”.
11. Important Papers: All together, bundled or packed for quick collection in case of evacuation.