by Preparation | Jul 1, 2023 | Preparation Guide
As we approach the peak of hurricane season, it’s essential to take steps towards disaster preparedness. Natural disasters can strike at any time and without warning, leaving families scrambling to protect themselves and their homes. By creating a plan and taking proactive measures, you can ensure that your family is safe and prepared in case of an emergency. Here are some critical steps to follow when preparing your home and family for natural disasters:
1. Creating a Disaster Plan
The first step towards disaster preparedness is creating a comprehensive plan. This should include information on evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and meeting places. It’s also crucial to identify potential risks in your area and develop strategies to mitigate them. For example, if you live in a region prone to flooding, consider elevating furniture or moving valuable items to higher ground.
2. Gathering Emergency Supplies
Once you have a plan in place, it’s essential to gather emergency supplies. These should include non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, and first aid kits. You may also want to invest in a portable generator or solar panels to maintain power during outages. Remember to check expiration dates regularly and restock as needed.
3. Preparing Your Home for Natural Disasters
To prepare your home for natural disasters, start by inspecting the exterior and making necessary repairs. This includes ensuring that gutters are clear, trees are trimmed back, and roofs are secure. Inside, make sure to store important documents such as insurance policies, passports, and birth certificates in a fireproof safe or other secure location. You may also want to install security cameras to monitor your property while you’re away.
4. Communication and Evacuation Procedures
Communication is key during times of crisis. Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in case of an emergency, including how to contact each other and where to meet up. Establish a designated emergency contact who lives outside of your area and make sure they have updated phone numbers and email addresses. Finally, practice evacuation procedures regularly so that everyone knows what to expect.
By following these four critical steps, you can help keep your family safe and prepared in case of a natural disaster. While no one wants to think about worst-case scenarios, being proactive can save lives and reduce stress during difficult times.
by Preparation | Jun 28, 2023 | Preparation Guide
Introduction to Disaster Preparedness
When it comes to disaster preparedness, being proactive is key. Natural disasters can strike at any time and without warning, leaving devastation in their wake. By taking the necessary steps to prepare for a variety of emergencies, you can help ensure that your family stays safe and informed during even the most difficult situations. In this guide, we’ll cover everything from creating an emergency plan to staying connected with loved ones after a crisis has passed.
The Importance of Having a Plan
Having a solid disaster preparedness plan in place is essential for keeping yourself and your family safe during times of crisis. The first step in developing such a plan is identifying potential risks and hazards in your area. This could include anything from hurricanes and floods to wildfires or earthquakes. Once you have identified these potential threats, you should create a detailed plan outlining what actions you will take in each scenario. This might involve evacuating to a designated shelter or simply hunkering down and riding out the storm.
Creating an Emergency Kit
Another important aspect of disaster preparedness is having a well-stocked emergency kit on hand. Your kit should contain enough supplies to last your family for at least three days, including food, water, medical supplies, and other essentials. It’s also a good idea to include items like flashlights, batteries, and portable chargers to help you stay connected and informed during a crisis.
Staying Informed During a Crisis
During a disaster, staying informed is crucial. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive updates and alerts, such as a weather radio, smartphone app, or social media accounts. Keep an eye on local news channels and websites to stay up-to-date on the latest developments, and be sure to follow any instructions given by authorities.
Evacuation Procedures and Routes
If evacuation becomes necessary, make sure you know the best routes to safety and have a predetermined meeting spot for your family members. Practice your evacuation procedures regularly so everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
Shelter Options and Safety Tips
Depending on the type of disaster, you may need to seek refuge in a designated shelter. Research potential shelters in your area ahead of time and familiarize yourself with their policies and procedures. If you are unable to reach a shelter, consider alternative options such as staying with friends or relatives outside of the affected area. Remember to always prioritize your personal safety above all else.
Communicating With Loved Ones During a Disaster
During a disaster, communication can be challenging. However, there are several tools and resources available to help you stay connected with loved ones. Consider investing in a satellite phone or walkie-talkies, which can often still function when traditional cell phones cannot. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can also be useful for sharing information and updating statuses.
Coping With the Aftermath of a Disaster
After a disaster has passed, coping with the emotional fallout can be just as challenging as dealing with the physical damage. Take care of yourself and your family by seeking support from mental health professionals if needed, and try to maintain a sense of normalcy by sticking to routines and activities that bring comfort.
Conclusion: Next Steps for Disaster Preparedness
By following these guidelines, you can help ensure that you and your family are prepared for whatever disasters may come. Remember to stay vigilant, stay informed, and always prioritize your safety and the safety of those around you.
by Preparation | May 11, 2023 | Preparation Guide, Preparedness
In today’s unpredictable world, emergency situations can happen to anyone at any time. Whether it is a natural disaster like a hurricane or a man-made disaster, being prepared for such emergency situations is critical. Emergency preparedness involves taking specific steps to plan, prepare and respond to unexpected events. In this article, we will explore the top 5 questions people ask about specific steps for emergency preparedness.
