In our previous blog, we discussed ways to maintain our homes to lessen the impact of a natural disaster. We are going to continue the theme again with a discussion about how to get yourself ready for this type of disaster. As we know, some disasters give us little warning, and we may need to leave at a moment’s notice. So, lets talk about some ways to be prepared:
Prepare an emergency go bag. Leaving your home suddenly because of imminent danger can be very confusing, and thinking clearly at a time like this is very difficult. Having a bag already packed and ready to go will help lessen the difficulty. Your bag should contain emergency supplies, enough to last about 3 days, a change of clothes, medication if needed, some cash, and copies of essential documents. Keep the bag in an easy-to-reach location. It also helps to have an extra supply of water and nonperishable food at home.
Advance planning is the key to being able to leave your home quickly in an emergency so you should also have your emergency evacuation routes planned out. Be aware that these may change depending on the disaster. Ensure the entire household is familiar with these routes and locations of meet-up points, in the event that communication is down. You should also try to maintain a full fuel tank in your vehicle.
These few suggestions will go a long way to helping you in the event a natural disaster strikes where you live.