Last Minute Gift Idea: Emergency Preparedness

If you are having trouble thinking of thoughtful items to give as holiday presents, then here are some very practical last minute gift idea suggestions that come from the Texas division of FEMA. Their list of excellent emergency preparedness gifts could help protect friends and members of the family during a future emergency situation. Of course we hope they never need to use them, but in a pinch, they could truly be life-savers.

Excellent emergency preparedness gifts include:

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
• Flashlight, either battery-powered or the type that shakes to light
• Batteries to power radios or flashlights
• Solar-powered cell phone charger
• Smoke detector
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher and fire escape ladder
• Enrollment in a CPR or first aid class
• Books, coloring books, crayons and board games for the kids, in case the power goes out.
• Personal hygiene comfort kit, including shampoo, body wash, wash cloth, hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant
• A waterproof pouch or backpack containing any of the above items, or with such things as a rain poncho, N-95 breathing mask, moist towelettes, work gloves, batteries, duct tape, whistle, food bars, etc.

This year, the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urge Texans to consider giving at least one of these gifts. It could just save the life of a friend or family member. More information, preparedness tips and other gift ideas can be found at www.Ready.gov, www.FEMA.gov or www.fema.gov/medialibrary/collections/1124.

The mission of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Department of Public Safety, is to support the citizens of Texas and local jurisdictions as they plan for, respond to, recover from and mitigate the impacts of all hazards, emergencies and disasters. For more information, see www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem.