Do you have a plan for emergencies? You have seen disasters happen in other parts of the world but did you stop to think that you could be the victim of an epic disaster? What should you have as part of your plan? We can help you with this so that you are always ready.
First Step in Emergency Preparedness
You need to identifying what you need to possibly prepare for.
Here is a list of some potential natural disasters:
- Hurricanes
- Tornados
- Floods
- Earthquakes
- Wildfires
- House Fires
- Tsunamis
- Volcanos
- Landslides
- Extreme Heat
- Thunderstorms with lightning & thunder
- Winter Storms, including Blizzards
- Hazardous Materials
- Building collapses
Checklists and Plans
The first step is to identify the possible disasters. Now what? You need to create different checklists and plans so we can handle some of the unknowns ahead of it actually happening. For example, the basic supplies would include items like flashlights and batteries in case of power outages. This could happen in almost every Natural Disaster. Now of course, I did not include some of the other disasters like terrorism and wartime situations but you should plan for these too.
The Basic Necessities
We quite often take water for granted. It’s so basic that we often forget about it. Whether we’re hiking in the mountains, or gone camping, running out of water is not usually first on most people’s minds.
Something simple and unexpected can happen, like what happened to my friend; they were without power for about a week, during this time they were told by the city we need to boil water. Well, their stove was electric so boiling it in the house was not an option. The water heater was also electric so just running hot water was also, not an option. With 3 dogs in the house, they needed water. As you could well imagine the store shelves were bare – people were stocking up. They ended up buying a Coleman Stove, and they created a makeshift gas stove. They also used it as a heat source and a way to cook simple dinners.
Emergency Supply
We have found a great way to filter and store water. The supply company that we found is a major survival and outdoor gear company, that is perfect if you want to prepare for emergency situations. There are water bottles that will filter up to 100 gallons of water, which is perfect for creating drinking water while on a hike or campout, or for those emergencies. They also have a 50 gallon water storage tank for storing water, which is FDA approved and BPA free. A perfect combination for those emergencies when clean water is scarce.
Keep in Contact with what is Happening
If there are emergency situations (hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms or ice storms), you need to be able to keep in touch with the emergency alerts. The best option for this is a battery powered NOAA weather radio. You should have one for your home before the next disaster hits. This is always handy when you are out camping and you want to be warned so that you can run for cover before that crazy thunderstorm hits your camp site. Falling trees and high winds may put your life in danger. It would be nice to have ample warning.
Plan Your Evacuation Route
There is nothing worse than feeling confused and not knowing where to go. If a hurricane is on its way, you need to look up the evacuation routes in your neighborhood. You can also contact your local police force for the best routes to take in your area. There are a lot of people that wait until the last minute to evacuate. Believe it or not, evacuations occur more often than you realize.
Another small but very important thing is to make sure that you have a full tank of gas and are ready to leave well in advance and not be stuck in massive gasoline station lines and traffic. And don’t forget to grab your emergency supply kit on the way to the car. Also important; wear tough shoes or hikers, long pants and shirt and a hat. Again a small detail but important.
Being Ready for an Emergency Includes Prepping Your Home Before You Evacuate
If you have to get up in the middle of the night to evacuate, make sure that you unplug everything, except, of course, the freezer and refrigerator. But, if there is going to be flood, then you will want to unplug these too. You don’t want to get electrocuted when wading through the knee deep water in your house when you return.
And, don’t forget to lock all the doors and windows. Let your neighbors and family know which way you are going and your destination.
Our Pets Are Our Family Too
You wouldn’t leave your children behind, so why would you leave your pets behind? You need to bring your pets with you. Include them when you are preparing for emergencies. Bring emergency supplies for them too, such as food, medicine, and their favorite blanket or mat, and a toy. Pets are very sensitive and can sense our stress. The more prepared you are, the smoother it will be for everyone. Animals are more easily spooked during times of emergency and can easily get lost or injured.
Don’t forget to check if the hotels are pet friendly or if there are animal shelters near by where you are staying.
Create Your Emergency Kit
When creating your emergency kit, always plan for at least 3 days (or more) worth of food and water for everyone, including your pets. When there is an emergency, you may be left on your own to survive until help arrives. Experts recommend having a gallon of water per person. Staying hydrated is very key to survival. For the food, pack foods that do not need refrigeration and are water tight.
If you are trying to figure out what kind of foods you could pack, try packing freeze-dried veggies and fruits, canned meats, and Ready to Eat Meals. All of these don’t require refrigeration. Most of the time they take up less space and can be ready to eat on its own or with some boiling water. Also, don’t forget about your out door grill. Keep the propane tank full or have a week’s supply of charcoal on hand. You will thank yourself.
When packing things, try to stay away from cardboard and glass. Cardboard is not water proof and glass can break. Try to avoid salty foods as this will increase your need for water, and you don’t want this in emergency situations. Instead, try high grain cereals, salt-free crackers, and canned foods with high liquid content. Oh yes, don’t forget about your can opener for the cans – the manual kind.
Expect the Unexpected During Emergency Situations
Inevitably, someone will get a cut or a scrape during the emergency. Possibly something worse. Make sure that you pack a complete medical kit with lots of bandages (of all shapes and sizes), antibiotic ointment, tweezers, matches, etc. Make sure that you also take a few extra rolls of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. It is wise to keep some other important things in a water tight container. Like photocopies of your identification (drivers license, passport, medical ids), credit cards, bank accounts and prescriptions.
Make sure that you grab you medication and put them into a zip lock bag, and throw it in with the rest of your emergency supplies. Better safe than sorry as you head down the road for evacuation. You will also want to grab a campstove with cooking utensils, firestarters and a tent. All of these will come in handy as well.
Final Emergency Thought
No matter how thorough you are with your prepping the emergency kit, you will likely forget something. Just take a deep breath and stay calm. When you have a calm mind, you can think clearer, and no one wants to be around someone who is panicking. If you need to focus, do I have a perfect product for you. I have the perfect product just for you. And it is actually in our Emergency Prep Kit as well. Why not check it out here and know you are being the best you during any emergency.