Today’s post comes from Claire Dooms, a Get HandsOn AmeriCorps member at Chicago Cares.

Whether the threat is fire or flood, it’s good to be prepared.  Here are a few essential components to a solid disaster preparedness plan:

• Have a family communication plan.  If a disaster strikes, it’s helpful to have a plan for contacting loved ones with updates.
• Create an emergency supply kit.  If there’s a chance you’ll be without power or access to food and water, it’s best to have a stock of non-perishables on hand.
• Have a place to go.  If your current living situation becomes inaccessible or too dangerous to return to, you should have an alternate place to stay.
• Secure your home.  By making your home somewhat “disaster-friendly,” you’ll be better able to save the things that are most important to you, as well as save on damage costs.
• Have a pet plan.  Like it or not, our furry friends are often among the first things we concern ourselves with – don’t leave your pet behind!

When natural disasters strike, it’s amazing how a community, a country, even the world, can come together in light of a tragedy.

Sometimes it’s hard to feel like there’s a way to really make a difference, but we all feel that urge to help.  While we might not be able to help strangers with family communication plans, or finding an alternate place to go, we can help stock them with the emergency supplies they need until more comprehensive assistance becomes available.

On Tuesday, April 19 a group of volunteers got together to do just that.

As part of HandsOn Network’s Road to the Gulf campaign, volunteers packed individual disaster preparedness kits to send to the Gulf Coast.  The campaign is an effort to accomplish a few things, one of which being to raise awareness and support for our neighbors in need.  But, the focus is also local, with the intent of training Volunteer Leaders to initiate their own projects and build service capacity.

Leading the disaster kit packing project, I was amazed at how quickly my group of volunteers flew through everything!  In what seemed like no time, we packed five hundred bags!

It was very rewarding to see everyone working together and working out a plan to get things done.  Once we finished, I was more than happy to answer their questions about exactly what the purpose of the bags was and how they could get more involved in service work in their own communities.

It was a great time with a lot of fun volunteers, and while the weather was damp, our spirits were not.  Thanks HandsOn, for helping make the best of a rainy day!

Claire is currently a Get HandsOn AmeriCorps Member at Chicago Cares.  When she’s not working on volunteer programs, Claire likes to bike and do anything outside.  She’ll complete her first century ride in August!