When we start prepping, it’s easy to get caught up in a worst case scenario mentality.
While preparing for the worst is a good thing, it can sometimes cause you to overlook natural disasters that can be equally as devastating as an EMP.
One of the most common natural disasters that most Americans will face in their lifetime is the threat from Fires and Floods.
Again, it might not be the most exciting topic in the world, but preparing yourself and your home for this danger is one of the first things you should learn how to do.
Natural Disasters Are Always A Concern
We can do nothing to stop Mother Nature, so all we can do is prepare and survive. It might be a massive earthquake, hurricane, or wildfire.
In fact, 2018 brought all three to the United States. The Camp Fire in California was the most deadliest in United States history.
We saw a huge earthquake in Alaska, and two huge hurricanes – Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael.
These events affected millions and stole lives.
In this article we will cover how you can best prepare yourself to survive a natural disaster...
But for now....
Why Is It Important To Be Prepared For A Natural Disaster
An important question often raised by many people is: “Why should I prepare for a disaster?”
Simply, you should prepare because a disaster can strike without warning, forcing you to go for days without basic necessities or to evacuate your home.
Moreover, the threat is real – disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year and each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property.
Preparing for the unknown does take some time, but you do not have to prepare for and do everything. Just figure out what aspects of information and procedures are relevant to your locale, lifestyle and family.
Important Reasons to Prepare for a Natural Disaster
There are some very important reasons why you should prepare for a disaster:
- Saves Lives – Different disasters require different responses. Being prepared for various disaster emergencies can make a huge difference in saving lives as well as money.
- Reduces Danger – Knowing the steps to take during a disaster – whether flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes or another crisis – can greatly reduce the danger and distress your family may face.
- Reduces Uncertainty – Not having a complete understanding of a hazard threat can leave you frightened and uncertain of what to do
to protect yourself and your loved ones. Being prepared by knowing what to do reduces uncertainty. - Helps Cope with Stress – Disasters are stressful events over which we have little or no control. The sudden disruption of everyday life, the experience of fear, feelings of uncertainty and a lost sense of safety are the common factors that make all disasters very stressful.
- Speeds Recovery – How quickly you can recover from a disaster depends on how well you have planned and prepared for one.
- Establishes Sense of Safety and Security – Children take their emotional cues from the significant adults in their lives. Adults can help children cope first and foremost by establishing a sense of safety and security.
- Your Responsibility – Preparing for a disaster is simply part of providing for and protecting your family.
- Your Civic Duty – Preparing for an emergency allows first responders to help those who truly need assistance instead of helping you who knows better and is prepared.
Now that we know why we should be preppared...
Here's how you can best prepare yourself to survive a natural disaster...
What Can You Do To Prepare For A Natural Disaster
Step 1: Create an emergency plan
Create an emergency plan for your family in case of a natural disaster.
Include household information, out-of-town contacts, and school, workplace, and childcare contact information and emergency contingencies. Here's a great example for you: https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.
Step 2: Identify several ways to get warnings
Sirens are generally insufficient warnings for natural disasters.
However, in case of a power outage, you cannot rely solely on your television or landline phone for warnings, either. Sign up to receive emergency alerts from your local government by text message or email. You should also have a battery-operated AM/FM radio (and extra batteries) on hand as well.
Step 3: Determine the evacuation routes
Identify all the entries and exits in your home and plan how you will evacuate your home.
Determine where you will go in the event that you cannot remain in your home or even in your region. Then, map out several routes for getting out of your city and state or region.
Be sure to brief all your family members about evacuation strategies and exit plans.
Related post: Bugging Out Guide If You Must Leave Home When SHTF
Step 4: Choose multiple meeting spots
In case all of your family members aren’t able to reach a designated meeting place, you should have several contingencies.
Choose one location in your neighborhood or close to your home as well as one that is located out of town. Plan to meet at the closest location in the event of an emergency, and keep the out-of-town location as a backup in case a disaster prevents you from meeting at the primary location.
Step 4: Stockpile 3-day of food and water supply
Choose food items with a long shelf life, such as canned goods and packaged pantry items.
Opt for items that don’t require refrigeration, but also those that require little cooking in case you don’t have power due to a disaster. Store 1 gallon of water per person per day.
Tap water may be unsafe to drink in the event of a disaster, so be sure to include plenty of purified water in bottles or jugs, and some water filters.
Canned soup, tuna, nuts, dried fruit, beef jerky, nut butter, protein bars, cereal, powdered milk, dry pasta, survival food and packaged crackers are good options.
Don’t forget to pack a can opener, utensils, dishes, waterproof matches, and a camp stove, if possible.
At the minimum you should have a 3 day supply of food and water ready, but it’s best to store enough for 2 weeks.
Related post: How to build a root cellar
Step 5: Add shelter and safety supplies
Pack emergency blankets, sleeping bags, and a tent or two in case you can’t stay in your home. A multipurpose tool (like a knife/file/pliers/screwdriver combo), and a whistle would also be handy to have in your kit.
Step 6: Add a first aid kit
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines should be included in your kit.
Add a basic first aid kit containing instant ice packs, bandages, antiseptic ointment, scissors, tape, a suture kit, and so on.
Related post: How to build the ultimate first aid kit
Pack extra glasses or contact lenses and solution, and any other medical supplies that may be needed, like a cane or hearing aids with extra batteries.
Step 7: Store important papers in a safe place
Important papers could be lost in a natural disaster, so fill the box with copies of each family member’s ID as well as birth certificates, passports, deeds, and titles.
You could also include insurance paperwork, immunization records, and a copy of your family emergency plan. Add a list of phone numbers and addresses for family members and other important contacts, too.
- Keep both the box and key in your emergency kit.
- Alternatively, you can scan important documents and store them on memory stick inside of a waterproof container in your kit.
It might not be the most exciting topic in the world, but preparing yourself and your home for this danger is one of the first things you should learn how to do.
BONUS
If you haven’t yet - now is the time to try Valley Food Storage, the leader in clean and healthy freeze-dried food that lasts up to 25 years, by taste testing a FREE sample of delicious freeze-dried food.
No un-natural chemicals or ingredients are EVER added, and most don’t even realize it is freeze-dried food. Just choose the food you want, and they will send it.
Being prepared for an emergency doesn’t make you irrational or paranoid - it means you care about yourself and your loved ones, and understand that a disaster is possible at any time.
Having a long-term food supply is the most important piece in emergency preparedness - none of those tools matter if you don’t have food to eat.
If you haven’t tried freeze-dried food or are not sure which kind to purchase, for a limited time, you can taste test a FREE sample of delicious Valley Food Storage.
Let me know if you think it is as amazing as everyone else says it is.
Why are they giving away free samples?
Because they made a promise that their customers will store food they'll love to eat. The only way to make sure they are meeting that promise is to get it into as many homes as possible and get real feedback from real people.
But they can only give away a limited number of free samples - (1 Free Bag Per Order)
What other advices would you give to fellow preppers? We want to know your thoughts here. Comment in the section below.
