September is National Preparedness Month and that means that it’s time to refresh your memory on how to prepare for natural disasters and emergencies. It’s extremely important to have a set plan for any natural disaster or emergency that could occur so that you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe. In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of ways to prepare you and your family for emergencies and natural disasters.
Common natural disasters
First, we want to mention the most common types of natural disasters that could occur near you. For instance, floods, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, wildfires, severe thunderstorms, droughts, winter storms, landslides, and cyclones are all common natural disasters that occur in the United States.
How to best prepare
Consider your location
It’s important to consider where you live when preparing for natural disasters so that you know what you need to prepare for in the first place. Based on where you live, you’re more likely to encounter certain natural disasters and emergencies. For instance, if you live in California, you are at a greater risk of experiencing earthquakes and wildfires. Whereas if you live in Florida, you’re more likely to encounter a hurricane or flood.
Prepare a kit of essentials
You’ll want to ensure you’re prepared by grabbing all the essential items you could need in an emergency. This would consist of water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, medicine, a first aid kit, chargers, clothing, blankets, batteries, money, a whistle, and more. If you can, have as many of these items ready to go in a bag you can quickly grab in case of emergency.
Have a set plan
You’ll want to have a set plan based on which emergency or natural disaster is most likely to occur in your area. Go over this plan and practice it with your household routinely so that everyone remembers the drill. This plan could consist of evacuating, taking cover, knowing who to call, where to go, and so on. It’s also important that your plan considers each person’s needs in your household. For instance, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets will most likely need extra assistance.
Learn skills that could save a life
Knowing how to correctly care for someone could save a life during an emergency. Take a class to become CPR certified so that you know what to do if you’re in a situation where it is required. Another course that could be beneficial is a wound care certification class. It’s better to be safe than sorry when considering preparedness for emergencies and disasters.
Secure your home
When securing your home, it’s first essential that you identify any potential risks that could be present in your home. You’ll want to routinely check the stability of your home’s foundation, check the roof, learn how to shut off utilities, and more. You also need to secure your home based on your location. For example, if you live in an area that experiences a lot of severe thunderstorms and weather, it’s necessary that you regularly trim branches near your house. Similarly, if you live in an area that undergoes earthquakes frequently, then you need to ensure that large furniture is safely secured in the home so it doesn’t fall on anything or anyone.
Being prepared during any emergency or disaster that you could experience is extremely important for the safety of yourself and others. We hope these tips help you and your family stay safe. Don’t forget to practice these skills, especially during National Preparedness Month. If you’re looking for a career opportunity in emergency management, search our open jobs today!
