Once again the ugly face of terrorism is in our news. Making personal preparations for a terrorism event in many ways are similar to the things we do when preparing for other disaster scenarios like floods, wild fires, earthquakes, tornados and other emergency situations that interrupt normal life.

Below are 10 reminders / recommendations that I have gathered that will help increase your safety and survival.

1. Practice Situational Awareness. Remind your family to keep their eyes and ears open, and if they get a bad vibe for any reason leave the area. If something suspicious is observed contact authorities.

2. Have a Rendezvous Plan. Have family plans for primary, secondary and tertiary meet up locations should a threat appear and everyone is not in the same place. You should have multiple routes to each location based on work place or school location and what mode of transportation is available. (Car, bicycle or walking).

3. Adults Work Place Plan. Find out what your work place plans are for emergencies in regards to first aid, water, food and shelter. If they are not adequate, your bug out bag should be equipped to fill the role for you.

4. Children in School. If you have school age children, check with the administrators to see what plans they have in place for their emergency responses to various threats.

5. Be ready to Stay. If shelter in place is best option, have the basic necessities on hand. Minimum on hand is 3 days of food and clean water. Next is first aid supplies, medications, black out kit and defensive weapons if they are legal to own in your location.

6. Emergency Power Options. Have options on hand if the power, gas stations, water, phone service or internet are not available for a short, (and possibly long term) situation. Small generator set, plenty of fuel, solar panels, batteries and invertors are basics.

7. Be Ready to Leave. Whether at home or in public areas, have options to get out of the area if there is a threat. Observe where exits are located, stairways and any other possible ways to evacuate general area. All family or team members have their Bug Out Bag loaded and ready to walk out your home with. Vehicles kept serviced and never have less than a half of tank of fuel.

8. Have Some Cash On Hand. If normal services are down and ATM’s and credit card readers are not working you will be more likely to be able to purchase supplies you need with cash.

9. Have an Emergency Communications Plan. Every family member, (or team member), should have an emergency contact list with phone numbers and addresses that includes out of town contacts. Cell phone chargers in every vehicle, and if able to train with and afford, two-way radios programmed with appropriate frequencies.

10. Intelligence Gathering. At the very least a small portable battery powered radio and spare batteries to monitor newscasts. Better yet a scanner and even better short wave receiver to monitor worldwide events.

While this is a broad list, it covers the basics. Knowledge and Preparedness are the things that will keep you and your family safe.

For more suggestions check out the Red Cross site:

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/terrorism

I welcome you to add your observations, suggestions and comments below.