Elizabeth Thompson also blogs at The Imperfect Parent.

Pandemic influenza, Avian Flu, earthquakes, hurricanes and other emergencies such as disaster recovery are on the minds of many business leaders and non-profit organizations, as summits are planned this summer to discuss preparation plans to help communities understand what needs to happen - I.C.E. - in case of an emergency.

If an epidemic or natural disaster reaches your state, will you be prepared?

With hurricane season starting Thursday (6/1), the events of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have led many states to reconsider their disaster response systems and some communities - especially in those New England states affected by the Mother's Day floods - are learning first-hand how a natural disaster can disrupt their lives.

And it seems that bloggers are becoming more aware, than ever, and - like, Frugal Wisdom From Wenchypoo - some are even packin':

Since I am in Virginia, I always have my hurricane kit packed, my shelves stocked, my chest freezer full, and the car gassed up. Pet carriers are now stacked by the front door, along with a copy of their vaccination papers. Suitcases are now down off the closet shelf in case we have to actually bug out of here.

Emergency preparedness experts suggest that every home and office should have emergency supplies on hand in order to survive for at least three days if an emergency occurs and perhaps keeping a smaller portable kit (that is easy to carry and use) in your vehicle.

The following is a list (via U.S. Department of Homeland Security)of recommended items that every emergency supply kit should include:

Items to Include in a Basic Emergency Supply Kit:

- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation.
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food.
- Battery-powered radio (including extra batteries).
- Flashlight (including extra batteries).
- First aid kit.
- Whistle to signal for help.
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place.
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food).
- Local maps

Of course, this is only a guideline and you may need to consider adding items to "your" emergency supply kit (i.e. prescription medications, glasses, pet foods, infant formulas, diapers) that will help meet the needs of you and your family in a time of an emergency.

But, we're talking basics here and Disaster Stuff has a kit that'll have you ready to go in case of an emergency:

Standard Survival Kit - 72 Hour Kit for Earthquake, Hurricane and General Emergency Preparedness - $33.59

(Weight = 20 pounds)

1-Backpack
1-2400 Calorie Food Bar per person
1-Solar Blanket per person
6-Pouches of Water per person
1-54 Piece First Aid Kit
1-Radio/Flashlight/Siren

Margaret Saizan (a life coach and activist from Baton Rouge Louisiana) started Beyond Hurricane Katrina, "...on the eve of Hurricane Katrina's landfall to provide live coverage of the hurricane & to pass the time while waiting out the storm."

Margaret goes on to write:

Little did I know that Hurricane Katrina would become the worst catastrophe, or set of catastrophes in US history (referring to the storm itself, the flooding of New Orleans, the devastation of the Gulf Coast & the mismanagement of the emergency).

The underlying theme in everything I post - whether its to look back at the aftermath, forward to the upcoming hurricane season, or simply report the current news - is to "think globally, act locally".

Locally in this context refers to the storm impacted communities.

However, Katrina has created new awareness around so many important political, social & environmental causes. The lessons learned and the actions taken in response to the disaster have the potential to impact the planet for future generations.

In her most recent post, Margaret suggests that Shoe Id's can help during hurricanes:

I just read where a company, "Who's Shoes ID", has donated 6500 shoe id's to Galveston, Texas schools as a measure for tracking children who are separated from their families during a hurricane. The id's also have applications for tracking the elderly, and the mentally impaired. I don't know the folks who run this company, but I feel they have a WONDERFUL product.

Jen, over at Adopting from Russia, gives the impression of a very prepared blogger and keeps her emergency plan on her fridge...and then some:

First of all I have to say that I am a psycho about emergency preparedness. On my fridge I have the low down on CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, our family's personal preparedness plan, every emergency phone number you can imagine, what to do in case of the following: winter storm, earthquake, lightening, terrorism, hazardous waste incident, tornado, hurricane, and flood.

Always on the go, Jen show off a very cool hot pad, ziplock, book thingy her Mom made as an emergency kit she keeps in her car:

This is how you make it:

a. You take a square hot pad.

b. You take several snack size ziplocks and sew these book like down the center of the hotpad. You can sew easily by laying the hotpad open and laying all of the ziplocks down flat- half on each side then take a strip of cloth or ribbon that lays over the bottom of the bags down the center of the hotpad and sew one zigzag stitch down the strip. So now you can open the hotpad like a book and the ziplocks are like the pages with the openings facing out.

c. Then you can sew two pieces of ribbon to the sides of the hotpad so that you can tie it closed.

d. You fill the ziplocks with stuff you might need for example: bandaids, pencil and paper, comb, nail file, nail clipper, safety pins, bobby pins, wetwipes, rubber bands, Qtips, small batteries, etc.

e. It fits easily in the side pocket of your car.

What a cute gift idea and Very clever, indeed!

Speaking of great gift ideas - give her the only safety kit that will help with just about every roadside emergency a woman could have:

The Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit contains serious roadside emergency supplies like an emergency blanket, first aid supplies and instructions to change a flat tire, but it also contains other "emergency" items like chocolate, nail file, aromatherapy headache remedy and more!

Here's a full list of what's inside each Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit:

Space Brand Emergency Blanket
Safety Matches
5 Bandages
2 Antiseptic Wipes
Instructions to Change a Flat Tire
Instructions to Jump Start a Dead Battery
Emergency Contact List
Accident Record
Safety GirlT Pencil
Purified Water
Professional Nail File
Ritter Sport Chocolate
Zox Breath Freshener
Balm of Gilead Lip Moisturizer
Balm of Gilead Aromatherapy Headache Remedy
OxiClean Instant Spot Remover Wipe
Dove Anti-perspirant
Speedy Clean Cleansing Wipes
Sight Savers Eyeglass Lens Cleaning Tissue
3 o.b. tampons
Emergency Sewing Repair Kit

It's smart, it's pretty, it's pink and at $29.95 - I am so getting it for my niece (Happy Graduation from B.U., Amy!) - the Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit is a pratical gift to teach future BlogHers, "safety first!"

The American Red Cross sums it up best:

Hurricanes, earthquakes, forest fires - make sure you and your family are prepared when disaster strikes your area. Find out what disasters occur in your geographic area and make sure that you have the appropriate supplies and information.

Related Links:

National Weather Service site www.nws.noaa.gov
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) site www.fema.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site www.cdc.gov

[header image - Safety Girl.com]