Emergency Preparedness at Home

America is more “connected” now than ever before, with on-demand access to information and just about anything you want delivered to your front door overnight. But recent natural disasters around the world have shown that even in this modern age, you and your family need to be prepared to survive on your own after an emergency.

It may take days or even weeks for emergency and relief workers to get to everyone impacted by a disaster. And basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may not be restored to service for a lengthy period of time.

Every family needs to keep on hand enough food, water and other necessary supplies to sustain themselves until help arrives or you can safely leave the area and get to a shelter. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a website, www.ready.gov, with information on how to be prepared for both natural and man-made disasters.

FEMA recommends putting together a basic emergency supply kit and keeping it in your home in an easily accessible location. The items that should be included in the kit are:

 

• A three-day supply of food and water, including at least one gallon of water per person per day and non-perishable food items
• A hand-crank or battery-operated radio and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with tone alert
• A first-aid kit
• A cell phone with chargers, an inverter or a solar charger
• Dust masks, plastic sheeting and duct tape in case of a chemical event that contaminates the air
• Items for personal sanitation such as moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
• Tools and supplies including a flashlight, a can opener, a wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, extra batteries and a whistle to signal for help  
• Maps of the local area

Other items you may want to keep with your kit include prescription medications; food or supplies for infants or pets; copies of important family documents such as insurance policies, medical histories, bank and financial records, and passports; cash and/or traveler’s checks; extra clothing, blankets or towels; a fire extinguisher and matches; and personal hygiene items.

A disaster can strike without warning, and the best way to protect your family is to be prepared. These tips, along with additional information available on www.ready.gov, are a good start to make sure your family is safe and comfortable following an emergency situation.

For more tips for your home, visit the MBA website at http://www.mbapierce.com/ or the National Association of Home Builders at www.nahb.org.

Navigating A Challenging Market- Success Stories from MBA Members

Welcome to a new feature brought to you by the MBA of Pierce County. Navigating a Challenging Market will feature tips, tricks and success stories from you-the members. In time we hope that you will find this monthly feature to be a valuable resource for ideas, positive local coverage and more. Thank you for reading.

There are Always Risks

Laureen Skrivan,
Wren & Willow, Inc.

In the midst of the downturn, Wren & Willow, Inc. owner Laureen Skrivan found herself moving away from interior design and subcontracting for projects. Instead, she took a risk and got her general contractor license.

“I realized I was just giving away money anytime I handed out another contractor’s card. I decided I can do this. I love remodeling,” Skrivan said. “Just coordinating a project did not seem very financially wise.”

While recognizing it was possibly the worst time to make a big change to business, Skrivan says she didn’t let it get in the way of her goal. 

“I just couldn’t think about that,” she said. “There are always risks. When you are the general contractor you take all the responsibility.  You have to take care of all your sub-contractors and it’s your reputation that is on the line. You are the captain of the ship.”

As a female contractor Skrivan also feels that she has an advantage of having a different perspective. The biggest change she has noticed in the current economy is she spends a lot more time getting to know her prospective client to get the job.

“Slow down, and ask questions. Really get to know what their needs are and how they plan to live in the home. Maybe bring another staff member to see if they hear anything you don’t,” she said.

 Although she has had her share of fallbacks, the transition benefited her company.  She also recommends making sure you invest in your marketing.

“Letting people know you are out there and even declaring to yourself you are still out there is so, so important. I think that it is the best thing you can spend money on. You have to decide what that amount is yourself, but you need to keep up with the market.” Skrivan said.

Bottom Line:  Take time to evaluate if a change to business could benefit your company. Whether it’s adding a new product line, or making a change to what your business does, keep your company visible through marketing.