Disaster Preparedness: 4 Tips to Help You Weather the Storm

Did you know that eight percent of households suffered from natural disasters in 2017? With climate change getting worse, more and more people in the United States are affected by unprecedented extreme weather events.

One of the best lines of defense against natural disasters is having a disaster preparedness plan. This is a blueprint for your household of what to do in any event that could cause damage to your home and livelihood.

Would you like to learn more about family survival planning? Here are some tips for the ultimate disaster preparedness plan.

Have an Evacuation Plan

For many natural disasters, hunkering down simply is not an option if your home foundation is at risk. For example, wildfires will often have evacuation zones where residents need to vacate their homes in vulnerable areas.

You should work with your family to put together an evacuation plan in case this happens. Have all of your important documents and items packed and ready to take with you at a moment’s notice. You should also ensure that you have disaster supplies, an emergency kit, and transportation for your pets.

Have a Backup Power Source

If your area faces a natural disaster, you need to prepare for losing electricity. Without power, you cannot operate your lights or run appliances such as the fridge and microwave.

A backup generator stored somewhere safe is one of the most useful great storm safety tips in case your power grid goes down. You can buy the best solar generator so that you get your power directly from sunlight.

Gather Disaster Supplies

The general rule of thumb for emergency rations is a week’s worth of food and water per person. Ideally, this means nonperishable staples and a gallon of clean drinking water per day for each member of your household.

You should also have an emergency kit on hand in case of injuries or infection. If your family is trapped in your home or you don’t have direct access to medical care, you can take care of some problems with a simple first aid kit.

Prep Your Property

For ultimate storm safety, you need to protect your home and property as much as possible. This can include storm safety tips like hurricane windows and doors, which are resistant to high winds.

If you can, bring your electrical wiring and outlets above the flood line in your home. That way, you will not have to replace the entire electric system if water gets in.

Take Disaster Preparedness Seriously

You should not have to stress over how to take care of your loved ones in the event of an extreme weather event. With a disaster preparedness plan, you can feel confident that your family and home will be as safe as possible in any natural disaster.

Want to learn about more ways that you can ensure your home stays safe in any situation? Check out the DIY & Household section of our site for more ideas and inspiration for home improvement.