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Q: What is ReadyNation?
A: ReadyNation is a new company dedicated to making disaster preparedness easy and affordable through Web-based products and services, including innovative ready-to-use online forms that capture and store family emergency plans, home inventories and other important documents necessary for recovery. All ReadyNation products and services can be accessed via www. ReadyNation.com. With ReadyNation families can:
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Prepare for specific disasters and safeguard their loved ones and personal property using online tools
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Equip themselves with critical emergency and preparedness supplies
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Connect their loved ones to a community containing a wealth of emergency and disaster preparedness information and resources
Q: What is the ReadyNation mission?
A: The ReadyNation mission is simple: Prepare families to survive and recover from disasters.
Q: Why did founder Brian Nichols establish ReadyNation?
A: Brian Nichols committed himself to find a new way to help families in need after he witnessed ordinary citizens perform extraordinary acts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was an easy choice for the native Floridian who had earlier watched Hurricanes Andrew and Charley wreak havoc on his friends and neighbors. Although the Nichols family was spared the direct impact of Andrew (1992) and Charley (2002), they were unable to escape the fury of Hurricanes Ivan, Frances and Jeanne (2004), followed by Wilma and Rita (2005). Their homes were damaged, power was lost, travel was impaired, and supplies were short. Having previously worked with major software, consulting and manufacturing companies like Ernst and Young, Intuit, Synopsys, The Coca-Cola Company, and Turner Broadcasting, Nichols knew he was ready for the task. His brainchild, ReadyNation, puts his 18 years of planning, management and information technology experience to work for the good of many.
Q: How is ReadyNation different than other companies in the marketplace?
A: Several companies sell disaster supplies. However, no other company offers these supplies plus online services and automated tools designed for disaster preparation and survival.
ReadyNation enables families to securely store their personal information and emergency plans online where they can retrieve it before, during, or after a disaster from any Internet connection. The company’s online tools guide families to:
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Create a family emergency plan detailing how they can react safely when disaster strikes. The plan details how families can:
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Communicate effectively when there is an emergency
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Identify safe meeting places and plans to congregate at designated safe sites
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Evacuate out of the area safely, if necessary
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Prepare elderly, disabled and pets
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Update and share plans with each other and their friends
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Driver’s licenses
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Passports
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Insurance papers
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Car registration
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Other legal documents to reconstitute identity and financial resources after a disaster
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Build a home inventory to provide an accurate listing of personal possessions necessary to speed recovery and insurance claims. ReadyNation also allows them to add pictures and images of receipts to document their belongings.
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Prepare their home to minimize the loss of life and property with targeted guidance for specific disasters.
In the future, ReadyNation plans to introduce new services that will allow families to connect to an interactive online community where they can help other members survive and recover from disasters.
Q: What is the profile of the ReadyNation customer?
A: Primarily, ReadyNation customers are households in urban areas, small towns, and cities from across the country. They reside in high risk disaster areas along the Eastern seaboard, across the Gulf region and West to California.
Q: How does ReadyNation help families prepare and recover from disasters?
A: Through online tools, families can save, share, and recover important information such as:
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Their custom emergency plan to help them prepare for the worst, and react safely
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Their critical documents or vital records destroyed in a disaster
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Their detailed online home inventory to speed the insurance claims process
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A guide to prepare their home for specific disasters, minimizing loss of life and property damage
The ReadyNation store also offers disaster preparedness supplies such as 72-hour emergency kits, long burning storm candles, and generators. In addition, ReadyNation connects families to information to help them stay informed of local disaster news, find volunteer opportunities, and more.
Q: Is it safe for families to post personally identifiable information to the ReadyNation Web site?
A: Yes. Security of personal data is a top priority at ReadyNation. The company employs the latest technology to ensure personal information is safe and secure, including Thawte SSL 128 bit encryption. The Web site is certified daily by McAfee, the leader in personal computer and data security, to make sure ReadyNation is using best practices to protect personal data. The ReadyNation site is hosted on a dedicated server that can only be accessed by registered families and it is located in a highly secure Qwest data facility designed to withstand natural disasters, minimize business interruptions, and allow for 24x7 Web site access. Finally, ReadyNation utilizes PayPal, a global leader in online payment solutions, to process payment transactions. These data security measures ensure ReadyNation can be trusted with personal information, and the site will be available when families need it. Families can access their personal documents from any working Internet connection.
Q: If an original document is destroyed, what benefit do electronic copies offer and how can they be used?
