Terrorism, natural disasters and man made catastrophes are on the rise. A study released in 2007 by the Center For Research of Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) reports that between 1997 and 2007 the incident rate of natural disasters has doubled over the previous 10 year period.
According to a published report in USA Today (12/18/2006) "Most Americans haven't taken steps to prepare for a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other emergency, according to a new study on preparedness, and only about a third have made plans with family members about how they would communicate with each other during a crisis." Don't let this happen to you. Here are three steps to avoid becoming a statistic:
1) Create your own emergency response kit:
A Public Readiness Index was created by the non-profit Council for Excellence in Government to gauge people's level of preparedness on a scale of 1 to 10. The questionnaire had 10 questions asking if people knew their community disaster plan, how to find the emergency broadcasting channel and if they had prepared their own emergency disaster kit. The average score was 3.3 out of 10!
2) Basic contents of your emergency kit:
The recommended Items to be included in a basic emergency kit are as follows: water (1 gallon), food (3 days worth), first aid kit, flash light, dust mask, garbage bags & ties (personal sanitation, basic tools (wrench, pliers, can opener), local maps, cell phone (probably won't work since cellular networks are one of the first modes of communications lost during a disaster), portable shelter (tent) and finally, a mobile satellite phone. Remember, this is a basic kit, there are lots of other items you can add to this list so give it some thought or check the ready.gov website.
3) Practice! Practice! Practice!
Don't assume you will know what to do if and when a emergency situation arises. It is important, and possibly a life saver, for you and your entire family to understand how to use all the equipment in your kit. It is recommended that you run a simulation drill so everyone can experience what may be required of them during a disaster.
A mobile satellite phone is an amazing device and will keep you connected to the outside world no matter what is happening around you. They do not depend on land based networks so they are far less susceptible to outages then typical land based communication networks. And now that a new hand held satellite phone can be purchased for around $600.00, they are within the reach of many Americans looking to ensure that their lines of communications are secure no matter what. Make sure everyone knows how to use it and that the battery is fully charged.
The world is rapidly becoming a scary place. If it isn't bad enough we have to worry about strange, never seen before weather patterns creating havoc around the world, we are also faced with the all too real possibility of terrorism. But with a relatively small investment, we can be prepared for most eventualities.
Now, many of people think they can save a lot of money by not including the mobile satellite phone. While it is true you will save money do you think the same way when it comes to auto or home insurance? According to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the average cost of car insurance in the U.S. was $795 in 2007. Is your car worth more than the lives of your family members? I didn't think so. So look at this as a onetime "family insurance policy".
A mobile satellite phone can be used in many situations from cruise ship holidays, to back packing trips, mountain climbing, etc. These devices save lives and now they are affordable enough to become a part of your personal insurance policy. Remember the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared!
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