1. What Is Emergency Preparedness?
Emergency preparedness refers to the process of planning, preparing, and responding to emergency situations. These events may include a variety of natural disasters or human-made threats. Being well prepared for such situations can help to minimize the potential damage and loss of life.
2. Why Is Emergency Preparedness Important?
Emergency preparedness is essential because it can save lives and protect property. In times of an emergency, every second counts. Having a well-planned emergency preparedness plan in place can help you and your family act fast, stay safe and survive. It can also help to reduce the burden on emergency services.
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3. What Are the Key Elements of Emergency Preparedness?
The key elements of emergency preparedness include risk assessments, emergency plans, communication strategies, and emergency kits. Risk assessments involve evaluating potential threats and hazards that may arise in a particular area. An emergency plan outlines the steps to take during an emergency, including evacuation routes, communication plans, and emergency contacts. Communication strategies include alert systems, warning signals, and response protocols. Emergency kits should contain essential items like food, water, shelter, medication, and tools.
4. What Are Some Specific Steps to Take for Emergency Preparedness?
It is important to have a well-established emergency preparedness plan in place that takes into account the specific hazards and risks in your area. This may include the development of emergency communication strategies and evacuation plans. You should also create and maintain an emergency kit that includes essential items such as food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights, and a radio. Additionally, training for various emergencies, including CPR and basic first aid, can support in an emergency.
5. What Are Some Essential Items for Emergency Preparedness Kits?
Emergency kits should contain items that can sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours. Essential items include food, water, shelter (i.e., blankets, emergency shelter), first aid supplies, hygiene items, medication, communication devices, and necessary tools (i.e., whistle, compass, flashlight, and batteries).
Conclusion:
Emergency preparedness is a critical aspect of life that cannot be ignored. It is crucial to have a holistic preparedness plan that considers all the possible risks and hazards in your area. Specific steps for emergency preparedness may include risk assessment, development of emergency plans, and maintenance of emergency kits. Remember, the safety of you and your family starts with preparedness.
by Preparation | Jun 2, 2022 | Preparation Call, Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies
This is about a Preparation Call. I certainly don’t like the gloom and doom messages or fearmongering that was rampant during the “prepper era”. The reality is, times are difficult and likely going to get more difficult as we move forward. I must admit I’ve been hesitant to really share what was on my heart over the years because I didn’t want people to misinterpret the message.
Obviously, in my mind I’m not a pessimist. I have a faith that is optimistic about the future, and confident in the outcome. That doesn’t change the realities and difficulties that we most certainly will face. That also does not alter the concerns I have for individuals and families that will refuse to see what we are facing.
I agree with the power of positive thinking to alter an individual’s course in life, but I’m not sure positive thinking can alter a war or divert a natural disaster. Certainly, individuals can have an impact on the course of history – and if enough individuals will embrace they can be a major catalyst for change.
Today, unfortunately, I’m not feeling overly positive about the choices that many individuals have been making collectively – and the world is certainly impacted. I’d like to believe we have an opportunity to fix things for the better. Is it possible to alter the outcomes when the prophets of old have foreseen the difficulties that we are about to endure? No one knows the timeline for future events and no one can predict how things will unfold. We can pray for wisdom, and can prepare ourselves and our families for whatever difficulties may come.
Being prepared does not mean living without hope and excitement for the future. It does not mean giving up enjoyment of life and crawling into a cave. It certainly does not mean loading up on ammo and booby trapping your home waiting for the zombies to come.
A preparation call is being aware that there are storm clouds on the horizon and you should probably bring in the laundry. Take some extra efforts to get things organized and in better order. Be sure to think of your family and make some extra plans for them – because they may not be looking ahead and preparing.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some additional insights on preparedness. We’ll discuss the looming inflationary crisis, and multiple wars that we will likely be experiencing and how it will impact our lives. Above all, keep your hearts open to faith, hope and love.
by Preparation | May 23, 2022 | Preparation Call, Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies
It sounds a bit far-fetched and fear-mongering to talk about storing water, but a few years ago who would have even considered that the whole world would shut down with our latest pandemic. It’s been crazy to say the least.
The worst part it, I don’t think our pandemic days are completely behind us either. Whether you believe in the pandemic or not, the reality is we are all going to be affected one-way-or another. Even if it is a giant hoax, the world is being shuffled around in ways that will likely impact every person. Are you prepared for the latest new scare that is being pushed? We now get to deal with the new monkey pox virus. With that, let’s at least talk about how to store water in the event of a pandemic.
If things go bad, you may lose the ability to have water in your home the way that you’ve always depended on it in the past. In a pandemic, a water supply can suddenly become unusable.
The water supply can become compromised at any time. This is why you often see those boil advisories on the news. You need to be prepared by stockpiling water as soon as possible.
The water must be stored away from any direct sunlight. Warm water is an invitation for bacteria to grow and has the potential to make you sick. So you’ll need to keep the water stored in a cool area.
After you get your supply in, you need to look over it often to make sure it remains viable. Water can be stored in plastic bottles or jugs. Wash the bottles, soda bottles or any clear jugs and then fill them with water from your home.
