Office of Emergency Management’s guidelines for preparedness

It is possible to be organized in an emergency. So long as you’ve planned ahead.

At last night’s Upper Holmesburg Civic Association meeting, Edward Vassallo of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management gave useful tips for how to prepare for an emergency that may call for an evacuation or shelter in place. He cited Tuesday’s explosion in Tacony as the type of event resident need to be ready for.Vassallo passed out Family Emergency Plan forms to the approximately 20 Upper Holmesburg residents at the meeting. The form, which you can access online, keeps a log of important personal information like family members’ contact information and Social Security numbers, medical contacts and school addresses so you can have the information at the ready should an emergency arise.

He then reviewed the list of items you should keep in a shelter in place kit and “go bag.” Among the things to keep in your go bag, which is meant to be full of important items you can quickly take with you should you need to evacuate your home, are:

• copies of important documents
• extra set of car and house keys
• credit and ATM cards
• cash
• bottled water and non-perishable food
• flashlight and batteries
• radio
• medication, including prescriptions
• first aid kit
• rain gear, sturdy shoes and a blanket
• map
• personal care items
• childcare supplies

Vassallo also suggests setting up a family meeting place in your neighborhood. That way, should you get separated, you know where to find each other. In the video below, he details other pertinent information you should record in the event of an emergency. All the documents Vassallo passed out are available on the OEM site.