"It isn't a sweetheart that takes me to New Orleans. It's a child..."
-- Rhett Butler, from Gone with the wind

When shopping for Valentine's day, remember all the special needs of your
dependents and stock a separate supply for an emergency. Diapers, medications,
toys and treats, books to read and games to play to pass the time until help arrives

T.A.R.A. Tips For March

With the deep hunger of an Irishman who has been a tenant on the lands his people
once had owned and hunted, he wanted to see his own acres stretching green before
his eyes.
                                                                                       --Gone With The Wind

During March, pull together your legal papers such as deeds and titles and place
them in a fire safe location. If you don't already have one, draft a will and/or a living trust.
Bank records and net worth statements should also be safeguarded.

T.A.R.A. Tips For April

"The horses, feeling slack reins, stretched down their necks to crop the tender
spring grass, and the patient hounds lay down again in the soft red dust and
looked up longingly at the chimney swallows circling in the gathering dusk. "

                                                                                 From  Gone With The Wind

Do what you can to insure your pets survival in the event they are separated
from you during an emergency. Tags should have your cell phone number and 
any special medical needs. Don't hesitate to use more than one tag.

T.A.R.A. Tips For May

"She loved this land so much, without even knowing she loved it, loved it as she
loved her mother's face under the lamp at prayer time."

                                                                    From Gone With The Wind

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes.  When  Mother's Day comes in
May, plan how you will  contact one another and review what you will do in different
situations. Formulate a Family Communications plan.

T.A.R.A. Tips For June

"By June she must have money enough to give her at least some little
protection against misfortune."

                                                                   From Gone With The Wind

During an emergency, ATM and credit card terminals may not function.
Have a few hundred dollars of cash and change on hand. Consider over -
stocking some supplies for trade and barter.  In troubled times, gold and
jewelry are often the only currency with any value.

T.A.R.A. Tips For July

Southerners were as enthusiastic visitors as they were hosts, and there
was nothing unusual in relatives coming to spend the Christmas holidays
and remaining until July
                                                                      --- Gone With The Wind

Once you've taken care of the needs of your immediate family, take into
consideration the possibility of relatives coming to stay during an
emergency. Find out what the special needs are of your nearest relatives
and plan accordingly. In the event that you are the refugee, encourage
them to do the same.

T.A.R.A. Tips For August

"Later, in the long, hot summer twilight, the ambulances came rumbling
down the road from the battle field and commissary wagons, covered
with muddy canvas."
                                                                           -- Gone With The Wind

During August, assemble a first aide kit for your home and one for each car.
For a complete list of items for your kits. 

T.A.R.A. Tips For September

It would be hours before she knew if Tara still stood and if Ellen were there.
It would be hours before she finished her journey under the broiling
September sun.

                                                                     -- Gone With The Wind

Let the hot days of  September remind you to store fresh water.
1 gallon per day per person for 3 days is recommended by the Red
Cross. For more information visit http://www.redcross.org/index.html
                           

T.A.R.A. TIPS FOR  OCTOBER

The live oaks with their waving curtains of gray moss gave Scarlett
the  creeps and always brought to her mind Gerald's stories of Irish
ghosts roaming in shimmering gray mists.
                                                  -- Gone With The Wind

During October, let the jack o lanterns of Halloween remind you to replace
the batteries in your flashlights and stock up on extra. Wind up flashlights
are also available. Stock candles and matches as well.

T.A.R.A. Tips for November

They tore down the fences and burned them to cook with and the barns
and the stables and the smokehouse. They killed the cows and the hogs
and the chickens--even my turkeys." Gerald's precious turkeys. So they
were gone.

During November, make sure you are prepared to cook food in the event
gas or electricity service is interrupted during an emergency. Purchase a
gas barbecue if you don't already have one and stock an extra propane tank
for it. An ample supply of matches in a waterproof container can also come
in handy.

T.A.R.A. TIPS for December

"As God is my witness I'll never be hungry again!"
             - Scarlett O'Hara, Gone With The Wind

When food shopping for the holiday's, buy a few extra cans
of food and stash them away for an emergency.

If you did this last year, rotate and donate to the local food bank.