Natural Disasters-Make Yourself Ready at Home



Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2008

by Anita Koppens
Dynamic Page Solutions

No matter what region of the nation you call home, each part of the United States is prone to natural disasters. The East Coast and the South have to fret about the threat of hurricanes and other strong storms. Residents of the Midwest have to be ready for tornadoes, while those in the Southwest get ready for monsoons and droughts in the desert. If you live on the West Coast, you have to be ready for possible mudslides and earthquakes. There is no region of the country that is exempt from these worrying threats. The natural disasters are going to happen. The good news is that you and your family can get ready for these events, so that when they do occur, you will be ready.

Although you need to be set for any fateful event, some natural disasters are more likely to take place in only particular regions. You probably do not need to have a life vest on hand for a hurricane if you live in Utah, and most Arizona houses have no basements or storm shelters for practical reasons. Become familiar with the history of your state or region to decide which types of natural disasters are most expected to happen in your area. You can also go to the American Red Cross website to prepare for specific disasters that may occur in your state.

There are a few things that everyone needs to do, whatever type of disaster you are most likely to face. Gathering a supply of water is one of the most essential, simply because people cannot survive long without a supply of fresh water. Store at least six gallons of water per family member. This will give a week's supply of consumable water. When you store the water, only put it into new containers or those that have only been used for food or water in the past. Place your water in a cool, dry spot in your home.

The second thing you need to do to get your home equipped for any possibility is to put food aside. Store foods that are not perishable such as canned and boxed provisions. Be sure to include a can opener that does not require electricity to your stash as well. If your food items will have to be cooked, make sure it can be cooked on a grill if needed. Also store food for your pets and any supplies you need for small children. Keep all of it away from insect invasion and spoilage due to moisture, such as up on an elevated shelf.

Another way to be prepared is to put together an emergency kit and store it in a large duffle bag or several backpacks. The first item that is recommended is a first-aid kit. This kit should have latex gloves, burn ointments, pain relievers, tweezers, eye wash, gauze, antibiotic ointment any prescriptions that you may need, as well as a variety of adhesive bandages. Also store in your emergency kit a flashlight, extra batteries, a radio (battery operated), scissors, and at least one set of clothes for everyone in the family. Place this collection in a specific location and communicate to each family member where it is.

Talk to everyone in your family about what should happen in case of a natural disaster. Just like a school will practice a tornado, fire, or earthquake drill depending on where you live, your family should have a plan ahead of time as well. Children do better in a crisis situation if they have a routine or have been informed what to do. Make sure everyone knows where to go if there is a natural disaster, and what items they should bring. In events like natural disasters, it is always better to prepare as much as possible before the event happens.
 
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