One of the biggest threats to family safety is a natural disaster. With floods, tornados, hurricanes, and wildfires on the rise, it is only natural to wonder how you can keep your family safe.
Emergency planning is by far the best strategy for keeping your family safe during a disaster. A prepared family is less likely to become trapped and has a reduced risk of injury.
A natural disaster response plan can be broken down into four steps. Each step covers specifics like emergency contacts or first aid.
1. EMERGENCY PREPARATION
Fundamental emergency preparation includes a five-prong approach: phone numbers, escape routes, meeting spots, emergency contact, and a pet plan. Phone numbers refer to emergency services. You want to place a list of all essential safety services, such as police, fire, poison control, work, school, etc., in a central location, somewhere everyone knows and can see.
You need to figure out escape routes throughout the entire house, with each room having a minimum of two exits. Additionally, ensure paths remain clear of clutter and furniture. Practice these routes several times per year.
Outside of your home, you should designate specific meeting places. Having several meeting places is a good idea if the family gets separated during the disaster.
Choose an out-of-state relative or friend as an emergency contact for the family. It is typically easier to contact someone outside of your area during natural disasters.
Finally, if you have pets, you need to have a plan for them. You want to have pet carriers, leashes, food, and water in an area that is easy to access quickly.
2. GO-BAGS
Most survivalists are familiar with a go-bag; it is an emergency bag or kit packed in advance, including food, water, first aid, and other essentials. You will need individualized go-bags for each family member.
You’ll want to include items to entertain the kids, like tablets, coloring books, etc. You will also want to include any essential medications. Finally, you might want to prepare multiple go bags for each family member and put them in different areas around the home. Having multiple go-bags reduces the risks of losing access during a crisis.
3. FINANCIAL FIRST AID KIT AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Survival goes beyond escape and having food, water, medication, and other essentials; you also need to have paperwork and documents to ensure financial security. The primary essential documents you may need include:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- Social security card
- Birth certificate
- Account numbers
- Health and life insurance information
- List of medications and prescriptions
- Essential files on an external hard-drive
4. OTHER ESSENTIALS
While there are many physical items you can prepare in case of an emergency, there are also things you need to consider for mental preparation. While practicing escape routes is one, you also need to ensure that everyone capable knows how to shut off utilities. Children should also know their address and phone number. You can also build habits, such as always having at least a half tank of gas.
Disaster preparation is about thinking of every possible thing that can go wrong and having a plan. The things addressed within this article are only the tip of the iceberg for emergency planning.
Do you have any other disaster preparation tips or suggestions?