Taking the steps for emergency preparedness ensures that when the unexpected happens, you have at least the basics on hand and you can bunker down until things get better.
Being prepared means reducing the immediate negative impact when disaster happens and by having a plan in place, you can connect quicker with family or friends because you’ve planned ahead.
Remember the 5 necessities of survival
Water – Food – Energy – Shelter – Security
Creating a plan on what to do in an emergency is necessary for everyone. Disasters come in so many forms and no one is immune from the expected like: Severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, earthquake, fire and so on…Have a strategy in place BEFORE something bad happens is key to you and your families comfort and safety.
In addition to accumulating the necessary basics, your plan should also focus on the following.
1. The best way to get to safety (in home and away from it)
2. Methods of communication
3. How to reunite after the disaster
When should you start preparing?
Right now is a good idea. Preparing for an emergency situation begins long before anything happens. Talk to the whole family and mutually agree on the different communication signals that you have in place. Remember that a lot of the times during a crisis situation that phone lines and cell towers go down so you need a back up plan of communication. Pick a family member or friend who doesn’t live in your area to be a contact point for everyone to check in with.
During a disaster the first thing anyone needs or wants is reassurance that everyone is accounted for and safe.
Early preparation should also involve accumulating an emergency preparedness kit that can be quickly grabbed in any situation.
You can buy a pre-assembled emergency kit like the one pictured above or linked here: 4 Person Survival Kit Deluxe
A specialized emergency preparedness kit is typically portable and can be thrown in a car trunk for travel or stored in a closet by the front door of your home. To give you an idea of what is typically included in an emergency preparedness kit like the one pictured above, here’s the details of what’s included:
The kit includes the following: * 48 -Pouches of Datrex Water – twice the amount of water as leading suppliers and each pouch has a 5 year shelf-life * 48 – 200 Calorie Food Bars – 5 year shelf-life * 40 – Water Purification Tablets – each tablet purifies 1 liter of water * 1 – Hand Crank AM/FM/ Band Radio never needs batteries. * 2 – Hand Squeeze Rechargeable Flashlight * 1 – 5 in 1 Survival Whistle – compass, signal mirror, flint starter, waterproof container,lanyard and shrill whistle * 1 – Box 50 Water Proof Matches * 1 – Fire Starter – Provides sufficient shavings to start hundreds of fires * 4 – Mylar Sleeping Bags – Recommended over common “space blankets” * 4 – Emergency Poncho with Hood * 2 – 2 Person Tube Tent with Rope * 1 – 16 Function Knife * 1 – Pair Leather Palm Gloves * 1 – 50 Foot Rope * 4 – Personal Hygiene Kits includes Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, 9 Handy Wipes * 4 – N95 Masks * 8 – Tissue Packs all purpose * 1 – Large First Aid Kit – contains the essentials needed for any type of fist aid emergency * 1 – On Duty/Gas Shut Off Wrench Designed by a fire fighter. Use to shut off gas and water. Pry open doors and windows. Will not spark if struck against metal. Safe to use. * 1 – Can Opener * 2 – Waste Bags * 1 – 2.5 Gallon Water Bag * 4 – Body Warmers – last for 16- 20 hours * 4 – 12 Hour Light Sticks * 1 – Portable Stove with Fuel Tablets * 1 – Package of Survival Candles * 1 – Deck of Cards
That’s a lot of basics all wrapped up into one duffel bag during a time of need.
An emergency kit can also be assembled on an individual item basis and someone can use the description from a pre-packaged kit as a basis to create their own.
Emergency preparedness is about not having to scramble in your time of need. When you have set up a communication system/meeting place and have an emergency kit readily available, you can reduce the stress in a bad situation.