The recent earthquake in New Zealand and last week's massive snowstorm has many inquiring about emergency preparedness. Authorities say that in an emergency, you are your best defense. Marty Betsch the Disaster Coordinator for St. Charles Health Systems says most people need to know that if there is an emergency, in most cases, you're on your own for the first three days. "And so at least you have 3 days of water, three days of food, three days of, basically your medicines, stuff that you have with you. They say 72 hours is important, however they are extending that now. Maybe 96 hours, maybe a whole week. So that's how you have to think as a person. Who is going to come and help me? The police are going to be busy, the fire department is gunna be busy, the Red Cross will be busy setting up shelters. So you have to prepare yourself. The more prepared you are, the better off you're going to be." Betsch says you also must have a family plan so you can reunite if disaster strikes during the day. She recommends you contact the Red Cross for some excellent sources of emergency information.