You can also buy water barrels. These are 55 gallon barrels that are great for holding a large supply of water and you can find them online. They’re specifically for long-term water storage.
But you would also need to keep these away from direct sunlight. You can create a cistern for catching rainwater. What you do is position a barrel beneath any runoff areas of your home.
For example, you can place the cistern directly beneath your gutter pipe. Instead of the water going into the ground and getting wasted, it can be used for drinking or other water needs.
In a pinch, when you need a water supply, you can get it from rivers, ponds or lakes – but the water must be treated first before it’s safe to use. When you use water that you get or collect yourself, you need a filtering system.
The filter can clear your water of bacteria and other pathogens that can make you ill if you ingest them. There are different kinds of systems you can get – ranging from the very elaborate to the very simple, such as filtering straws.
Boiling the water you need to use for eating or drinking kills pathogens as long as the temperature of the water hits about 215 degrees Fahrenheit. Chemical ways to purify water includes using iodine.
You can get these in tablets or crystals. But you need to be aware that iodine does not kill some organisms. So use these only in a case where you have nothing else to use.
Chlorine tablets are good to use to purify water and so is regular household bleach. If you use bleach, don’t use any brands that have additives. So don’t use scented bleach.
To make water safe to drink, put ¼ of a teaspoon into every gallon of water you want to purify. So if you had a five gallon container of water you wanted to make safe for use, you would add a teaspoon of household bleach.
by Preparation | Dec 1, 2018 | Preparation Call, Preparation Guide, Preparation Supplies
We don’t know what the future holds and absolutely want to be prepared regardless of the situation. For that reason, let’s talk about Disaster Preparedness and the Basics Of Emergency Situation Supplies.
Whether it’s an earthquake, flooding, tornado, storm, or brush fire, we’re all encouraged to be prepared. As well as what far better way to guarantee your family’s wellness than to have the emergency situation supplies you need always available? When individuals feel prepared, they manage emergencies much better. So make it a family job to assemble what you need.
Before disaster strikes
You can not always recognize in breakthrough when a certain disaster will strike, seasonal or local patterns can commonly inform you what to expect. Make certain to have on hand the supplies your family will require.
Water: You should keep at the very least one gallon of water per individual per day, for a minimum of 3 days. An usually active individual requires at the very least one-half gallon of water daily simply for drinking. Various other requirements include washing, cooking and also sanitation. Kids, nursing mommies, as well as those that are ill requirement more water. High temperatures can double the quantity of water needed.
To be prepared with the best emergency situation supply, it is suggested you purchase readily bottled water. Maintain bottled water in its original container and also don’t open it up until you require it. Shop the containers in a great, dark area, and also turn them every 6 months.
Food: Include a three-day supply of non-perishable food per person, staying clear of products that will certainly make you thirsty. Pick salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals, and canned foods with high fluid web content. Supply tinned foods, completely dry blends, and also other staples that don’t need refrigeration, cooking, water, or unique preparation.
People with unique diets and also allergic reactions will certainly require particular attention, as will children, young children and senior people. Nursing mothers may require liquid formula, in instance they are incapable to registered nurse. Tinned dietetic foods, juices as well as soups might be useful for sick or senior individuals.
Various Other Emergency Supplies: Consist of these things in your emergency situation set.
– Emergency Radio
– Emergency Situation Sanitation Supplies
– Kitchen area devices as well as cooking utensils, including a can opener
– Shovel as well as other valuable devices
– Emergency Illumination
– House liquid bleach to treat alcohol consumption water
– Loan and also matches in a water-resistant container
– Fire extinguisher
– Gas and Water Turn Off Tools
– First help package as well as manual
– Copies of credit and also identification cards
– Special needs things, such as eye glasses, call lens remedies and hearing help batteries
– Items for infants, such as formula, baby diapers, containers, and pacifiers
– Various other items to fulfill your special family requirements
Apparel: If you stay in a cool environment, you must consider warmth considering that you may be without heat for a while. Be certain to include one complete modification of clothes as well as footwear per person, consisting of:
– Coat or layer
– Lengthy trousers
– Lengthy sleeve t-shirt
– Strong footwear
– Hat, mittens, and scarf
– Resting bag or cozy blanket
Storage: Equally as crucial as putting your supplies with each other is keeping them so they are secure to make use of when required. Here are some tips to keep your supplies all set and also in good problem:
– Keep canned foods in a great completely dry place.
– Store boxed food in snugly shut plastic or steel containers to safeguard from parasites as well as to extend life span.
– Throw away any tinned great that becomes inflamed, dinged up, or worn away.
– Adjustment saved food and water supplies every 6 months. Make sure to compose the storage day on all containers.
– Re-think your requirements every year as well as upgrade your set as your household needs change.
– Maintain items in closed plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies set in one or 2 easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack, or duffel bag.
Guarantee you are ready for future occasions by replenishing your emergency supply kits now. After that, if things go incorrect, you’ll be prepared.
