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The massive upheavals caused by Hurricane Katrina serve as a powerful reminder of how vulnerable we are in the face of disaster. This week on Healthwatch, we'll look at ways you can prepare yourself and your family to face disasters, whether they're caused by weather or terrorism.

Patrick Tiner, a disaster-response expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says communication is absolutely essential during and after a disaster. He recommends making sure all family members have contact information for each other. He and his own family carry small laminated cards with names, phone numbers, cell phone numbers, pager numbers and other contact information for everyone in the family. It's also good to designate a friend or family member in a different part of the country as a point of contact in case disaster strikes. Sometimes it's hard to communicate within a disaster zone, while you can reach people in other areas.

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^{September 2005}

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