Be prepared with disaster kit, just in case

The news this time of year can be troubling. Dry vegetation and blustery winds feed wildfires. Property, homes and lives can be endangered.

An unattended camp fire, a cigarette tossed out of the car window and even a lightning strike from a late summer storm can lead to disaster.

There are basic preparations every homeowner can make to protect their homes: Using fireproof materials in home construction, keeping a green zone around your house, installing a sprinkler system, having access to water to fight fires and planning an evacuation route to name a few.

It’s also important to prepare a disaster kit.

The American Red Cross has published a list of supplies homeowners should include in each disaster kit, and some of the items listed might surprise you.

In addition to food, water and first aid kit, the Red Cross urges homeowners to plan for the personal side of any emergency.

Abi Weaver, director of public affairs and community education for the Inland Northwest Red Cross, says it’s important to consider the particular needs of your family when putting together a kit.

“Your kit should be personalized,” Weaver says. “If you have time to grab only one thing it should be a kit that has what you need to cope after the disaster. It should contain what your family needs to be safe.”

Insurance papers, identification and medical information are all vital.

“Having these things handy speeds up the process of recovery,” Weaver says. “It decreases the negative impact on your life after an emergency.”

Weaver also stresses the importance of establishing a personal safety network.

“Talk to your friends or family,” she says. “Figure out where your pets will stay, or who you can rely on before the need arises.”

Although fire season only lasts a few months, Weaver says it’s important to be prepared year-round.

“We have our seasonal hazards,” Weaver says. “But your kit and your emergency plan can help you cope with anything from a power outage to a wildfire.”