By  Dianne Anderson

Think Black history, and disaster preparedness is usually not the first thing that comes to mind.

But for Malika Rahmaan, it should be.

Not if, but when, the state of California will get a 7.7 earthquake. Major power outages, access to food, water and shelter is sure to impact the low income and

elderly more than the wealthy. Few people have a week’s supply of food and water, and backup generators with quick exit plans.

For people who are barely eating week to week, some day to day, long term survival supplies becomes a challenge.

“It’s definitely something we need to be involved in, to become prepared for natural disasters,” she said Rahmaan, founder of the nonprofit the Audasity of Hope. “And there’s no one beating the drum, to tell the Black community that there’s resources out there that we’ve paid for through donations that is waiting for us.”

Ms. Rahmaan said a targeted approach to low income communities of color is needed because life- saving resources are already so limited. Next week, she’s partnering with the Red Cross at the Black History Parade.

“We’re just not prepared,” she said. “This is definitely something that the Audasity of Hope is trying to take to the community, to the Black History parade, and to the churches,” she said.

On Saturday, February 4, the Orange County Black History Cultural Faire will be held at the Anaheim Center Street Promenade from10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Rahmaan, also a long time NAACP member, said this year she plans to strengthen ties between the Red Cross, local Black churches and nonprofits focused on building inexpensive disaster preparedness kits at home.

After Hurricane Katrina, in 2005 the Los Angeles Public Health Department surveyed residents, and found only 6% of the county’s population was completely prepared for earthquake, flood, mudslides or other major disasters.

For the most part, women were more prepared than men. Only 23% of whites said they were unprepared for disaster, compared to 35% of African Americans, and 45% of Latinos.

Survival kits should contain at least three days of food and water, medical supplies like bandaids and triple antibiotic ointment.

African Americans also need to be more involved with blood donations, she added. The Red Cross is always asking the community to give blood.

“And they’re like ‘not today!’ We do need to have our people go there,” she said.

Bridget Kelly, spokesperson for the Orange County American Red Cross, said their organization is looking forward to the Black History event, and they provide free disaster education classes all year long. They are available to go out and speak with churches, nonprofits, or any organization that calls.

She emphasizes that everyone should have an old pair of shoes nearby if glass breaks, and they need to be in self-containment mode because emergency services will be helping only the most critically injured. Each family should also have an out of state contact because phone lines statewide will be tied up.

“It also doesn’t cost anything to build a plan for the family, where are we going to evacuate, what’s the meeting place?” she said.

When disaster strikes, the elderly, who are also mostly on a harsh budget, may not know how to pack up an affordable kit. Bottled water is important, enough for at least three days, can be rotated out every six months. It’s as simple as refilling old plastic bottles and keeping them in the cool side of the garage.

“You don’t have to buy new stuff,” she said. “There’s stuff in the back of the pantry, soups, beans, and other things that you can get from the 99 cent store to beef up the kit.”

To find out about disaster preparedness, see http://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

or see, http://www.oc-redcross.org/ or call 714.481.5329.

For Audasity of Hope, call 714.353.3276