Top Natural Disasters Survival Guide

From earthquakes to hurricanes or storms, natural disasters are life-threatening situations. Though how you prepare varies, you must 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, two of the first things you want to avoid are flooding and leaks. You may click here for more info.

Here are seven practical tips to prepare for any natural disaster:

Listen to News

Whether you prefer the radio, TV, or the internet, these have the latest information about impending natural disasters. It’s always best to find time listening to these channels early on so that you won’t be in a hurry tuning in at the last minute. Also, be observant and aware of warning signs of a disaster.

For instance, you can get a head’s up about a thunderstorm if you see large, puffy clouds, sudden drop in temperature, darkening sky and clouds, and abrupt changes in wind direction. Though a thunderstorm doesn’t create a tornado, it can still produce strong winds that knock down trees and branches, damaging your house 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 all family members, including your pets. If necessary, consider displacing your pets, and remember to keep tags on them so you can find them easily after the disaster.

Here 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

Additionally, 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 before a hurricane avoids mold, which is common after flooding and leaks if you don’t act immediately after the disaster. In case these happen, you may need professional services, like this mold removal New Albany company if you’re in the area.

Keep Emergency Numbers at Hand

Some save emergency contact numbers on their mobile phones, but it’s always best to have them in a paper, too. For regions prone to storms and flooding, it’s also important to save a property restoration company number, like PuroClean, in addition to 911. Visit them here to know more about their emergency services.

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