Preparing for times of disaster

Whether you live in the western United States and have experienced fires and droughts, or on the East Coast and have weathered hurricanes and floods, you are likely to experience one or more natural disasters in your lifetime. Being prepared won’t eliminate the test, but it will help you heal and sustain yourself until the damage can heal again. There are three basic ways to prepare for a disaster.

1. SECURE YOUR HOME. You may not necessarily notice that heavy vases stored on top of kitchen cabinets, bookcases in the study, or glass mirror in the hallway are potential hazards in your home, but during floods, tornadoes, hurricanes. or earthquakes, these items could cause injury. Securing heavy furniture to the walls could prevent it from tipping over on someone. Tying the water heater to the foundation of the house will prevent it from falling and the pipes from breaking. If the water heater is damaged, the gas could spill out and the valuable water could be drained. You can take an inventory of all the rooms in your home to see how to protect them from storms and keep your family safe. Remove heavy items from the upper shelves and place them on the lower shelves. Install latches on cabinets containing glassware and secure pictures, mirrors, and other wall decorations with earthquake-proof hooks. Keep shoes or slippers near your bed. Should a disaster strike overnight, you may need to access them immediately to protect your feet from possible broken glass or sharp metal. Also, keep a flashlight in an accessible location in every room to use as a light source.

2. STORE FOOD, WATER AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES. If disaster strikes, grocery stores are likely to be out of order for a while. You may have to depend, for a time, on the food you have in your home. Put away the food your family likes and keep a few extra treats on hand to help provide comfort during a time of chaos or uncertainty. Store water in case your water supply becomes contaminated. Store enough for drinking, as well as for hygiene and cooking needs. Also, have first aid supplies on hand, as well as flashlights and batteries, extra blankets, cash, extra toiletries and feminine items, a manual can opener, and any other basic necessities you may have while sheltering in place. It would be a good idea to have a key to turn off utilities, such as electricity and gas.

3. HAVE A FAMILY PLAN. Whether creating a fire escape plan or writing an evacuation strategy, create a family plan for any type of disaster. Review with your family the possible scenarios in each emergency case. Set up thoughtful solutions that will keep your family safe and help each other get in touch in case you ever get separated. Have a meeting place to go, or a primary contact person, such as grandparents or out-of-state family members to connect with to report your individual status. Remember to keep pets in mind and discuss your family plan frequently with family members. Above all, believe that if you and your family are prepared, difficult times will become more bearable.