Disasters Happen Unexpectedly
While we hope to never face any disaster, nothing guarantees it will not happen. In such scenarios, you need to stay prepared to deal with these changing situations. According to a report by the Red Cross, different disasters affect around 200 million people worldwide.
Different disasters can impact countries and their people, such as wars, earthquakes, large power failures, economic collapse, etc. In these troubling times, you need to have everyday things such as food, water, etc., by your side. You should also have enough money since you can't make trips to a bank or an ATM.
Many government agencies and NGOs, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Red Cross, the Department of Homeland Security, etc., advise citizens to develop a strategy in the event of a disaster. They advocate for citizens and NGOs to have a clear plan to keep essential supplies.
Since there is no way to tell what type of disaster you might encounter, there are a few universal tips that you can implement. These steps will help you come up with a comprehensive preparedness plan in any event of a natural disaster or otherwise.
5 Disaster Preparedness Tips
Here are the five disaster preparedness tips to help you better prepare for a disaster. Whether facing a natural or a man-made disaster, you can follow these steps to create a plan.
Step 1: Understand your Surroundings
The first thing you need to do is evaluate your area and then find the possible disasters that might strike in the future. For instance, if you live on a fault line, you should focus on possible earthquake scenarios. On the other hand, people living in metropolitan cities should prepare for a terrorist attack.
If you live in an area with high chances of military conflict, you should prepare for a possible attack. Once you understand the possible dangers that could affect you, you need to learn about the following things in your area:
- Certain evacuation routes
- Shelter locations
- Community evacuation procedures
Gathering the relevant information will enable you to create an evacuation plan. Also, you need to sign up for all the local and national alerts to learn about possible disasters.
Step 2: Have a Family Meet-Up Plan
Keeping in touch with your family is essential when disaster strikes. However, most of the communication lines fail when there is a natural disaster like earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. Communicating with your loved ones can be difficult since the cell phone towers stop working.
So, the best way to deal with this issue is to have a designated location where your family members can gather. This spot should be close to where your family works or goes to school so everyone can easily reach there. You can also take relevant steps that can keep your family members safe.
You can create this plan along with the local evacuation process, but it needs to be for a specific location. An important thing to remember is that your family members should have relevant contacts with them. It includes numbers of close friends, family, and local authorities.
Step 3: Have Food and Medical Supplies ready.
People often find it difficult to reach grocery stores to get food and medical supplies. Food shortages can happen in an area inflicted by a disaster because of restricted supply lines. You might also not have electricity and a limited supply of water.
Since there's no telling when things will get back to normal, you need to have food and medical supplies by your side. Ideally, it is better to go for canned goods and non-perishable items. These items can help you survive if there is a severe health emergency.
Getting medical supplies is also imperative since it will help you deal with any possible injuries. You can get the basic supplies such as bandages, medical tape, and other medicines. Also, you need a stock of prescription medicine to help you get through the disaster.
Step 4: Have Bartering Power
While you might have cash on your hand, there is a possibility you might run out of it in case of disaster. Accessing cash becomes difficult in an economic collapse or other natural disasters. As a result, you will face difficulty buying basic items, such as food and medicine.
So, it is better to have valuable commodities by your side so you can barter. These commodities can be helpful since you can exchange them for valuable items to survive a prolonged disaster. Below are some valuable items that you can keep as a reserve:
- Ammunition
- Gas
- Generators
- Gold and silver
- Guns
- Oil
Precious metals like gold and silver can be great for doing business during a disaster. You can keep gold and silver coins since they are easy to transport and trade. Silver coins are much better for transactions that have a lower value.
Step 5: Learn Emergency Skills
Lastly, you need to learn some emergency skills that can come in handy during a disaster. You need to learn basic medical skills such as CPR and advanced skills like applying stitches. Since access to emergency personnel or hospitals can be difficult during a disaster, you need to learn these basic skills.
You can help your friends and family that require immediate medical attention. You can head over to the local communities, which teach you basic skills, such as CPR. Also, learn about dealing with medical conditions that people can face during a disaster.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Disaster?
When we talk about dealing with a disaster, it is vital to prepare your home for these difficult conditions. Many people don't want to leave their house during a disaster. So, preparing your home to deal with possible disasters is crucial. The first step to understanding the area plays a critical role in preparing your home.
You need to know the common disasters that can occur in your area, such as flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. Once you learn about a disaster, you must take appropriate steps to prepare your home for the worst. Keep all your documents and paperwork in a safe bag to keep them safe from damage.
Next, you should unplug all the appliances in your home. Power outages are likely to happen during a disaster, and you don't want your appliances to get damaged if the electricity surges. Also, it will keep your family members safe when they are inside the house.
If there is a possibility of flooding, keep all your items, such as laptops, generators, etc., on the top floor away from the water. There is a chance that the disaster might affect the water lines as well, so you need to have adequate water for washing, cleaning, and drinking.
Also, you should invest in a reliable power generator if there are long periods of electricity outages during a disaster. Having a reliable power backup is vital in case of extended power cuts to help you with basic tasks. You can search for the best generator and check it from time to time to ensure it is working properly.
What to Do When You Return Home After a Disaster?
Some disasters make it inevitable for you to stay in your house, and you would have to leave it. Once you come back to your home after a disaster, you need to take a few precautionary steps to ensure everything is safe. So, you need to take the following precautions once the disaster is over.
- Look for Exterior Damages: The first thing you should check outside for possible damages. Look for any fallen cables, cracks on the walls or the foundation, and any leaks. Assess the trees in your garden to know if they are stable or might fall anytime soon.
- Check for Interior Damages: Once you inspect everything outside, you need to check for damages inside your house. If there is no electricity in your house, use a flashlight to look around. Don't use a candle since it could ignite the house if there is a leak.
- Check for Any Sounds or Smells: If you hear a hissing noise or smell something different, immediately leave your house. Contact the fire department and relevant authorities to check the house before you enter.
- Inspect Appliances: Check each of the appliances thoroughly before you start using them. Small appliances like toasters, coffee makers, etc., can easily be checked for any exposed wires. However, you would need to contact a professional to check larger appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, etc.
- Assess and Document the Damages: If you want to file for an insurance claim, you to document the damages. Take pictures of the items that are damaged and keep a proper record of everything for the insurance company.
Start Developing a Preparedness Plan for a Disaster Today
A disaster can strike at any moment, so you need to have a clear plan to deal with it. The plan will help you get medical supplies and food items to get you through the disaster.
You can check out ready.org and redcross.org to create a preparedness plan for a specific disaster. Some local emergency preparedness sites can also help you with it.
