Tip
Buy an extra backpack to
store emergency items. It
won’t take up much
space and will be easy
to grab when
needed.
It is critical to be
well-prepared in the event of
severe weather, natural disaster or other
emergencies. Help your student pack a 72-hour
emergency prep kit to keep in their dorm or
apartment. The Alabama Department of
Public Health recommends these “Get 10”
essential items to include in any
emergency kit.
1
Water: At least one gallon per person per day for up to 3
days.
6
Flashlight and extra batteries
Non-perishable food: ready-to-eat canned meat, fruit and
7
Battery-powered radio with weather alert feature and extra
batteries
Manual can opener—if your canned goods don’t have
8
Extra change of clothes and shoes, blanket, rain gear
2 veggies, soup, crackers, protein bars, etc.
3 pulltops.
4 ibuprofen, antacids, etc. Check expiration dates periodically. 9
Prescription medicine and over-the-counter meds like
5 a pre-made kit.
First Aid Kit: See the next page for what to include or buy
Toiletry basics: soap, toilet paper, toothbrush, hand
sanitizer, garbage bags, etc.
10 passport, social security card, etc.
Copies of important documents: driver license, photo ID,
Make sure the school has your student’s current contact information. In the event of severe weather or
emergency, the school may notify students via text, voicemail or e-mail with instructions and updates.
Tuscaloosa Tornado
Tuscaloosa residents and University of Alabama students will
never forget April, 27, 2011, the day a violent EF-4 tornado
ripped through the area, destroying businesses and homes.
64 people died, including six University of Alabama students.
Jatensia Calhoun, a 2014 graduate
in Public Relations, recalls the day
starting out like any other. But after
multiple weather alerts and warnings,
Jatensia waited out the storm with
friends in the hallway of their dorm,
planning to go to the mall once the
storm passed. “Little did I know the
mall would be heavily damaged in
the storm,” she recalled.
The 15th street area, not far from the campus, was especially
hard-hit. “I remember seeing businesses and apartment
buildings completely demolished,” she said.
28
Here are some important lessons students can take
from Jatensia’s experience:
BE PREPARED: “I felt like I was not prepared—I didn’t have
a flashlight, batteries, non-perishable food or a weather radio.
I’m thankful for my friends—we all came together and shared
what we had. Keep money in your savings account and always be
prepared for the worst.”
KEEP YOUR PHONE CHARGED: Phone and power
lines were out of commission for days so many people were
unreachable. “My cell phone died and I felt so disconnected from
family and friends. I had no way of contacting them to find out if
they were OK.”
TAKE WEATHER ALERTS SERIOUSLY: Weather
alerts usually pass without major incident, but you can’t predict
that the next one won’t. “Do not take warnings lightly. If you
have never experienced a natural disaster then you don’t know
how scary it can be.”
www.potentialmagazine.com