The first 72 hours after an emergency event you will likely be on your own.  Having a portable 72-hour kit for each member of the family will put you in a position to survive and take care of your family.  There is a good chance you will not be at home in the event of an emergency so a small kit in your car and at work will be important.   Here is an easy checklist for a Basic 24 Hour Kit:

• Contact list of relatives
• Emergency contact list
• Copies of identification, credit cards, health identification cards, some cash in small denominations and coins
• Bottled Water
• Whistle, flashlight or headlamp, and shoes (under your bed?!)
• Sanititation (towelettes, hand sanitizer, TP, baggies)
• Prescription medicines, special needs items
• Sweatshirt, sweat pants, warm hat
• Emergency blanket
• Non-perishable foods (granola bars etc.–more information next week!)
• Child’s bag–include a familiar toy
• Small container of Clorox unscented bleach and medicine dropper
• Small notebook and pencil

ADD FOR YOUR WORK “GO-BAG”

• Additional water
• Small tools, pry bar, channel lock pliers, screwdriver 4-1
• Battery powered radio
• Small first aid kit
• Dust masks
• Duct tape
• Permanent marker
• Extra Keys to home and cars
• Heavy duty gloves
• Pocket knife

ADD FOR YOUR CAR “GO-BAG” FOR EACH CAR

• Fire extinguisher
• Flares
• Large First Aid Kit

Next week I’ll list resources and ideas for adding non-perishable foods to your emergency kits!

Communication in the event of an emergency is critical. We rely on our cell phones, the internet, and land phones that may not work when we are separated from our families. Two simple steps to get started: Establish an out of state contact. Establish TWO relatives that you can reach in the event local phone service is not available. It may be that everyone will be able to call out of state even when you cannot reach someone locally. Get their email too for more detailed updates.

Prepare a list of important phone numbers and email –

• Physician / Dentist
• Veterinarian
• Family (home, cell)
• Insurance

Put these numbers in your phone, PDA or laminate a card to be put in the car and in your backpack.

Earlier posts suggest you have three emergency essentials at your bedside (shoes, whistle, flashlight), and that water and medicines be in each of your cars in the event you cannot return home for any length of time.  Having an out of state contact and essential contact information will make it easy to let family and friends know you are OK!

Subscribe to my blog or Twitter for periodic emergency preparedness tips! Taking it one step at a time will prepare you and your family in the event of an emergency. Be prepared – it could save your life!

Water bottles and Critical Medicine for family members with special needs are important to have with you in the event that you are away from home in an emergency and cannot return home. The two items you should put in each of your cars tonight are Water Bottles (2 for each family member) and Essential Medicines. A 72 hour supply will be important  (don’t wait, we know what happens if you do not do it right away). Earlier I posted that you should have three emergency essentials at your bedside–shoes, whistle, flashlight. This is to cover you in the event you cannot return home for any length of time.  It may not be possible to get to the pharmacy for essential needs. Subscribe to my blog for periodic emergency preparedness tips!  Taking it on one step at a time will prepare you and your family in the event of an emergency.  Be prepared – it could save your life.

In the event of an emergency, are you going to be an asset or a victim?  Your community has a program to train YOU to be a resource in the event of an emergency!

In the San Ramon Valley there are only a limited number of emergency personnel on duty at any given time  In the event of an emergency first responders are going to be focused on infrastructure and urgent needs. Become CERT Trained so you can be a resource to your immediate community!

For the San Ramon Valley Fire District click HERE  and for the CERT program click HERE.

San Ramon courses start on March 14^th (Wednesday nights for 6 weeks)  or March 17^th for two Saturdays.

• Introduction to CERT and Emergency Preparation
• Terrorism and Fire Suppression
• Medical and Basic First Aid
• Light Search and Rescue
• Psychology and Incident Command
• Drill

Subscribe to my blog for periodic emergency preparedness tips!  Taking it on one step at a time will prepare you and your family in the event of an emergency.  Be a resource – not a victim.

The Administration announced that the FHA will cut its fees for refinancing loans already insured by the FHA.  Fees will be reduced to 0.01% for the up front fee (from 1.15%) and the annual fee to 0.55% from 1.15%.

This https://www.paydaynow.net/installment-loans/ will apply to loans originated prior to June 1, 2009.  It is not clear how this will mesh with the recently announced INCREASE in FHA up-front and annual mortgage insurance premiums. A White House announcement does not make it so as this program will need lender participation and the fine details before it is rolled out.  No implementation date has been established.

Link to the full White House Press Fact Sheet HERE.

No question this will make the refinance of an FHA loan more beneficial. When comparing them, you want to consider vehicle restrictions, loan amounts, interest rates, fees, loan terms and the loan approval process. The right fit for you depends on your specific circumstances.  What about the folks that did a streamline refinance in the past year or so… trading off a decrease in the interest rate on the loan with the increase in the mortgage insurance? Those folks are screaming today as they would have been better waiting. Seems to me there should be an automatic roll back for anyone in that position.  FHA is the only beneficiary!

Give us a call or email and we can give you an idea what the terms of a NEW FHA LOAN might be!

Three things you and each of your family members should keep by the bedside at all times: Shoes, a Whistle, and a Flashlight! Find an old pair of worn shoes for each family member – in an emergency you will not care how they look. Actually a headlamp would be even better!  Place the flashlight in one shoe and the whistle with one of those throw-away lanyards or a wrist band in the other shoe.  Then get the most ridiculous color laces for the shoes and put them in the shoes so the shoes will not be used for any other purpose! In the event of any emergency – shoes will be invaluable to assist in an evacuation – flashlight will help you see and be seen – and you can blow a whistle a lot louder and longer than you can yell. Check these every month to be sure they are still under the bed and can be easily accessed. Subscribe to my blog for periodic emergency preparedness tips!  Taking it on one step at a time will prepare your family in the event of an emergency.

If you are confused by Wells Fargo’s withdrawal from the Reverse Mortgage Market? Signet Mortgage has the answers! We are experts in Reverse Mortgages and can answer any of your questions. Check out our website or give us a call! https://signetmortgage.com/reverse-mortgage/ (925) 807-1500