I learned how NOT to prepare for natural disasters and emergencies on a backpacking trip many years ago. The day we arrived I discovered that instead of packing our everyday essentials my then boyfriend (now husband) brought a bag of…wait for it – old clothes earmarked for Goodwill.
While the switched bag was more an inconvenience than an emergency, it could have just as easily been the emergency supply bag misidentified and left behind during an evacuation. When our son was born years later It was time for a better plan. It now includes five steps for helping loved ones prepare for natural disasters and emergencies:
1. Prepare for emergencies by allocating prime real estate to supplies
Location. Location. Location.
Where you store your emergency kit is just as important as what you put in it. As a result – your first step is to designate an easy-to-access closet or cabinet for your supplies. Ask yourself: can all responsible family members reach the emergency kit without moving heavy boxes, using a key or needing a ladder?
Don’t wait until you have all your emergency supplies lined up to create this space. Create it and store whatever supplies you have on hand now. The best supplies to use in case of an emergency are the ones you already have AND can locate!
Once you place your supplies in your chosen location, you are ready for step 2.
MomTip #1: Make it a habit to keep your passports or other forms of photo ID with your emergency kit. It will ensure you have them with you in case of an evacuation.
2. Prepare for natural disasters by assembling a home emergency kit
Secondly, make a list of all the items you’ll need for each family member and collect some backpacks to pack them into.
Not sure what to include in your emergency kit? Visit Read.gov for an Emergency Supply List.
Don’t worry about assembling your kit all at once. Instead, share your Amazon Wishlist with family and ask them to purchase items such as backpacks and first aid kits as holiday gifts.
3. Personalize your supplies by creating special kits for special needs
When an emergency strikes, it might be hard to access provisions for pets, nursing moms, or family members with special needs. To avoid being without vital resources and supplies, create specialized kits that are unique to your family.
Here are examples of kits and useful links for assembling them:
- Individuals with disabilities: Visit this ready.gov page to learn how to prepare and what to pack for these special circumstances.
- Woman’s care kit: Keep a small stash of pads, tampons, hand sanitizer, and a manual breast pump inside one of your emergency bags. Even if you don’t end up using them, someone else might.
- Prescription medication: Visit this CDC page for suggested quantities and proper storage of important medications.
- Child-centered kit: In addition to this CDC list, consider adding small, easy-to-carry items such as glow-in-the-dark tape, glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark books, or Lightbeam books. Use these to engage kids during power outages or when resources are limited.
- Pet emergency supplies: Consider keeping these supplies inside your pet carrier for easy retrieval.
Ready for more? There are only two more steps to go!
4. Prepare for natural disasters by printing emergency manuals and guides
Next, let the experts do the work for you. Rather than memorizing everything emergency-related, place hard copies of useful manuals and guides together with your emergency supplies. These hard copies will provide you with vital information, even when the network is down during an emergency.
Here are a few helpful manuals to include:
- A hard copy First Aid Manual is a basic guide for dealing with everyday first aid situations. This manual is not a substitute for First Aid training but it will do for minor medical emergencies or as a stopgap until emergency services can arrive.
- Government-issued natural disaster/ emergency guides: Ready.gov will provide you with free printable publications for any type of disaster or emergency you want to get ready for, in multiple languages.
Are you an LA resident? here is a bonus emergency manual for you –
- Emergency Survival Guide is a free resource offered by LA County as a downloadable version or as a hard copy mailed to your home upon request. This no-frills guide will help you and your family navigate your way through planning and responding to various emergency situations.
MomTip #2: Consider uploading other important documents and emergency plans to the Cloud or making photocopies to keep together with manuals and guides. Find a full list of suggested documents here: Protecting Important Records during an Emergency.
5. Get everyone on the same page by sharing emergency plans and contacts
Lastly, It’s a great idea to practice your emergency plan with your family every so often but life happens and people get busy. The next best thing is making sure all family members can access a concise emergency plan and important contact information in hard copy and on the Cloud.
Place this printed information in all emergency backpacks, school backpacks, office desks, and cars and Include a personal note in your own handwriting at the bottom of each plan. If someone needs this piece of paper they most likely need your words of encouragement as well.
Not sure what the plan should look like? Check out this RedCross Family Disaster Plan for a free printable template.
Mom Tip #3: Feeling overwhelmed? Start by completing only one of the above steps. When you do, you will be better prepared than most people for many emergencies.
At the end of the day, your premeditation and preparations will make a difference to your family’s emergency preparedness. Once you complete these five steps (and take your time!) you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your family has what they need when they need it.
Want to include family members in your emergency preparations? Read my follow-up piece titled: “Home Emergency Preparedness Made Easy (and fun!)“