Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Sunday Pork Roast with Vegetables
    • Recipes
    • Co-op Community
    • Energy Wise
    • Beef Tri-Tip Roast with Rosemary-Garlic Vegetables
    • Whole Wheat Chocolate Peppermint Drop Cookies
    • Savory Leek, Raisin and Ricotta Tart
    • Grape and Spinach Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Dressing
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
    Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Banner
    • Regular Stuff
      • Commentary
        • CEO Viewpoint
        • Editor’s Letter
      • Co-op Community Commitment
      • Energy Wise
      • Features
      • Cooking My Way Home
      • Your Place in the Garden
      • News Briefs
      • Safety
      • Web Exclusive
      • Current Issue
      • Archives
    • Recipes
      • View Recipes
      • Submit a Recipe
    • Around Kansas
      • View Around Kansas
      • Submit an Event
    • Share With Us
      • Submit a Photo
      • Submit an Event
      • Submit a Recipe
      • Submit a Story
    • My Co-op
    • About
      • About KCL
      • Staff
      • Contributors
      • Subscribe
      • Advertise
      • Contact
    Kansas Country Living Magazine
    Home » Articles » Have a Plan — and a Backup Plan
    CEO Viewpoint

    Have a Plan — and a Backup Plan

    Shaylee KoelzerBy Lee TafanelliSeptember 1, 20224 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    A photo of lightning flashing across the sky in a rural setting.
    Different disasters bring their own set of safety concerns. Be sure your emergency plans cover all disasters including threats of tornado, fire and ice among other concerns.

    Kansas experiences its share of natural disasters, from floods and ice storms to tornadoes and wildfires. And let’s not forget the often-intense snow and wind events that can devastate open range rural areas.

    In my previous experience as Kansas adjutant general, I had the honor of directing the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. The buck stopped with me when it came to the state’s emergency preparedness and coordination of resources in response to all types of hazards and disasters. Through that lens, I would like to offer some basic lessons learned and my observations on how you and your family can be prepared for emergencies during this National Preparedness Month.

    Each type of disaster brings its own set of safety concerns. And each event brought home to me, repeatedly, the importance of being prepared at work and home, and preparing your employees and family for a localized emergency and potential widespread disaster.

    At the very least have a plan and a backup plan. Even a simple one will get you through the initial stages of an emergency. The plan should address two scenarios: an emergency in which you will need to leave your home to get to safety; and a situation where you will be required to shelter in place. Identify the emergencies most likely to happen where you live and work — do you live near a flood plain? Within the bounds of “Tornado Alley?” For each scenario consider factors such as property-specific needs — turning off the gas after a tornado, knowing how to open an electric garage door when power is out, or closing window coverings to keep cool during an outage. Assign these responsibilities in your plan to family members.

    Emergency situation checklist
    The Kansas Division of Emergency Management provides a detailed checklist to prepare your home and family for emergency situations.

    A basic preparedness plan should also include how your family will communicate if communication channels are down — e.g., no cell phones or access to email. In that scenario, make sure you have a designated meeting point and that everyone in your family knows it. Do your family members have a list of trusted family, friends, local hospitals and other emergency contacts separate from those stored in their electronic devices (phones, laptops, etc.)? Before cell phones, most of us memorized important phone numbers and now we are lucky to remember our own landline number — if we still have one. Hard copy lists are essential for when power is out and damage to cell towers has left normal communication channels useless. Practice your plan, and your backup plan, and walk through everyone’s responsibilities.

    At the very least, have a “go bag” for every member of the family, including your four-legged friends. It should include copies of important documents (birth certificate, passport, Social Security card, prescriptions, bank account information and insurance policies) in sealed bags, medications, cash, first-aid supplies, flashlight, food, water, batteries, blankets and a host of other critical items.

    I highly recommend using the resources available on ksready.gov. During emergencies — every time and every disaster — we used to brief this information. It is an invaluable resource to educate individuals, families and businesses to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate all types of emergency situations. The website offers detailed information on creating a plan and responding to a variety of disasters, and it includes a section on teaching kids how to prepare before, during and after a disaster. There’s also a Kansas Preparedness Challenge you and your family can tackle at ksready.gov – Preparedness Challenge.

    Preparing and practicing may not make “perfect” but having a plan and walking through everyone’s responsibilities in an emergency will help protect and prepare your family during a real crisis when emotions come into play. As Rorke Denver, former Navy Seal commander, shared recently with the Kansas electric cooperatives, “It’s a superpower to keep your head when others are losing theirs. Calm is contagious.”

    headshot of Lee Tafanelli
    Lee Tafanelli is Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. in Topeka.
    Disaster training emergency management emergency preparedness National Preparedness Month planning
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleRural Kansas Photography Contest Underway
    Next Article What’s Wrong with My Tomatoes?


    Post Frame Buildings
    Categories
    • CEO Viewpoint
    • Co-op Community Commitment
    • Commentary
    • Cooking My Way Home
    • Editor's Letter
    • Energy Wise
    • Featured Home
    • Features
    • News Briefs
    • President's Pen
    • Recipes
    • Safety
    • Uncategorized
    • Web Exclusive
    • Your Place in the Garden


    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    About

    Kansas Country Living

    Kansas Country Living is designed to educate Kansas electric cooperative consumer-members on topics that impact rural electrification.

    We're social, connect with us:

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn
    Popular Posts

    Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches

    September 8, 2023

    Air Fryer Popcorn Steak Bites

    September 8, 2023
    A man's gloved hand grabs fall-colored leaves from a house gutter.

    Fall Yardwork Step One: Locate Power Lines

    September 8, 2023
    ©2022 Kansas Electric Cooperative, Inc.. A Touchstone Energy Cooperative
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.