With everyone stuck inside for the foreseeable future, it is more important than ever to have a disaster preparedness plan in place for your family. You can do your part to avert the worst by taking some commonsense actions in advance. Here are some of your best options.
Have Plans for A Variety of Situations
What can truly save your family’s lives in an emergency is having agreed-upon plans in place. You must also ensure everyone understands them. For example, having a dedicated meeting place which varies depending on the disaster is warranted. This could be across the street or at a neighbor’s house in the case of a fire, or an interior room or basement in the case of a tornado. It is especially important to present these plans to children in understandable terms for their age and stress the importance of reacting sensibly instead of in panic.
Have Sufficient Supplies
Another good practice for disaster preparation is to keep certain supplies on hand. Place them somewhere you can access in the event of an emergency. Enough nonperishable food that can last one to two weeks is wise to keep around your house, as well as a well-stocked first aid kit. These measures are especially valuable if you live in a remote area or a region where a disaster could happen over a prolonged period of time, such as places prone to serious blizzards. Be sure to keep these supplies accessible from your designated shelter.
Make Reasonable Building Reinforcements
You can reinforce your home itself to aid in warding off destructive natural forces. For example, if you live in an area where hurricanes are common, you will want hurricane-resistant windows. If you live in tornado alley a dedicated tornado survival shelter is a good investment. You can also perform more general updates such as roof waterproofing that can keep your house not only standing but in good shape once the danger has passed.
Familiarize Your Children with Emergency Contacts
To include your children in the conversation about emergency preparedness, you should ensure they know who they should contact in an emergency. Write down important contact numbers and show your children where you keep that information. Tell your children about who they should contact and how those people can help them. Help them know how to contact your neighbors as well as non-emergency police and fire department numbers. Instruct them in the proper use of 911 as well.
No one wants to face their worst fear of being trapped at home with their children in danger. There are ways you can mitigate risks that you should absolutely take advantage of. This will help you do everything in your power to keep your children safe in the event of a disaster.
