Emergency Preparedness


“READY IN 3” – Classes offered through the Henry Country Health Center. Contact Gary French (information below) for more details.

Be prepared for emergencies with a small “Get Home Bag” in your car or office. This bag would contain the items you would need to walk home in the case of a major emergency. Here is a list of possible items to include in your GHB (depending upon how far away from home you are):

  • Comfortable pair of walking shoes and two pair of socks
  • Water (a minimum of a half-gallon).  Summer time heat may require more.
  • High calorie snacks (make sure to rotate every six months) like beef jerky, fruit snacks, granola bars, etc.
  • Rain poncho
  • Mylar blanket
  • First Aid kit (including OTC pain killers, foot powder and mole skin)
  • Medication
  • Lighter or matches
  • Small flashlight
  • Small battery powered radio
  • Gloves
  • Hat (appropriate for the season)
  • Sun screen
  • Insect repellant
  • Optional – personal water filter straw.  These are light weight, relatively inexpensive and can be used to get drinkable water from any source.

 

United Way 2-1-1

United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline is a great resource for everyday needs that aren’t quite 9-1-1 emergencies. Need to find counseling? A health clinic? Job training? A food pantry? Want to volunteer or donate goods? Simply dial 2-1-1, or visit United Way 2-1-1 Online to search for resources on your own.

United Way 2-1-1 spans a 23-county area, including 7 counties in Kansas and 16 in Missouri, and has access to literally thousands of resources. The comprehensive database is constantly being updated so you’ll have accurate information.

Call 2-1-1 and you’ll reach a trained, caring professional 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It’s free and confidential.

United Way 2-1-1 has a full-time health care advocate who can assist with health and medical issues, particularly those requiring advocacy. The health care advocate can help with prescription assistance, medical supplies and equipment, medical transportation, referrals to community clinics, in-home health aid, support groups, immunizations and more.

United Way 2-1-1 also has a full-time veterans navigator, a veteran himself, who works one-on-one with our military veterans who call in needing resources to help them with housing, employment, health issues and support. Our United Way 2-1-1 Online database also offers a separate section specifically for veterans’ needs.

For additional information about United Way’s 2-1-1 services:
Call (816) 474-5112 or toll free at (866) 320-5764.

 

Additional Links:

Ready.gov – http://www.ready.gov/

Ready in 3 – http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/

Emergency and Disaster Preparation in College – https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/natural-disasters/

 

Educational Videos:

 

For more information on Emergency Preparedness, please contact:

Gary French

Environmental Public Health Specialist

[email protected]

(660)-890-8228

(660) 885-8193