Simple Tips for Family Emergency Preparedness - I
Almost half of 2011 is gone and I am sure that this year has taught all of us a lot about the unexpected nature of mother earth. Earthquake, tsunami, floods, volcanoes, ash clouds, and snow, last 6 months has seen it all. With so many disastrous events happening around, increased awareness about personal safety and emergency preparedness is no surprise. Given below are few simple tips that can help you and your family prepare for emergency:
Know you surroundings and probable risk in that area :
Find about the most common disasters in the area you live and plan your emergency preparedness accordingly. Whether it is a snowstorm or an earthquake or may be a tornado, you should be prepared with all the necessary emergency supplies to stay alive and safe during it.
Disasters will strike without information, plan in advance:
Buying an earthquake kit after listening to an earthquake alert in you area can result in panic situations. Strategic shopping will not only prevent panic situations, it will also help you save money on emergency supplies. Moreover, you are more likely to understand things better when you are at peace of mind.
Allocate a specified budget for emergency preparedness:
Arranging a lot of money for emergency preparedness can cause burden on your budget and will compel you to overlook the idea. Therefore, it is advisable to consider emergency supplies as a standard expense for every month. Even as small as $20 per month can go a long way in helping you prepare a well-equipped emergency kit.
Personalize the emergency kits based on your requirement:
It is always convenient to buy readymade 72 hour kits. However, you must check all the items included in the readymade kits. You may not need all the items included in the kit and you may require adding additional items based on the needs of your family members. If you have kids, old people, or pets in your family make sure you include items important for their survival.
Replace items instead of entire kit:
Some people replace the entire kit annually, which can prove to be expensive. It is better to check the emergency supplies periodically and replace only the items that need replacement. Items such as tools, blankets, etc have a long shelf life and can be kept for years.
In addition to these important tips there are some other important factors that should be taken care of to prepare for emergencies. I will cover rest of the points in second part of this article. Till then be prepared and stay safe!
Know you surroundings and probable risk in that area :
Find about the most common disasters in the area you live and plan your emergency preparedness accordingly. Whether it is a snowstorm or an earthquake or may be a tornado, you should be prepared with all the necessary emergency supplies to stay alive and safe during it.
Disasters will strike without information, plan in advance:
Buying an earthquake kit after listening to an earthquake alert in you area can result in panic situations. Strategic shopping will not only prevent panic situations, it will also help you save money on emergency supplies. Moreover, you are more likely to understand things better when you are at peace of mind.
Allocate a specified budget for emergency preparedness:
Arranging a lot of money for emergency preparedness can cause burden on your budget and will compel you to overlook the idea. Therefore, it is advisable to consider emergency supplies as a standard expense for every month. Even as small as $20 per month can go a long way in helping you prepare a well-equipped emergency kit.
Personalize the emergency kits based on your requirement:
It is always convenient to buy readymade 72 hour kits. However, you must check all the items included in the readymade kits. You may not need all the items included in the kit and you may require adding additional items based on the needs of your family members. If you have kids, old people, or pets in your family make sure you include items important for their survival.
Replace items instead of entire kit:
Some people replace the entire kit annually, which can prove to be expensive. It is better to check the emergency supplies periodically and replace only the items that need replacement. Items such as tools, blankets, etc have a long shelf life and can be kept for years.
In addition to these important tips there are some other important factors that should be taken care of to prepare for emergencies. I will cover rest of the points in second part of this article. Till then be prepared and stay safe!
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