The news is filled with the sad stories of people who have been forced to endure a natural disaster. The perplexing thing is that these events are highly predictable. Their predictability makes devastation all the more frustrating because of the lack of prior preparation done on the part of the people. Too often that not, the people appear to allow their lives to fall into the hands of fate without doing a thing to ensure their own survival.
Americans are typically a reactive people. They normally wait until after an event to occur before making any preparations. Waiting until after a disaster strikes is often too late to effect any positive change. It seems as if this lack of preparations is due to a lack of knowledge. A lot of people just don’t know where to begin when it comes to disaster preparation so I have included five easy ways that will allow you to prepare for any disaster.
Step 1: Start Storing Food.
Your disaster kit should begin with enough food for each member of your family for at least three days. Items like canned goods, large jars of peanut butter, crackers, and rice should be staples in your emergency pantry. Prepackaged foods like MRE’s (shelf life 5-10 years) make a great addition to any emergency stash.
Step 2: Understand how to get Fresh Water. You can survive for only three days without water. Water is one of the most important consideration, in regards to survival planning. The Government states that you should have at least one gallon of water per person per day on hand for emergencies. I would also recommend that you locate fresh water sources and mark their location on a map. Realize, however, that in the situation where flooding occurs, freshwater sources may be contaminated. Pick up some water filtration tablets and a backpackers water purifier.
Step 3: Seek Shelter. Depending the the temperature you can go only live for three hours without shelter. Having blankets or sleeping bags on hand will help you make it through the winter. Also include the silver emergency blankets, several large tarps (in case your roof is damaged) and some duct tape. Having a hammer and a bunch of nails accessible wouldn’t be a bad idea anyway.
Step 4: Stock up your First Aid Kit.
Check with the Red Cross to get a list of the Red Crosses recommended products for your first aid kit. Also included aspirins, Rolaids, extra prescription glasses, and extras of any prescriptions you might have.
Step 5: Plan to Evacuate.
Never hesitate to evacuate. Always have a viable plan available at your fingertips to quickly leave your area should conditions erode. Always keep your gas tanks topped off. Carry an evacuation kit in your vehicle at all times along with a first aid kit.
While no one knows what the future holds, the more prepared you are, the better your chances of survival.
