No one wants to think about what could happen in an emergency, and yet it’s something we all need to do. It’s important to have a game plan in place in case disaster strikes. What's your emergency preparedness plan? Don't have one? No problem- let us help you build it!
Food:
The common thought when making your own is to store three days worth of non-perishable food at your home, because in a disaster that's about how long it could take rescue services to arrive. Things like peanut butter, granola bars, power bars, dried fruit, canned tuna and canned soup are all great options. Make sure that if you have pets that you've got two weeks of pet food available, as this is more hard to come by in an emergency. And always make sure you have a gallon of water a day rationed for each person in your household and enough for pets.
Essentials:
Have your crucial medicines with you. A good rule of thumb for this is a weeks supply. If the worst happens, you don't know how long it will take to find a refill for those prescriptions. Make sure you have plenty of batteries, a flashlight or three, a hand-crank radio and a First Aid Kit.
If you've got kids, you'll also want to factor in a few forms of entertainment. Try cards, dolls, games and books. Anything to keep them busy and calm! If they have a favorite blanket or stuffed toy, make sure you don't forget it - disasters are frightening for children, and it's important that they have objects to make them feel safe.
Something to Remember:
When building your plan, you should contact friends/family and decide:
– How you will get to a safe place
– How you will contact each other
– How you will get back together
– What you will do in different situations
Other things I’ve learned along the way:
Having Extra Water:
When I was a kid, we used to fill up the bathtub with water, and then we used that water to flush the toilet when the storm hit. This is mostly appropriate during a hurricane but can be useful anytime running out of water could be an issue.
Cleaning out the fridge before evacuating:
Have you ever had to clean out a fridge full of rotten food? I have. Take it from me- it isn't fun. If you're evacuating from a storm, throw out anything that could spoil. Yeah, you might waste some food if the ordeal turns out to be nothing, and the power doesn't go out, but then again, it just might save you from having to buy a new fridge.
Phone Service:
If you've ever been to a large outdoor music festival, you know just how hard it is to reach people when cell towers are overloaded. In an emergency it's like that... times 100. After Katrina, cell towers were down, and it was impossible to call anyone with a (504) area code.
Luckily, newer technologies make post-disaster communication possible. If you've got Verizon, turn on Advanced Calling. If you have either Sprint or AT&T, turn on HD Voice. Not only will it increase call quality, but it will route your calls through wifi, reducing the load on the traditional system and giving you a better chance at reaching the person you’re trying to call. Another way to go is to get a Google Voice account.
Whether you’re susceptible to hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, or you live right in Tornado Alley- whatever Mother Nature brings, we’ve got the right coverage. Visit CoverHound today, and we'll find the right policy to fit your needs.
