It was 11 years ago this week that the devastating tornado demolished 95 percent of Greensburg, Kansas on May 4, 2007. At least 60 people were injured and 11 were killed in the EF5 storm.

I hope that nothing the magnitude of the Greensburg tornado ever strikes your family. Disasters can be devastating, not only to property, but also to family emotions. Being prepared in advance will help your family survive the disaster, ease the emotional impact and improve your ability to recover and rebuild your lives.

Experts say you should plan for “when” an emergency happens, rather than “if.” In severe weather season, it’s important to be prepared. Now is the time to assemble a disaster supply kit to help your family survive a storm or other emergency. The latest advice says to be sure your kit includes helmets and shoes.

When the EF5 tornado struck Joplin, Missouri in May 2011, one of the things that came to the attention of emergency management professionals was the number of head injuries. Consequently, the latest recommendation is to add a bicycle helmet or similar protective head gear for each member of the family to your disaster supplies.

Putting on a helmet during a tornado can reduce the risk of head injury from flying debris or falling structures.
Having shoes with your emergency supplies is another important recommendation. Shoes will protect your feet from the large amount of dangerous debris and broken glass following a storm. I’ve kept shoes for all members of my family with my disaster supplies ever since my Extension colleague in Kiowa County shared that she had to crawl out of her demolished home barefooted after the Greensburg tornado.

Your family disaster supply kit should also include items to keep your family safe and healthy for two to three days. Assemble these items in a durable plastic tote, a heavy duffel bag or other weather-proof container and keep it in your “safe area”– the place where your family will go to weather a storm.

Start with necessities such as water, canned food and medications for at least three days. The recommendation is one gallon of water per person per day. Include formula and diapers if you have an infant, and pet food, a pet carrier and extra water for pets.

Add items for first aid, safety and communication such as a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit and a battery-operated or hand-crank radio. If you’re a cell phone user, put in a portable charger or an extra car charger for recharging your phone. Include a small whistle which you can blow to signal for help.

Other useful supplies might include a small fire extinguisher, wrench or pliers to turn off utilities, mess kits or disposable tableware and a change of clothing for each family member. In the event of a disaster, you may not have immediate access to your bank account, so a roll of quarters and a small amount of cash or travelers checks would be a useful addition as well.

Natural disasters in the news have emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness. Taking time now to assemble your disaster supplies may help to ensure that your family can survive a disaster and recover more quickly afterward.

For more information, see the steps for building a basic disaster kit at www.ready.gov.

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

Easter was special. Not since my sons’ experienced Easter has it been as special. This Easter was the first Easter for my grandson, Alex. Alex is just over six months old, with blue eyes and of course, he’s perfect.

Alex lives in Wichita. It had been a few weeks since we had seen him last, and he arrived in Hays the Saturday night of Easter weekend. Oh, what changes! Before, we would scoop him up and show him the world, going from place to place, and occasionally catching his eye and talking to him. I was not sure for a long time how much he could really see given his young age and immature eyes.

Easter it was different. Now, he is crawling, going on his own from place to place. Picking him up, I discovered his head on a swivel, taking in the world and rarely looking at me. He would squirm to get down to do his own independent exploring. I noticed that my son, Dan, and my daughter-in-law, Caley, frequently dropped to the floor to play with Alex.

So, I did as well. I got down on the floor, and crawled and explored with Alex. Suddenly, we were really connecting. He would crawl, find something, and turn to look at me as if to ask, “Do you see this?” He would crawl around, making eye contact and verbalizing things I could not understand. He would crawl up to my face, look me in the eye, and reach out and touch me.

I realized that I was really getting to know Alex. We were really sharing. We were really communicating, together, grandfather and grandchild. We explored together. We played together. We were on the same course. I could tell his mind was eager to grow, assimilate, and learn. It is amazing how fast a child like Alex can learn.

The other day I had an interesting meeting with a new family in my office. I sat there with the husband and wife. The meeting had gone quite long, but there were lots of moving parts: a lot of assets, health issues, family situations, and some worries. It took over an hour for me to just get a good feel for my clients, their family, and where they wanted to go. The next hour was spent with us working out a plan with them.
At the end of the meeting, I apologized for taking so long. The wife said something interesting to me. She had said that they had visited with a couple of other attorneys, and that the meeting was the first time “that someone talked at our level.”

It was not me talking down to her. It was she, her husband, and I at a level where we all needed to be to communicate effectively. I needed to understand their concerns, goals, and aspirations, but to do so I needed to “get on the floor.” Plus, I needed to be sure our conversation and plan really addressed their concerns one by one, on a level that we both understood and could communicate.

I always appreciate it when a meeting ends with a warm handshake or a hug (this was a hug meeting). We were truly communicating.

I have been at those appointments with say, a doctor, and before I could get out a few words, my problem was diagnosed, I was told what to do, I was given some pills, and I left wondering if he really knew all the facts, and whether his diagnosis would be different if he had only known more.

Please, when you are faced with life’s speed bumps or barriers, or major decisions, be sure to get eye to eye with the person from whom you are seeking guidance. I am always afraid that unless I get eye to eye, I am going to miss something terribly important.

Sunday evening we bid farewell to Alex, Dan, and Caley. My knees and back were kind of sore, but I know that Alex got to know me, and I him. I also discovered I could still crawl and survive!

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.