Happy New Year! Well, we kick off a New Year in 2010, and I’ve already broken my resolution! Yes, I only had one and could not keep it. Oh well, there’s always next year. The funny thing about that is I said that last year!

New Newsletter Format

We like would like to introduce to each of you the new format for our newsletter. During 2009, as we found our footing, voice, and style, we opted to keep newsletters separate in the newsroom area and not as a part of the blog. But with the blogs tremendous success, we felt it beneficial to make a newsletter post for month going forward. This way, you can keep up with great emergency and preparedness information. Enjoy!

Haiti Earthquake Stuns The World

Many thought it couldn’t happen, but it did. It happened to one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere on January 12, 2010 at 4:27pm and impacted around approximately 3 million people. The Haiti earthquake that struck the small island of Haiti and the Dominican Republic literally shows that a disaster can happen at a moments notice. Even after the initial jolt, Haiti has now been feeling close 50+ tremors. This goes to show, that no matter if you’re the poorest or richest country, disasters can and will happen.

More importantly, the Haiti earthquake demonstrates to everyone worldwide the importance of being adequately prepared in regards to emergency and disaster. Think about it, are you prepared should a disaster of any sort catch you, your friends and family by surprise?

In times of emergency and disaster, consider our short list of things to do before, during, and after:

• Have a plan of communication
• Have a 72-hour kit or at least a kit that consists of the following: matches/lighter,Vaseline,cotton balls, crackers, water, a pillow and blanket.
• Use text messaging and/or social media (facebook, twitter, etc.)
• Change your voicemail message to a message where people can find you (i.e. “This is Fred, and I’m am trapped under building XZY at the corner of 5^th and Trinity.”)

There are many lessons that we can learn from Haiti earthquake in terms of better educating and preparing oneself for an emergency or disaster. During the most horrific disaster as of day, the Haiti Earthquake, WeAreSafeAndSound.com was able to help in this emergency/disaster by providing free communications and the latest breaking stories from the news outlets throughout the world.

We don’t harp on the fact of emergency or disaster to scare anyone. We simply want everyone to be adequately prepared to fend for themselves on all fronts for the longest period of time until rescue and recovery can provide proper aid. That’s why every month, we invite you, your family and friends to sign up for a free account as a backup communications plan should you or any of your loved-ones find yourselves in an emergency or disaster that is life threatening. All it takes is a few seconds to sign up… how about it?