Natural disasters can happen at any time and at any place. Even though man has made ample discoveries to keep him updated on the incoming natural disaster, sometimes natural disasters can strike without a notice. There is no real escape from nature’s fury but by preparing well for an emergency situation, one can minimize the damage and limit the loss of life and the property.
Here are some tips to check how ready your home is when it comes to preparing for a natural disaster.
Have an Emergency Kit: Having an emergency kit in your home is one of the best ways to prepare yourself from any untoward natural disaster. Various agencies including Red Cross and FEMA issue advisories as to what should constitute in the emergency kit according to the season and threat perception. As a basic rule the emergency kit must include all day to day necessities including food, ration, water supply and medication for at least a two week period. Other important things that must be a part of all emergency kits include flashlights, first aid kit, general purpose and specific medicines. Special care must be taken if you have an elderly or a person with some specific disability living in your home. Also one important thing to keep in mind while preparing an emergency kit is to allow for needs for your pets.
Keep a Plan Ready: Having an emergency plan prepared which is known to all family members can make a difference between life and death. One tip is to prepare a couple of evacuation plans considering the threat perception in your area or region. One plan should always cater to disasters like earthquakes, fires and floods. Plan a meeting point outside your house in case of an emergency situation. Rather than fending for other family members, the plan helps in securing that each family member is aware of the best way to reach safe shores. You can also have an emergency evacuation plan away from your area of region especially if you live near a river or beach. In case of a flood or a tsunami for example it would mean the family members know where to go to and wait for the other members.
Be Informed: Being aware of the potential natural disaster is one of the best ways to avoid the nature’s fury. Depending on the region and country of your residence some natural disasters are more likely to have an impact compared to others. Keeping yourself educated with news and weather updates is likely to make a difference in terms of getting prepared for the incoming natural disaster. Another important aspect is to keep yourself and your family members educated about each and every natural disaster. During the Tsunami that stuck in 2004, a lot of people especially tourists were unaware of the upcoming Tsunami. If they would have known that this was more serious than simply a high tide situation, a number of lives could have been saved.
Make Disaster Specific Preparation: Considering which natural disaster is more prone for your region, make emergency plans disaster specific. If you live in an area which is more prone to earthquakes, make sure that you have bolted everything to avoid any damage. Evacuation plans for earthquakes can be as simple as standing in a corner to taking cover under a table to avoid any serious threat from the falling debris. On the other hand if your region is more prone to hurricanes, it is essential to consider a shutter system that can withstand high velocity winds to avoid any damage.
Store Documents Carefully: Storing all important documents like passports, insurance policies and other financial documents that you may need in a safe store is preferred. The idea is to have easy access to all such important documents in case you need to evacuate the house. Rather than hunting for your documents in the emergency situation, it is important to keep everything stored in one place.
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