RIEMA urges disaster preparedness

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - With the potential that Hurricane Earl could cause problems for Southern New England, the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency is warning all residents to be prepared for not just Earl, but any disaster.

• The latest on Earl's track

"It's not too early to start planning and being prepared for the storm because everyone needs to be prepared for the worst," RIEMA Executive Director J. David Smith told Eyewitness News on Monday.

• In-Depth: Become Storm Ready

Officials at RIEMA say in the wake of the historic floods , all residents need to take emergency preparedness seriously.

"If families are prepared, it helps the community leaders be better prepared," Smith said.

To be prepared, Smith said everyone should have a Disaster Supply Kit at their house.

The kit should include:

• Canned meats & fish
• Canned fruits & vegetables
• Canned soups
• Dried fruits & nuts
• Bread
• Cookies
• Crackers
• Peanut better & jelly
• Coffee & tea

There should also be a manual can opener, one gallon of water per person per day, a two-week supply of medication and water purification tablets.

Other items that should not be overlooked include infant care items like diapers and wipes, pet food, duct tape, matches and extra propane or charcoal for a grill.

Kits should also include a portable radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries.

Your kit should have enough supplies to last up to five days without power.

Smith is urging all families to develop a Family Emergency Communication Plan.

The plan is important in the event a disaster strikes during the day when parents are at work and children are at school.

Key steps include appointing an out-of-state relative to serve as a contact person.

RIEMA says it is easier for family members to get in touch with an out-of-state relative during a disaster than each other, because they could be separated.

Long distance phone calls are also easier to make than local phone calls in most instances.

Two family meeting areas, a primary meeting spot and a secondary meeting spot, should also be agreed upon.

He also wants all families to be aware of evacuation routes and the location of emergency shelters if they are activated.

Smith also urges local residents to stay informed.

"Continue to watch the news, watch the weather and be appropriately prepared," Smith said.

RIEMA has three mega-shelters available to the public in the event of a serious disaster. They are located at CCRI's Warwick Campus, URI and Thayer Arena.

The last hurricane to strike Rhode Island was Hurricane Bob nearly two decades ago.