Natural Disaster Preparation Kits
It may have started with Hurricane Katrina, but now, thanks to the floods of the Midwest, being prepared for natural disasters is an issue that has been thrust into the forefront of the average American’s mind. Despite all of the warnings and tips, most people find themselves ill-prepared for a natural disaster. And, no, we don’t mean “rushing to the supermarket to buy bread and water” prepared. We are talking about being able to load up your family and key belongings and hit the road with only a moment’s notice; or, “having to support your family without electricity in your home and few options for getting to vital necessities” prepared. Unfortunately for Americans, natural disasters can mean hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornados, and in some cases severe snow or thunderstorms.
In order to be truly prepared for any type of natural disaster, you should develop a family evacuation plan and create natural disaster preparation kits. Though we will not go into too much detail on the evacuation plan, understand that it is meant to get your entire family (pets too) out of your home safely if needed. So, to ensure that it’s effective, you and your family should run drills to improve speed and efficiency. What we will discuss is your natural disaster kits, simply because most people forget the important stuff. There are several aspects to a natural disaster kit, but we will start with the most commonly overlooked items.
Make room for important gadgets and battery operated items, such as a LED flashlight and/or LED waterproof flashlight. We stress these as they are best for maintaining visibility during a disaster. Ordinary flashlight will not withstand hard knocks or flooding, and may not provide adequate lighting for your family, especially in situations where the power has gone out. It is a good idea to have more than one LED flashlight so that more of your family will be equipped with the ability to see. Your kit should also contain, LED lights and bulbs, in the event that you do not regain power for several weeks. Also, keep fresh batteries close by your LED or waterproof flashlights so that you are not fumbling around in the dark or wasting precious time searching for replacements.
Also, consider keeping a Swiss army knife or special utility knife safely within your kit. This gadget will help ensure that plastic packaging, cans, and other needed supplies can be obtained easily. Because these knives are very strong yet compact, they are perfect to slip into a disaster prep kit. They do not take up much room for serve a number of purposes.
An insulated cooler and a few blankets should also be included in your preparation kit. In a small book bag or purse, keep your family’s vital documents and identification (if they are not in a safe deposit box already). These documents should be placed in zip lock bags for protection. If there is one thing that we are learned from Katrina that is it’s hard to start over or get government assistance without proof of who you are.
Add to your disaster preparation kit a battery powered am/fm radio so that you can keep informed should you get stuck in your home for several hours or days. News of evacuation information and storm predictions will be broadcast over the airwaves no matter what the disaster. A back-up generator can be important for some homes but are not completely necessary if you plan to evacuate your home. Look into the cost of one and purchase one if it makes sense for your household.
Include long-lasting food, specifically food that doesn’t need to be cooked, in your disaster prep kit. Light meals that can be packed into your insulated cooler work best as do non-perishable canned and jarred items like peanut butter, granola bars, and canned fruit. Have large stores of bottled water as well.
During the predominate seasons for bad weather, you should consider keeping a few changes of clothes packed and ready in a small carry on or other light bag. This will help you get out of town as quickly as possible. Keep this bag near your stocked disaster kit so it is easy to find. If you have boots, be sure to keep them near your packed clothes, and not stuff down in the closet.
The most important thing to remember is that you and your family need to be prepared. Although as the parent you will need to be in charge of making sure that your natural disaster kits have items like LED flashlights, the rest of your family should have the clothing and boots ready at the first signs of trouble. Long gone are the days of “waiting it out.” If we have learned nothing from the Midwest flooding, we should all realize that we are no match for the forces of nature. So, it is important that you are prepared ahead of time.
~Ben Anton, 2008
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