The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has found that 61 percent of surveyed Americans have not created or practiced an emergency plan, while 80 percent of Americans live in counties that have experienced natural disasters. Not having an emergency plan might mean losing a loved one or pet. For small businesses, it might mean financial collapse.
With the unpredictable weather patterns effecting most of the world, there's no real excuse for not being prepared, since so much of it is simply planning, practice, and controlling panic. If you're stressed about money or the different things you might need to buy, here are some tips for emergency preparedness on a budget. Preparation is far less about MREs and much more about having an open and honest discussion of your plans with your family.
Million-dollar natural disasters have touched every single state, and no home is completely safe from one problem or another. They might not be small crises, either: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there have been 26 floods, 25 droughts, 40 hurricanes or tropical cyclones, 15 wildfires, nine deep freezes, 16 winter storms, and 99 severe storms, all costing more than $1 billion since 1980. These are super-storms, and they happen frequently, often requiring families to evacuate.
While yes, it's true that some areas of the U.S. are more likely to be struck by natural disasters than others, each area has its own unique risks that certainly won't make them exempt. That's not to mention that the threat of climate change creates more, more deadly, and more unusual natural disasters.
Then there are still other unlikely but possible scenarios: Tsunamis can affect New York City, volcanoes can affect the central plains, and really, asteroids are always a vague threat we can do nothing about. But it's important to focus on the things we can do something about, what we can (and should) prepare for.
If you live in the Northeast, generally, your greatest risks are flooding, winter weather, and severe storms.
If you live in the South, generally, your greatest risks are hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and mudslides.
If you live in the Central U.S., your most likely disaster scenarios are wildfires, severe storms, and, in some cases, extreme winter weather.
If you live on the West Coast, you'll likely contend with earthquakes, winter weather advisories, wildfires, and flooding.
Hawaii is not often a contender for hurricanes, but that risk has been increasing in recent years. There's also a risk of tsunamis, fire, and flooding overall. Alaska suffers from extreme winter weather, avalanches, wildfires, and earthquakes. The state is home to a few volcanoes as well.
It also may be smart to look at the worst disasters in your state and look up information on past extreme weather in your own hometown or county.
Form a plan based on these likely scenarios when creating your emergency kit and figuring out different aspects of your plan. If you are looking to put together an emergency kit Lowe’s is a great affordable option for generators, batteries, hand tools, masks, and much more. Using a Lowe’s promo code can help customers save up to 20% off at checkout.
While these may be possible, the bulk of your disaster planning should center around low-hanging fruit of plausible scenarios and easy changes. Create a disaster plan around those aspects, and maybe touch upon these unlikely scenarios as a thought experiment. And remind your family not to panic!
These disasters are so extreme that they're impossible to prepare for anyway, right? Of course not, as a few simple things you can do as a family will save a lot of trauma, time, and money in the long run.
Sign up for alerts. Be sure to turn on alerts on your smartphone; you'll get Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) from the FCC. It might be a good idea to download the FEMA mobile app. If you don't have a smartphone, know that there's also the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio.
Find out how to make your home safer. Regularly check your home for safety issues.
Fill out and print numerous copies of your Family Emergency Communication Plan sheet. Organize all of your emergency numbers, and make sure everyone in the family has a copy of this sheet. Kids in school might even want to give the sheet to their teachers.
Create and communicate your plan with your family (see the next few sections). Use this plan from the American Red Cross, or create an outline based on what to do during each of the most likely emergencies in your area.
Create an evacuation checklist. There's a lot that needs to happen really fast during an evacuation, including things that could save you thousands in repairs, from turning off power to grabbing your supplies. Creating a checklist and leaving it on your fridge can help control the chaos.
Delegate tasks and plan for people and pets who cannot self-advocate. The shortage of time requires that other who are capable in the group will need to pitch in. Give everyone who can do a job a safe, clear task. A child might need to grab your pet. A parent will need to turn off utilities.
Test your communication. Make sure everyone knows their role in an emergency, where they're supposed to be, and how to communicate with each other. Create a phone plan and test it out frequently, making sure everyone knows what to do next.
Practice drills as much as possible. More than your communication plan, it's important to practice drills, especially for kids. Make sure they have visited and know how to get to your meet-up spots on their own. Practice as many times as you can for different scenarios.
Create your disaster kit. We'll go into detail about what you'll need. Don't forget copies of your family's most important documents, like IDs and insurance information.
