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Disaster Preparedness 
If disaster struck your home today,
would you have the necessary supplies, plans, and information in place to keep
you and your family safe? Emergency situations can arise at any time, no matter
where you live, and it’s important not only to know the proper procedures, but
also to have needed equipment and provisions in place to keep your family safe
and cared for until help can arrive. Disaster preparedness should include three
phases to ensure that you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way.
 Knowledge for Disaster Preparedness
Your first priority in preparing for a disaster should be to know what
emergency situations might occur in your area. You can contact your local
disaster management agency to find out whether your home is situated in a flood
plain or a tornado zone or near another potential hazard such as a chemical
plant. You can also find information on current declared disaster zones from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This information will help you
determine what provisions you’ll need and what steps should be considered for
your family’s emergency plan.
Provisions for Disaster Preparedness
Putting together your emergency kit starts with knowing what you should be
prepared for. Your top three priorities should be food, water and shelter that
can get you through several days to a week without electricity. After that,
make sure you include first aid medical supplies and any medications your family
might need, including current prescriptions. Also, consider including a
flashlight with extra batteries, a radio in case cell phone coverage is lost,
and any special items your family might need such as diapers for the baby or
pet food for your animals. Finally, make sure items in your emergency kit
remain up to date. As food and supplies near their expiration dates, use them
up and replace them with new ones so that you’ll have fresh supplies ready when
they’re needed.
Planning for Disaster Preparedness
Once you know what to expect and you have your emergency kit in place, you
should sit down with your family members and create a plan for emergency
situations. Each member of your family should know where to go and what to do
in the event of an emergency. Include scenarios for being home and being out,
and make sure children know how to contact you if an earthquake or tornado
should occur while you’re away from home.
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