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Disasters are unexpected occurrences in most cases. The world is a dynamic place and as such, situations keep changing. The weather can be amazing one day, and you might be facing floods or even worse, an earthquake the next day.
In such instances, your family is your top priority. Evacuation is the worst case scenario and you always need to be prepared in case of such emergencies. When disaster strikes, things start moving very fast and you cannot afford to panic and not know what to do. It’s up to you to ensure your family is safe and you have supplies to last you as long as it takes.
10 things you need to keep in stock for emergencies
There are a number of supplies that you need to have ready in case of emergencies. Always have them stocked in bags, ready to go when disaster strikes. It’s important that you pack more supplies that what you actually need. Why is this important? You cannot predict just how long such situations will last and therefore it’s imperative that you pack more than you require. Also, you may need to help out other victims without the very much needed supplies. It’s how you will get by during such tough times.
- Well stocked first aid kit
You will need to buy a first aid kit that is stocked with the appropriate provisions which will come in handy during any emergency. Do not forget to add painkillers like ibuprofen and antiseptic sprays which will go a long way in helping any injured persons’ deal with the pain.
- Food
Food is a vital supply for any survival situation. You will need energy to keep moving around in case of evacuation or to just keep going the days that follow any disaster. Make sure that the foods you stock are well packaged in durable materials, like cans and bottles.
Keeping in mind that you may need the food for a while, you need to ensure its non-perishable, and as such, cannot go bad even if not kept refrigerated.
- Water
Store gallons of water in portable bottles that will be easy to carry in case of any emergency. We cannot survive without drinking water therefore you should ensure you have more than enough for you and your family. To top it off, research on the different ways to purify water in case you find yourself in a situation where you can only access contaminated water. One sure way of purification is through boiling. It’s always good to know about other methods. You don’t know when you might need to use that knowledge.
- Lighters
Since you don’t know if you will have access to power during a disaster, it’s good to be ready with different sources of light. Pack flashlights for each family member, an overhead lamp is possible, a lighter, candles and wooden matches. All these may seem like a lot but keep in mind that you can never be too prepared. It’s better to cover all bases than have problems when disaster strikes.
- Sleeping gear
Even in a disaster, you will need to sleep. Ensure that you have enough sleeping bags for your family. They should be thick enough to shield you from the cold at night especially if you might find yourself sleeping outside.
The last thing you want is a sick person on your hands during such a disastrous period.
- Hygiene supplies
At the end of the day, you have to practice personal hygiene, even if the situation does not favor this. Pack enough toiletries for you and your family. Soaps, wet towels and tissues should be at the top of your list.
- Radio and batteries
You will need to be informed on the extent of the disaster. Having a small radio will go a long way in ensuring you are always on the know on what’s going on. Uncertainty causes panic among the victims and it’s always good to know what exactly was happening. Do not forget to pack extra batteries for when the ones in the radio get exhausted.
- Propane stove
The stove will definitely come in handy for those cold nights or even when you need to heat up water or some food. You should be well informed on the various ways you can conserve the propane to avoid running out.
- Outdoor clothing
You need to be adequately prepared for evacuation situations. And as such, you will need to stock up on thick clothing for all the family members. The clothing will help you keep the cold at bay at night, or even during the day if disaster strikes in winter.
- Hiking gear
In some situations, you may be required to walk over long distances to reach the rescue centers. Ensure that you are ready for such a scenario. Stock up on durable backpacks among other hiking gear that will help your family trek miles on end without getting injured.
Protect your family by being prepared
You will not always be able to protect your family against any unwanted occurrence. It’s vital that you try, however, to be prepared to shield them from danger the best way you can.
Learn basic survival tricks
Here is the deal. During an emergency, so many people panic and end up confused, not knowing what to do. You have a family to take care of. You do not have the luxury to even panic. To adequately prepare for this, go online and watch as many survival videos as you can. Try to learn the basic tricks that helped people survive when they had a disaster on their hands. It’s these skills that will help you manage your family better during an emergency.
Have a plan
Just knowing basic survival tricks won’t cut it. You need to be more prepared for emergencies. This requires that you have sit down and come up with a fool-proof plan on what to actually do during a disaster.
Conduct family drill exercises
You cannot be the only person preparing for the worst. You need to get your family in on it so that if faced with any emergencies, they will know what to do.
Go through your plan with them step by step and keep practicing until you all get it right. Since you do not know when a disaster may occur, the drill test will equip your family with the skills they will need even if you will not be around at the actual time of the emergency.
Stock up on supplies
There are provisions that you will need during an emergency. Food, water, light, first aid kit, batteries, thick clothing and hiking gear is just among the many things you will need to stock up on. Make sure to buy everything in extra quantities.
Always be ready
Some disaster can be predicted but in most occasions, no one knows exactly when they will hit. You should always be ready for any emergency so that instead of panicking when it happens, you will swing right into action. Being ready also helps you manage your family during such uncertain times. Your family’s safety should be your top priority.
5 survival tips and tricks for the future
- Be informed
Research on the different kinds of disasters that can hit your area and start preparing. You cannot afford to be ignorant when it comes to such matters.
Read widely on how best to deal with each kind of disaster and why you need to be prepared beforehand.
- Have an emergency plan in mind
You could have the knowledge on what to do but without an actual plan, your information is not worth much. Having a good plan will help you prepare well leaving no stones untouched. The plan includes different strategies you can follow during a disaster. Also, it includes a checklist that you will need to tick against for every step you tackle. The checklist ensures you do not forget anything during your preparation.
- Practice with your family
Your family needs to be ready as well. Start by conducting drills depicting different emergency scenarios and see how they would react. This prepares you mentally on their capabilities when it comes to disaster preparedness. Next, take them through what they would need to do in the different scenarios.
