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Captain Maggie McDonogh of The Angel Island Tiburon Ferry & California Living TV host Aprilanne Hurley encourage you to Be Prepared with a Family Plan and Emergency Kit today!

“When you live in a place as beautiful as California you have to take the good with the bad and BE PREPARED for natural disasters.” Aprilanne Hurley, California Living host, author, The Party Girl Diet

Sometimes it takes a major disaster like the horrific earthquake Japan recently experienced, and the subsequent Tsunami Warnings for California’s coast to remind us of our own vulnerability to natural disasters.

The message is simple: TAKE THE STEPS TODAY TO BE PREPARED! You’ll find there is a certain “peace of mind” that comes with ‘being prepared” for disasters – and you’ll feel good knowing that you have done all you can to protect yourself and your family against the threat of disasters.  Start with creating a Family Emergency Plan, and putting together or updating your Emergency Supply Kit today!

While you can start by just get the basics and add items little by little, the best thing is to dive in and make it happen in one power shop at the grocery or warehouse store to be sure you have the emergency supplies below, which are recommended by FEMA to have on hand to “Be Prepared:”

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food.
• Three-day supply of water – one gallon of water per person, per day.
• Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
• Matches and waterproof container.
• Whistle.
• Extra clothing.
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards.
• Cash and coins.
• Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries.
• Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.
• Other items to meet your unique family needs.

Chances are, if you have to evacuate immediate – there will be little time to gather additional items outside of your pre-packed emergency kit so set aside some warm clothing for each family member and bedding such as a sleeping bag for each that you can grab and go with if sheltering in place is not an option:

• Jacket or coat.
• Long pants.  (thermals, long underwear).
• Long sleeve shirt. (think layers).
• Sturdy shoes. (waterproof options plus extra socks)
• Hat, mittens, and scarf.
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket (per person).

For a detailed list of additional items recommended by FEMA click here

Other considerations are to have on hand are a week’s worth of prescription medications on hand, extra cash, gas in your car, and cell phone charger.

Customize the above list and suggestions to suit your family’s specific needs to have what each family member needs to exist without aid for at least 3 days, diapers, formula, etc., for babies; and having board games and toys in your kit for your children will “keep the peace” and the sanity if you find yourself in a shelter.

Yours in Good Living, Aprilanne

Aprilanne Hurley SFN is a Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, San Francisco Nutrition Examiner for Examiner.com, and Health Expert for California Living, the Bay Area’s original lifestyle show featuring California’s trends in food, travel, and healthy living. Hurley’s new book, The Party Girl Diet is a healthy, sustainable lifestyle plan combining today’s groundbreaking health and nutrition research with Hurley’s penchant for good living to deliver a revolutionary new diet and lifestyle that lets you  “Keep the Party Going…While You Lose the Weight!”

Contact Aprilanne with your nutrition and lifestyle questions @ aprilanne@DietDayNews.com