It's important to make sure that all adults in the household have the same plan and communicate the same information. For everyone else, here are some tips.
Remember: Children are likely to be at school when an emergency hits!
If you have a very small child or a baby, caring for it can be very difficult during a natural disaster. They will be obviously unable to communicate and need a lot of care during an evacuation situation. Be sure to delegate tasks in this case; one person should be looking after the baby while other adults can help everyone else.
Disasters can be very difficult for disabled people and seniors, who have their own mobility and packing needs. Make sure each person has their own list of items to grab or even their own emergency kit. Never make assumptions about their situation, and be sure to check on them and offer help.
It might be too nerve-wracking and you may not want to talk to random neighbors, but your neighbors are the most important group to know well if and when a disaster happens. If at all an option, try to get the ball rolling in your neighborhood to do at least one, if not all, of these things:
Obviously, you can't exactly talk to or rehearse an emergency with your dog, cat, or other type of pet. But it's pretty unforgivable to leave your pets behind. Avoid the last-minute panic of taking care of your pet by doing some prep work.
You don't have to be a survivalist to learn basic skills and do some simple prep work outside of your plan and your kit.
The absolute simplest thing you can do right now is take FEMA's free, simple Web-based training program and learn the simplest ways to help. The five steps are to call 911, stay safe, stop the bleeding, position the injured, and provide comfort.
If you don't want to take a CPR class, know that pushing on the chest hard and fast to the beat of "Stayin' Alive," the disco song, is almost all you need to do.
Another easy way to level up your knowledge is an online course. Note that there are also courses on child and baby first aid.
Usually, the resource to use is a few droplets (just a few!) of unscented bleach, which is important to pack in your kit.
If you're in doubt, throw it out!
Practice setting up shelter, unplugging, and a lot of skills you'd need in an evacuation situation while in a safer environment. Camping is a fun way to test out any of the gear in your emergency kit. If you are on the fence about buying gear just for a theoretical emergency go camping! Sleeping bags, waterproof tents, and thermoregulated gear are great if you lose heat or your home floods. This way you can have fun with the gear and still have it stored safely in your house if an emergency ever happens. If you are going to buy outdoor or survival gear Cabela’s promo codes can help you save anywhere from 10% - 40% off your entire purchase.
Locate the electrical box and natural gas line in your home so you can find them and easily shut them down before leaving for an evacuation without scrambling.
Most homeowners' insurance doesn't cover important things like flooding, so if flooding is a threat for your area, see how much it would cost to add coverage.
Use this disaster preparedness checklist to buy and organize the specific items you need. It would be smart to keep these items together or even in an easy-to-grab suitcase or stuff it all together in a trash can. There are numerous ways to organize and save your supplies.
Water:
The general wisdom is one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days.
Food:
Keep a supply of nonperishable food (such as cans) for a minimum of three days
First Aid Kit:
The Red Cross recommends all of these items in your kit, or you can buy a prepackaged one with a coupon. Remember: it's not just Band-Aids!
Tools:
You'll need a can opener for the food, wrenches or pliers (for turning off your utilities), and perhaps a hammer (if you'll need to make camp).
Sanitation Supplies:
You'll want moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties.
Flashlight:
Always bring extra batteries!
Radio:
It should be a battery-powered or hand-crank radio tuned to a NOAA weather radio station.
Whistle:
You should also have a whistle to signal for help.
Copies of Important Documents:
In a waterproof, safe container, store important family documents such as bank account information, insurance policies, copies of IDs such as your driver's license, reference materials or how-to survival books, and any traveler's checks. You may also want to hide some cash in this container. Make sure it's not easily stolen.
Blankets and Clothing:
Grab a change of clothes and a blanket for each person.
Matches:
Keep them in a waterproof container. A knife and ferro rod can work in emergencies, too, assuming you can find a dry area.
Blankets and/or sleeping bags
A tent
Winter gear (gloves, hats, etc.) for the whole family
Wilderness-ready shoes (hiking boots, etc.)
Mechanic's tool kit
Spare tires
Flares
Local maps
Take the time now to set aside these materials. Other ideas of less-necessary-but-helpful things to add might include a mess kit for food (like plates, knives, and forks), books to read, games to play with the kids, or other leisure activities to keep everyone calm.
Look for emergency essentials coupons online to make sure this doesn't break the bank.
Feeling confident in your plan? Spread the word about how easy it is! And if you're super-confident, see if there are ways locally to get involved with community preparedness.