A: Like their physical counterparts, electronic copies of vital records, including financial, health and legal documents speed the process of getting originals restored for items such as drivers licenses and passports as well as Social Security, credit, and health insurance ID cards. In addition to helping families replace personal identification, electronic copies also provide baseline information most people cannot recall such as account numbers and date of issuance. This important information provides families with proof of identity and allows them to access their accounts, leverage services and file claims. Highly regarded institutions such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Red Cross, Citizens Corps and others advocate families keep copies of their most important financial and legal documents in a safe place. Most organizations suggest families keep physical copies in a safety deposit box, a portable waterproof box and/or at their lawyer’s office. However, if these third parties are nearby, their offices may fall victim to the same disaster that impacts a family, thereby jeopardizing the safety of documents. Electronic copies offer families a new and improved way to safeguard their valuable information. Electronic copies, which can also be easily updated as well as printed and stored in the physical world, are accessible anywhere families can access the Internet.
Q: Can electronic copies of official documents be converted to legally binding documents?
A: It depends on the state, the document and whether you are located in a declared disaster region. However, at the very least copies establish prior possession and speed the process of obtaining new documents by providing drivers license numbers, passport numbers, insurance policy numbers, and other discreet personally identifiable information.
Q: What types of membership packages does ReadyNation offer its customers?
A: ReadyNation offers families complimentary online tools, such as a family emergency plan template, a home preparation checklist, and an informative monthly newsletter. Families can also elect to upgrade to membership status by paying a nominal annual fee for services such as an online home inventory and secure document storage offered at three different levels:
Gold Membership
Silver Membership
Bronze Membership
Q: Will insurance companies accept the ReadyNation home inventory data for claims?
A: Yes. It is best to have pictures of personal possessions and receipts. These items can be uploaded and securely stored at ReadyNation.
Q: What else does ReadyNation offer families to prepare for disasters?
A: In addition to the services described above, ReadyNation offers emergency kits and disaster supplies. The kits include survival tools such as food and water; first aid and hygiene; emergency lighting and communication. Premium kits, designed to help families, their loved ones, pets and co-workers through the first 72-hours or more after a disaster or an unexpected emergency, meet Department of Homeland Security recommendations. ReadyNation kits are tailored for home, auto, office, school and pets as well as individuals, families and groups. The kits are made by MayDay Industries, a leading manufacturer and wholesaler specializing in disaster preparedness supplies.
Q: Can corporations buy products from ReadyNation for their employees?
A: Yes. ReadyNation offers volume discounts and can print corporate names/logos on products offerings such as its 72-hour backpacks. The company also offers products and services that can be purchased by third party companies and extended to their employees as benefits. Our Employee Readiness Program includes a Gold Memberhsip to ReadyNation, as well as discounts on family and office disaster kits and supplies.
Q: Do families have to become members of ReadyNation to take advantage of all the products and services?
A: Families have access to all products and some online services at no cost. To take advantage of the fee-for-service offerings, including personal data storage, families must purchase a membership.
Q: What kind of support does ReadyNation offer?
A: Families can email ReadyNation at contactus@ReadNation.com or call toll free via (888) 707-READY to ask questions about products, services, and orders. ReadyNation encourages families to provide feedback or recommendations on how to improve its offerings and is responsive to customer suggestions.
Q: How many American families are prepared for disasters?
A: A study by the Public Readiness Index shows more than 75% of households have little or no emergency plans, with only 8% of household members having done everything necessary to survive a disaster. Fully prepared families reported they developed emergency plans, purchased survival and first aid kits, took first aid courses, and practiced family emergency drills at home.
According to the study, nearly 50% of families polled had not thought about disaster planning or do not believe they are not prone to a disaster. Additionally, one quarter of the respondents thought planning was a waste of time or simply did not know how to prepare.
Q: Why do families need an emergency plan?
A: A well thought out plan helps families react more safely and calmer during a crisis. ReadyNation emergency planning tools help families consider critical factors such as:
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How their children’s school will react in an emergency
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How to take of their pets
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The best way to evacuate
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How they will take care of elderly or disabled family members, and more
Q: Should families review their community disaster plan?
A: Local disaster plans are a useful resource to leverage when building a family emergency plan. Families can access their community disaster plan by calling local officials, checking their local community Web site, or calling the local Red Cross. Families should review their local community plan so they understand:
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Evacuation routes, what roads will be open, and the safest and quickest way to evacuate
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Where shelters are located and what will be provided at them
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Where they can leave their pets, if pets are not allowed in community shelters
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What evacuation services are available if they do not have access to transportation
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What types of disasters are prevalent in their area
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Their early warning system, how it operates and what happens when it’s activated
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Where to turn for additional information when a disaster strikes
Q: Why do families need an emergency kit?
A: Disaster officials urge families to be prepared to survive on their own for 72-hours without access to utilities such as water and electricity. In a major disaster such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, organized help may not arrive for several days, and the injured and the neediest will be helped first. ReadyNation emergency kits provide food and water for 72-hours (with a five-year shelf life) as well as items such as hand crank and battery operated flashlights and radios. Families should keep their kits readily available so they access them in case of emergency evacuation.
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