How My Friend’s Preparedness Made Him an Awesome Dad

Author: Elizabeth Jarrett, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

My friend is an awesome dad – and not because he takes his daughter to guppy swim classes or makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever or goes camping with his little girl. Not just for those reasons. Fred is a great dad because he is ready for anything and has taken steps to make sure that his family will stay safe during a disaster.

When Hurricane Sandy struck, it destroyed Fred’s house. And when it did, he was ready for it. Even though evacuation orders weren’t issued in the area he lived, Fred and his family couldn’t stay in their house. He stayed calm. He put the go bags and some water in the car, and sent his wife and daughter to a hotel. When his wife and daughter got to the hotel, they went to the room and pulled out the go bag. His wife reportedly said, “thank God for Fred!” Everything they needed was in there – clothes, toys, fun stuff, pet stuff, flashlights, all the important things for people evacuating with small children and large dogs. The hotel was a safe place to stay, but it didn’t have water. No problem; Fred had packed a couple of cases.

Fred ended up deploying to New York as part of the response to Hurricane Sandy, so he couldn’t stay with his family for over a week following the storm. But his family had an emergency plan, so everybody knew what to do. They had supplies, so everybody was equipped to carry out the plan. And they knew that they could rely on each other for encouragement, hugs and support to get them through the storm. Even though he couldn’t be with his family, he had left them with the things that they needed to stay safe and healthy. And that fact gave him some peace of mind as he helped people in another part of the country.

Interested in following Fred’s totally awesome dad example? Here are some things you can do before an emergency that can help make you a great parent during and after an emergency:

• Get a Plan for Everyone in your Family: Make a family plan and make sure that everybody in the family is included in the plan and knows what to do. Not sure where to get started? CDC and the Red Cross have some suggestions on what to include in your family plan. If you have pets, be sure that you have a pet preparedness plan and supplies as well.
• Stock up on Supplies: Lots of things could happen in an emergency. You may need to stay in your home without power or water, or you might be asked to evacuate quickly. Check out the list of recommended supplies from CDC and Red Cross to help you create an emergency kit and a go bag.
• Stay Calm: When a disaster strikes, it can be easy to get overwhelmed, anxious and worried. Staying calm will help you and your loved ones make better decisions and get through the storm safely.
• Recognizes Signs of Stress in Your Children: Kids show stress in different ways as they age. Learn what to look for and how to help them cope now so that you’ll have the skills you need when you need them most.