There are lots of resources intended to help you prepare for a disaster. We’v included a few at the end of this page. Rather than focusing on content that’s available from many other sources, we hope the following seven points will give you
There are lots of resources intended to help you prepare for a disaster. We’v included a few at the end of this page. Rather than focusing on content that’s available from many other sources, we hope the following seven points will give you insight to make better decisions about preparation and response.
1. Planning: Small Steps to Stay Ready
It seems like every disaster forecast brings the obligatory news report of stores running short on supplies. Collecting supplies right before a disaster is only successful for predictable weather events like hurricanes and snow storms. Tornadoes, flash floods, earthquakes and other disasters that provide little or no warning demand that you have at least some level of preparation at all times.
If you’re the head of the household, you can use a disaster in another area to help your family understand the importance of preparation. It’s difficult to escape media coverage of a disaster so make the most of it: conduct your own drill while your family is thinking about the issues: get up before the rest of the family (maybe on a weekend) to turn off your power and water.
You can always turn them back on though living without power and water for just a few hours will snap you out of your daily assumptions and routines of always turning on a light when you enter a room and having water whenever you desire. This will also help you realize how long it takes to collect simple items like keys and a flashlight. You probably have enough food for a day or two but how will you fill your need for water?
This exercise may seem over-the-top or militant though it’s not a chore for a prepared family. With a little practice, some purchases to fill-out the things you lacked in the last exercise and a few changes in your routines, you won’t need to turn off the power and water; you can just have a family meeting and run through your checklist verbally to practice your priorities. Practice makes perfect.
2. Response: Planning Beyond Your Home
Assuming that you’ll be at home or be able to stay in your home before, during or after a disaster is a critical mistake. Even an interruption in services like power and water can force you out of your home. It’s important to plan for such an event because your family members need a communication plan and meeting place in advance – you may not be able to get in touch with them. This is especially important for families who are separated during the day when members are at work, school or just out running errands.
A communication plan can be as simple as identifying a relative or friend unlikely to be effected by a disaster in your area: this person becomes your point of contact. (Long distance calling and text messaging are often available even when local phone lines are down.) You need two meeting places if you’re forced to leave your home: the first is the closest local shelter (usually a community center or law enforcement facility) and the second is outside the area you think would be effected if you suffered a disaster.
Don’t forget, we put more stress on our infrastructure and supply chains as our population density (the number of people in one area) increases. This means natural disasters aren’t the only reason you may have to leave – the bottled water supply in your local stores is not enough to sustain an urban area when a water main breaks or the water source is contaminated. Challenges like water main breaks and power 