From hurricanes to earthquakes or storms, natural disasters are life-threatening situations. While preparing varies, your goal is to protect your family, property, and belongings. For instance, you don’t need to move fragile items to the floor during an earthquake when there’s a hurricane.
When it comes to typhoons and hurricanes, one of the first things you want to avoid is mold. Neglecting it can cause further damage to your property. You may go to this page for more information about mold remediation services if it has already happened.
Here are 7 practical tips to prepare for any natural disaster:
Listen to News and Hear Stories
Whether it’s a radio, TV, or the internet, these have the latest information about fire, earthquake, storm, flood, etc. It’s always best to find time listening to these channels so that you won’t be in a hurry tuning in at the last minute. In addition to the news and subscribing to updates for weather forecasts, be observant and be aware of warning signs of an impending disaster.
For instance, you can get a head’s up about a thunderstorm if you see these warning signs:
- Large, puffy clouds
- A sudden drop in temperature
- Darkening sky and clouds
- Abrupt changes in wind direction.
Though thunderstorms don’t create a tornado, they can still produce strong winds that knock down trees and branches that damage your home or business.
Stock Up on Water, Non-Perishable Food, Medicine, Tools, and Supplies
Prepare supplies that last at least one week. Ensure you have enough drinking water for the family members, including your pets. If possible, consider displacing your animals, and remember to keep tags on them so you can find them easily after the disaster.
The following is a list of some food that you can prepare:
- Ready-to-eat canned goods that you can open even without an electric can opener
- Bread
- Food for infants
- Nuts
- Protein bars
- Apples
- Peanut butter
- Canned juice
- Biscuits
In addition, your first-aid kit should contain these basics:
- Gauze and band-aids
- Tweezers
- Alcohol or hand sanitizer
- Pain reliever
- Anti-diarrhea medications
- Laxative
- Antacid
- Cold pack
- Small scissors
- Toiletries ( toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, personal hygiene products)
- Thermometers
- Latex gloves
- Bug spray
- Antibiotic creams
Other supplies to prepare are:
- Emergency blankets
- Battery-operated flashlights and extra batteries
- Cash
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Map of the area
- Whistle
- Utility knife
Fill Up Your Car With Gas
Always remember to fill up your car with full tank gas to avoid falling into a long queue at the gas station in case you run out before arriving at your destination.
Secure Important Documents in a Waterproof Container
Along with securing pertinent documents in a waterproof container, consider saving these in cloud storage, like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
- Passports
- Driver’s licenses and other personal identification documents
- Personal records (marriage, birth, adoption, divorce, and death certificates)
- Social security cards
- Mortgages, property leases, deeds, and other records like home and auto titles
- Financial documents (bank statements, safe deposit box keys, pay stubs, etc.)
- Debit and credit card numbers
- Medical records (prescriptions, health insurance cards, health provider information)
- Family photos and other keepsakes
Charge Your Phones
Before and during the disaster, keep your phones on a low-battery mode. If possible, have different cell phones with extra fully-charged batteries.
Prepare Your House
Depending on the disaster that’s coming, you must prepare your property to avoid damage. For example, you need to clear your gutter, check for leaks, unplug electronics, board windows, etc., for hurricanes. On the other hand, your preparation before an earthquake includes bolting and bracing appliances, like heaters.
Securing your property avoids mold, which is common after flooding and leaks if you don’t act immediately after the disaster. This involves a disaster cleanup to prevent further damage to your home or business. Click this link to learn more.
Keep Emergency Numbers at Hand
Some keep emergency contact numbers on their mobile phones, but it’s always best to have them in a paper, as well. For areas prone to storms and flooding, it’s also vital to save a property damage restoration company number, like puroclean.com, in addition to 911. These companies are trained and have specialized equipment to perform these kinds of jobs.
Others include:
- Local police department
- Local fire department
- Veterinarian
- Nearby hospital
- Insurance company
- Red Cross
- Relevant local NGOs