A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke Hurray – it’s April. Hopefully you’ve had your fill of jellybeans and deviled eggs and enjoyed the fabulous weather over the weekend. All the spring flowers are popping up, the blooming trees are beginning to fill the air with their enticing scents that herald this wonderful time of year… and my in-box is filled with reminders of disaster preparedness emails. Oh boy?  I like being able to share reminders of things like flood safety, tornado awareness, winter preparedness and all that stuff, but this week something new popped up with the alerts I’ve been reading. My favorite safety-minded website, ready.wi.gov, said people should have a “go bag.” I’ve heard of them because both my kids have go bags, also known as bug out bags. (They are  a bag packed with survival supplies, I learned, and that they are kept ready for use in case of an emergency that requires rapid evacuation.) And ready.wi.gov has suggested having supplies ready for emergencies but I don’t recall reading the term go bag from them before. So I did a little digging and found that ready.wi.gov has a national cousin, ready.gov. It lists what to have in a basic disaster kit. Given the time of year and the times we live in, it’s probably good to think about assembling a go bag.  There are a couple kinds of go bags. One for at home to have ready in case you have to leave quickly. One is for at work which, in this day of people working from home isn’t as high a priority as it once was, and one for your car. I think most of us have the car kit under control because we live in a place where getting stranded in a blizzard is a real possibility. These are in addition, by the way, to the emergency supply kit you probably keep in your basement during tornado season.  Once you take a look at the basic items consider what unique needs your family might have, like supplies for pets or young children. Basic Disaster Supplies Kit To assemble your kit store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. -Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation) -Food (at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food) -Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert -Flashlight -First aid kit -Extra batteries -Whistle (to signal for help) -Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air) -Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place) -Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation) -Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities) -Manual can opener (for food) -Local maps -Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery -Copies of important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu: -Masks (for everyone ages 2 and above), soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces -Prescription medications -Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives -Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution -Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream -Pet food and extra water for your pet -Cash or traveler’s checks -Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person -Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes -Fire extinguisher -Matches in a waterproof container -Personal hygiene items -Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils -Paper and pencil -Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children Next week is Tornado Awareness Week in Wisconsin with Thursday, April 15, set for the statewide tornado drill so keep plans for tornados in mind when making up your go bag. Readywisconsin.wi.gov is a great place to get more information.  Stay safe and stay in touch. My number is 574-3159. Email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.  The news deadline is 12 noon on Mondays.  Visit our website at homenewsrv.com Get in touch with Gwen for sports or features at homenewssports@newspubinc.com. If you need a display ad, Dave Pronold can be reached at homenewssales@newspubinc.com or by calling him on his cell at 588-4777. Display ads, or ads that are in boxes, are due by 1 p.m. on Wednesdays. The classified ad deadline is noon Thursdays the week prior to publication for both the Buyer’s Guide and Home News. Classified rates are $13 for the first 10 words, then 30¢ per word for each additional word. 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