LANCASTER, Mo. – Disaster preparedness can be as simple as having an emergency backpack to throw into your car or as complex as estate planning documents.

University of Missouri Extension community development specialist Darla Campbell says recent hurricanes and fires across the United States point to the need to be prepared for a disaster.

“Even though we live in the safety of the Midwest, we are still prone to tornadoes and floods that can threaten our safety,” Campbell says.

“Critical components are planning and communication,” she says. Campbell suggests that family members review their emergency plan annually.

Campbell is part of Missouri’s Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), which provides education and technical assistance to individuals and families, local governments, schools and organizations to prepare for and respond to disasters.

“Disaster can affect every aspect of a community, as well as our state and nation,” says Campbell. “MU Extension plays a key role in helping local community and nongovernmental organizations manage events when they occur.”

Some simple planning can be helpful when disaster occurs, she says. These include lists of:

• Medical conditions, medications and medical providers for family members and pets.

• Contact information for out-of-area family members.

• Contact information for utility, insurance and financial institutions; keep an electronic copy on your phone and have a printed copy in a safe place with your emergency supply kit and another copy stored off-site.

• Contents of your home, preferably with photos and a diagram of the home.

• Designated emergency meeting locations.

It is important to have emergency items stored in a central place with easy access, says Campbell. Ask yourself what you would need to survive 1-2 weeks in an emergency. Items might include:

• Flashlights with extra batteries and light sticks. Avoid matches and candles until you confirm there is no gas leak.

• Portable radio or weather radio.

• First aid kit and handbook. Make sure in advance that family members have knowledge of CPR and basic first aid.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Emergency food supplies such as nonperishables, dried cereals, fruit, etc. Include a mechanical can opener in your emergency pack.

• Bottled water for a week. Keep a supply on hand and rotate it out every six months.

• Tools needed to turn off the gas and other valves. Show family members where the shutoff valves are and how to turn them off.

MU Extension offers a free download of a family disaster plan template at http://muext.us/familydisasterplan.

If you want to learn more about disaster resources, visit the EDEN website at https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/disaster-education.