By Rita R. Robison
Last week’s snowstorm in the Seattle area showed me that my Emergency Plan needs revision.
When I went out Wednesday to take photos of the snow and pick up my mail after a vacation, I got stuck twice at the bottom of my driveway and slid around on the main roads.
Thursday, it was icy, so I knew I shouldn’t go out. At 10:20 a.m., my power went out.
I called the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number in my community to ask where the warming centers were and how I could get ride there. The dispatcher didn’t know. Neither did the 9-1-1 dispatcher.
About 1 p.m. Friday, I began shivering and having fuzzy thinking. It was 45 degrees in my house. I had planned to walk to Safeway to get warm. However, when I saw that my street had been plowed, I thought I could get out.
It was raining, and the roads were bare and wet. I tried to find a credit union that was open, but they all closed early. I stayed at the food co-op where it was warm until it closed at 9 p.m.
The experience showed me I need to revise my Emergency Plan. I couldn’t get out, and no one was available to give me a ride to a warming center or a warm place. My friends also were snowed in. My neighbors were busy taking care of their needs.
I’m going to see if I can get my fireplace insert repaired, buy a battery-operated lantern, keep a supply of D batteries on hand, figure out how to use a space blanket, and replace the outdated water and energy bars in my emergency kit.
What’s your Emergency Plan? Did it pass recent tests?
If you don’t have a plan, see “Are You Ready for an Emergency?” and “What Boomers Need for an Emergency” for details on making a plan and gathering supplies.
