National Preparedness Month - Wrapping It Up: Surge Protectors, Utilities, and More

National Preparedness Month – Wrapping it Up: Surge Protectors, Utilities, and More

Today we’ll wrap up National Preparedness Month with a few more important pieces that need to be in place.

Surge Protectors

There is a lot of advice out there on what to look for in surge protectors: about clamping voltages, response nanoseconds, and joule levels. WorldStart.com offers this advice:

“The easiest way to tell if you're getting a quality surge protector is to look at the "connected equipment" warranty. I like the ones that cover connected equipment for up to $15,000 or more. I figure it they are willing to risk 15K +, they're probably selling a good piece of equipment. If it doesn't have a connected equipment warranty, set it back on the shelf and keep a-walkin' .”

They also encourage you to find a surge protector with a phone line pass through. “Telephone wires can deliver a potent surge into your computer. I've repaired (and seen) more than a few computers that were damaged due to telephone line power surges.”

Utilities

Homeland Security suggests that you learn how and when to turn off your utilities. If your home sustains damage, they instruct you to turn off your utilities:
- “Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves.
- Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves.
- Teach family members how to turn off utilities.
- If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself.”

More Information

Homeland Security also provides information for specific emergencies and disasters: biological threat, blackouts, chemical threat, earthquakes, explosions, extreme heat, fires, floods, hurricanes, influenza pandemic, landslide and debris flow (mudslide), nuclear threat, radiation threat, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes, wildfires, winter storms and extreme cold. Go to the above link to find the information you need for your location, print it out, digest it, and put it with your emergency kit.

A Couple More Things

I thought of a couple more things I think are necessary to protect your important documents: a fireproof safe, a safe deposit box at the bank, and a shredder.

There are some papers and other items you want to have on hand but want to be protected from theft or fire, hence the safe. For those items that need long-term safe keeping, a safe deposit box is valuable. And a shredder protects your identity – shredding those documents that contain sensitive information prevents others from obtaining that information.

Whew! This has been quite a journey, hasn’t it? It eases my mind to know that all these emergency preparations are in place should an emergency occur. I still have a few documents I need to copy, but for the most part, I think I’m ready. What about you?

Related Posts: National Preparedness Month - Making a Plan, National Preparedness Month - Determining Potential Emergencies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #1: NOAA Radio, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #2: Landline Phone, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #3 - Water, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #4 - First Aid Kit, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #5 - Additional Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #6 - Food, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #7 - Medications and Medical Supplies, National Preparedness Month - Emergency Kit #8 - Emergency Documents, National Preparedness Month - Evacuation Plan, National Preparedness Month – Evacuation from Work, School, Daycare, and Neighborhood Communities

Source: National Preparedness Month