Health officer reminds residents to be prepared for emergencies
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - Fall is upon us and winter is coming.

With that change in seasons comes the potential for everything from a flu pandemic to a severe snowstorm; two types of natural disasters with the potential to shut down everything from electrical power to roads and truck drivers who deliver food and other essential supplies.

With that in mind Manalapan health officer Dave Richardson is suggesting that residents be prepared for any emergency that may arise.

Richardson said he wanted to stress that his "be prepared" message was not intended to scare people, but to inform or remind them what they need to do and expect if a severe emergency were to strike.

The health officer is suggesting that families have enough water and dry or canned goods to sustain the entire family for at least two weeks, if not more.

Richardson said that in the event of a major emergency, emergency response services and personnel may not be available. Due to that possibility, people should also store medical and first aid supplies appropriate and necessary for any known or anticipated need. This would include having a supply of prescription or overthe counter medications on hand.

Richardson said he hoped people would not take his cautions as anything other than what they were intended for and that is to inform and educate the members of the community.

The health officer said the re-emergence of bird flu, while not in this country, is still nothing to be dismissive of as it could eventually pose a potential threat for the United States.

Although not wanting to cause people undue concern, Richardson said he also wants people to know they should be prepared to hunker down for an extended period of time. He said under a worse case scenario such as the shutdown of public services in an emergency, being able to provide one's family with basic needs such as potable water and nonperishable food could be the difference in how well a family would be able to get through the situation.

He said his message is a reminder for people to stock up on basic supplies that would see them through more than a few days in the event that their regular routine is interrupted.