- Emergency kit
Every emergency preparation should include having an emergency kit where you stock up on necessary provisions like food, water, first aid kit, lighters and sleeping bags. The kit is ideal for any given emergency and not just for earthquakes or floods. It should be placed in a place that can be easily accessed even if the house came down, and all the family members should know where it was kept.
- Have a safe kitty
It’s always good to have some money saved up for a rainy day. You get to decide if to keep the money in the bank or in a location where you can access it any time, be it day or night. You may not always know what kind of situations will come your way in future. To be able to survive any emergency, you will need money for extra supplies or even just for transportation for your family to safer areas.
What to do in the case of a power outage
Power outages are a common occurrence in most of our homes. However, you should know what to do when this happens. To begin with, do not panic. This is especially if this is not common in your area. Calm your family and assure them that you will have power soon enough. If it’s just your house without power in the neighborhood, check the main switches to ensure everything is intact then contact your power provider to know what exactly is happening. If it’s the whole neighborhood that is experiencing a power outage, there are a few things you should do. First, get a flashlight and switch off the main power lines and the gas lines. Also, ensure that the refrigerator door and the freezer are closed. This should be followed with turning off all appliances that use power in the house. If you have a generator for backup, you can switch it on in the meantime. If the situation gets worse, you may need to evacuate your homes. Before you do, ensure that gas, water, and power lines are turned off to prevent any leaks or surges when power comes back. You should always have an emergency plan beforehand for such a situation. When evacuating, gather all your family members together and advise that you all stick together. Carry your emergency supplies with you since you may not know when you will be required to return to your homes.
How to prepare for the worst
I sleep better at night knowing that I am ready for the worst. It doesn’t make me a negative person. On the contrary, it makes me a survivor, a realist. You should also live knowing you are prepared for any emergencies that may occur. Always keep in mind that disasters can happen any time. You don’t get a warning for that. So you need to be ready at all times. For instance, your contact information among any other vital information should be stored in multiple locations, ready for extraction. You can store this on flash disks and have them in your work desk, at home, or even under a pot in the patio. Any other important documents like deeds and certificates should be kept in the bank for safe keeping. Having them at your home risks them getting lost or destroyed if disaster hits.
Have an emergency kit stashed away with enough supplies to last your family during the entire emergency period. Do not forget to communicate with your family consistently and train them on how to best deal with emergencies. This prepares them to survive even in your absence. As I said before, there is nothing as being too prepared. You are better off covering all bases and resting easy knowing you can handle whatever comes your way.
Checklist for surviving an earthquake
You can never be fully prepared when an earthquake strikes. The damage caused make earthquakes one of the worst disasters you ever have to face. The trick is trying your best to be prepared so that you can come out the other end unscathed. Here is what you will need to survive any earthquake.
Keep your family together
It’s important that you all stay together as a family. During such a disaster, there is bound to be chaos everywhere and the more you stay together, the better. You will be able to look out for each other and keep each other safe.
Enough survival food
When earthquakes hit, all the residents are evacuated to safer zones as the damage is accessed and victims rescued. You will definitely need food to take your family through the next few days. Pack more than you will need. In such scenarios, you would rather have an excess of supplies than shortages. The food needs to be non-perishable, to be able to last you as long as it takes.
Water
You will need to stay hydrated the entire time. In case you had no time to carry water from your home, you can improvise and purify contaminated water. You can achieve this by boiling water and tapping the steam. When it cools down, it becomes water. Filtering is another way to get clean water. Go for the method that you can easily use with the resources you have at hand.
Sleeping gear
Having thick sleeping bags and clothing will protect you and your family against the cold. Most rescue centers are located on open ground. It would be a difficult task trying to sleep on the ground if you didn’t have enough sleeping bags.
Lighter
During earthquake disasters, the power supply is cut off. It’s vital that you have lighters in form of wooden matches, candles and even overhead lamps if possible to give you lighting at night.
Are you living on a fault line?
You might be living on a fault line and even have no idea if this is the case. Why? Some of the places we live in provide that natural atmosphere and landscape that we crave but they are most prone to natural disasters like earthquakes. The only way to ascertain whether you live on a fault line is to go online and key in your exact location on the zone maps. These maps will tell you how close you are to being affected in case of an earthquake. Some of these disasters are inevitable but when you know that you are living in a dangerous zone, it helps you be prepared or better yet, decide to move to a safer zone. Your family’s safety should be your number one priority when it comes to emergencies.
I’m not a prepper or anything like that, but I am anxious about the near future. There just this feeling I have, feeling that the worst will happen very soon, considering the political instability of the entire globe. Hope I’m wrong, but I will go with my gut and prepare, just in case the worst should happen. Thank you for these tips, and I hope that you will write more of these articles in the future.
This is a good read for preparing for disaster and unexpected occurrences. I learned a lot.
It’s pretty commonly stated that disaster can strike at any time and that to better your odds of survival, you need to be prepared.This is a great help.
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When you are not careful, then it is always a very difficult thing for you to do when a crisis comes in.I am so happy that we have an amazing post that will be of great help to us. Let us be prepared and make thins work.
The amount of food to stock is up to you and your available storage space. If you’re short on space, you may only be able to keep few day’s worth of food on hand (tip: store stuff under your bed, if you can secure the containers against your always-curious toddler). If you are unsure about how much food you and your family will need, check out this calculator, courtesy of the Latter Day Saints. (Note: the calculator is based on stocking food for one year, so you’ll have to do a little extra math if you want a smaller pantr
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There is so much information here that i can use for many purposes. The kind of information that has helped me plan very well for many cases. I like how well its presented.