By Carlee
You may think it can never happen to you. But all it takes is a quick look at the news to realize chances are good that at some point in the near future you will find yourself in some sort of emergency situation. It may be as localized as a house fire or as widespread as a pandemic. The important thing is that whatever you do now to prepare for a disaster will put you ahead of the game when it hits. With that in mind, below are ten simple ideas to get you started down the road to being prepared for any emergency.
1. Plan your evacuation ahead of time and share it with family and close friends. Know the location of where you will be going and contact information once you are there. Plan several routes to your destination in case one or more of them become shut down.
2. Plan and practice two ways to evacuate your house in the event of an emergency such as a fire or home invasion. Have everyone meet at a specific location, such as a tree or neighbor’s driveway, that is a safe distance from the house.
3. Have an out of area contact person that each member of the family can contact. This way, if you are ever separated from the group then the contact person, who is in touch with everybody, can help reunite you.
4. Have a bug out bag at the ready. Keep a bug out bag for each member of the family. The contents should have enough provisions for at least a day but be light enough to easily carry. Include food, water, flashlight, clothing as needed, knife, etc. Make sure you prepare for the special needs of young children or elder adults. For items like medicines or perishables, make a list of the items you need to collect and leave it in that individual’s bug out bag.
5. Keep all your important documents together in a secure place. If possible, store them where they will be protected from fire and water damage. They could be placed in a Ziploc bag and stored in a fireproof lockbox.
6. Make sure you have the proper insurance you need. Most disasters are relatively short lived events and you will have some peace of mind knowing that even if your home and possessions are destroyed you will have the resources available to rebuild. Renters should purchase renter’s insurance to protect their possessions.
7. Keep receipts and pictures of your valuables with your insurance policy. Either leave all of this in a water and fire proof container or make sure you take it with you if you decide to leave.
8. Keep cash on hand. In the event of an emergency, credit and debit card readers may not function. Should you need to purchase any supplies, you will be out of luck without cash.
9. Continue to upgrade your preparations. Always strive for improvements. Look to expert resources such as this site and learn as much as you can. Be aware of the most likely type of disaster you will encounter and learn as much as you can about how it will affect you. For example, if you live in tornado alley, learn all you can about being prepared for tornados. If you live where hurricanes are likely, learn about hurricane preparedness.
10. If you plan to weather the storm or emergency in place, make sure you have plenty of water on hand. Fill your bathtub and as many containers as you possibly can. Keep an extra week’s supply of food stashed away in your pantry. This should be food that you normally eat, but not that which is perishable.
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