Having a plan and being prepared for emergencies is the best thing you can do to make sure your family is safe if a disaster strikes. These four simple steps can help you prepare for most emergency situations your family may face.
Identify Common Disasters Where You Live
Before you can make a plan, you need to know what to plan for. In the US, the Red Cross provides a list of the most common natural disasters based on your location. Take a look at the list so that you know what to prepare for, especially if you’ve recently moved to a new area of the country.
Create a Plan
Your family should meet to discuss the potential emergencies you identified and what you will do in each situation. Determine each family member’s responsibilities. Plan out where you will meet outside of your house for situations that require it, where you will go if you must leave your neighborhood, and where you will travel if you must leave your town. Discuss what you will do in case disaster strikes when you are in separate locations.
Get Your Emergency Supplies
You might already have many of the things you might need in an emergency, like a jacket or coat, but your plan should include taking those items with you if you have to leave your house. For each member of your family, you should have enough non-perishable food and water to last three days. On average, that amounts to one gallon of water per person per day.
Many disaster situations result in a loss of power, often for an extended period. You should have an emergency portable power station to keep devices like phones charged so that you can communicate in disaster situations. You can find these from Judy Co. and similar companies.
A rechargeable portable power station offers an advantage since it can be used indoors without the hazardous fumes produced by gas generators. You can also take your power source with you if you need to evacuate. Try to look for one that includes both standard AC outlets and a 12 volt DC port, like the one in your car.
Be sure to include supplies for your pets if you have them, as well as copies of documents such as identification and insurance. You can find a list of some essentials to include in your disaster supply kit on the Habitat for Humanity website.
Practice Your Plan
Practice your plan with your family. If you practice what you will do, it helps you stay focused and not panic during an emergency. It will also allow you to identify problems that might otherwise be hidden. If possible, practice the plan every six months. Depending on the time of year and what you need to do and where you need to go, things can change.
By properly preparing ahead of time, you can better keep your family safe in an emergency situation. Plan for situations that require evacuation as well as those that require sheltering in place. By making sure that you have the essentials on hand and that everyone knows what to do, you can avert tragedy.
