As National Preparedness Month, September serves as a chance to remember the importance of preparation and reflect on our readiness should an emergency arise.
John Wyek, of Novato business DefensePro offers affordable Emergency Preparedness courses for families, schools and businesses. DefensePro’s four top tips for preparing for an Emergency are:
1) Keep a pair of boots in a sealed plastic bag, underneath your bed.
Earthquakes can happen while you’re in bed, so keeping sturdy shoes readily accessible will help you implement the rest of your plan.
2) Keep cash in small bills on hand.
Earthquakes can cause power outages, which means ATMs may be out of use and stores may struggle to take card payments. Having cash on hand will allow you to make purchases, and small bills are useful in case others cannot make change for you.
3) Keep your vehicle fueled to at least half a tank.
Gas stations are one of the first things to be affected in a power outage. Ensuring you have gas in your tank is critical in creating a safe route to an unaffected area.
4) Keep one ‘emergency go bag’ in the house, and one in the car.
Disasters are unpredictable but it’s likely you’ll be close to your home or vehicle when one strikes. Make sure you have an emergency kit ready to go in both locations so the necessary items will always be accessible.
Even if you already have an emergency kit and a plan in place, this month is a great excuse to double check your items and ensure you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice.
The following items are courtesy of Fire Safe Marin’s Wildfire Emergency Supply Kit. It includes the essentials you may need and the best part is, you don’t have to leave Novato to find any of them!
What You Need in Your Emergency ‘Go’ Bag | Where to Get It |
---|---|
Long sleeve shirt, long pants | Old Navy – 228 Vintage Way Novato, CA 94945. (415) 892-8766
Eddie Bauer – 140 Vintage Way Novato, CA 94945. (415) 895-0205 |
Sturdy pair of shoes or boots | DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) – 138 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945. (415) 897-5718
Center Shoe & Orthotic – 1553 Novato Blvd #D, Novato CA 94947. (415) 892-5788 Sports Basement – 100 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. (415) 493-2633 |
Leather work gloves | Pini Ace Hardware – 1535 South Novato Blvd, Novato CA 94947. (415) 892-1577 |
Goggles | Pini Ace Hardware – 1535 South Novato Blvd, Novato CA 94947. (415) 892-1577
Novato Builders Supply – 800 Sweetser Ave Novato CA 94945. (415) 892-1651 |
Battery-powered radio | Pini Ace Hardware – 1535 South Novato Blvd, Novato CA 94947. (415) 892-1577
Target – 200 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 (415) 892-3313 |
First aid kit | Pharmaca – 7514 Redwood Blvd Novato, CA 94945. (415) 892-3700
Pini Ace Hardware – 1535 South Novato Blvd, Novato CA 94947. (415) 892-1577 |
Flashlight | Novato Builders Supply– 800 Sweetser Ave Novato CA 94945. (415) 892-1651
Sports Basement – 100 Vintage Way, Novato 94945. (415) 493-2633 |
Headlamp | Novato Builders Supply – 800 Sweetser Ave Novato CA 94945. (415) 892-1651
Eddie Bauer – 140 Vintage Way Novato, CA 94945. (415) 895-0205 |
N95 respirator | Kelly Moore Paints – 881 Olive Ave Novato, CA 94945. (415) 897-5151
Novato Builders Supply– 800 Sweetser Ave Novato CA 94945. (415) 892-1651 |
Spare batteries for flashlights, headlamp, and radio | Pini Ace Hardware – 1535 South Novato Blvd, Novato CA 94947. (415) 892-1577
Target – 200 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945. |
Map marked with at least two evacuation routes (if possible) | Copperfield’s – 999 Grant Ave, Novato CA 94945 (415) 763-3052
The Book Place– 1608 Grant Ave Novato, CA 94945. (415) 209-0212 |
Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses | Marin Eye Care – 440 Ignacio Blvd, Novato CA 94949. (415) 883-9888
Eyewish Optometry – 7075 Redwood Blvd Novato, CA 94945. (415) 897-2997 |
Carriers for each pet | Family Pet Care – 181 San Marin Dr, Novato CA 94945. (415) 897-2079
Pet Food Express – 912 Diablo Ave Novato, CA 94547. (415) 878-0111 |
Extra pet food | Woodlands Pet Food & Treats – 474 Ignacio Blvd Novato, CA 94949. (415) 382-9663
Family Pet Care– 181 San Marin Dr, Novato CA 94945. (415) 897-2079 |
Sanitation supplies- toilet paper, feminine hygiene, baby wipes/diapers | Target – 200 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945. (415) 892-3313
Lucky Supermarket – 1761 Grant Ave Novato, CA 94945. (415) 897-4931 |
Copies of your important document- passport, birth certificates, etc | Staples – 55 Rowland Way, Novato 94945. (415) 897-0544
Zenith Instant Printing – 1419 Grant Ave Novato, CA 94945. (415) 897-0454 Postal Annex+ – 926 Diablo Ave Novato, CA 94947. (415) 898-3511 |
The following items are recommended by Fire Safe Marin to take if time allows:
This list by Fire Safe Marin is a great starting point but it’s important to keep in mind there may be items important to you and your family that are not listed. Shop Local Novato hopes you take the time to get organized during National Preparedness Month and remember that your local Novato retailers are always here to help!