General Preparedness

Here is a link to some basic preparedness information put out by FEMA: Ready.gov.  Again, it is very basic and it does not cover specific situations and circumstances that you might find yourself or your family confronting.  However, it is better than doing nothing to prepare.

The Red Cross puts out some informative "Fast Facts" sheets that go over many emergency situations.  We have found that they are generally good but also basic in their approach.  We have also found that they do not cover many of the specific situations that high net worth families face with respect to safety and emergency/disaster preparedness.  The Fast Facts sheets can be found here: Red Cross Fast Facts.

With respect to individual preparedness in America, FEMA put out a report outlining the state (or lack thereof) of individual preparedness.  It is an interesting report as it highlights citizen's thoughts on general preparedness and their confidence in their ability to react to a crisis, particularly in the first minutes and hours of a crisis.  Unfortunately, generally speaking, confidence was low.  The report can be found here: Citizen's Preparedness Report.

Planning for Your Business

All businesses and family offices should have disaster mitigation and response plans in place.  While these plans should be tailored for the particular business or family office, some general guidance can be found here: Planning to Stay in Business.

Swine Flu Preparedness

In light of the current, ongoing swine-flu epidemic, you should read the U.S. Center for Disease Control's interim guidance on caring for a family member that has the flu.  It is informative on ways to prevent the spread of the flu from sick family members.  This guidance can be found at: CDC - Home Flu Care Guidance.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), chair and vice chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, released a report card indicating that the U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and terrorism.  Essentially, the United States Government received a grade of "F" on preparedness.  The report can be read here: Report Card.

Additionally, we urge you to read the original report prepared by the bipartisan commission to the U.S. Congress on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The report speaks for itself as to some of the increasingly dangerous threats we face. A copy of the full report can be obtained at: World at Risk. We consider it a MUST read.