by Sarah Snyder

Created on: August 29, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2008

If we have learned one thing throughout disasters in history, it is that they can happen at anytime and without warning, to anyone. The best defense against an unexpected disaster is to be prepared. There are things you can do to prepare your home as well as your family, so that if a disaster does strike, you will have a plan.

The first step in creating a plan is to find out what disasters could happen in your hometown and what systems your town has in place to alert you of such a situation.

Next, you need to make copies of any important records for each member of your family as well as any other important documents. Birth certificates, medical records, and insurance documents are all important records which need to be included in your file. These should be kept in a plastic, waterproof container to prevent water damage.

Once you have important records copied you should also fill at least one month of extra prescriptions for any family members, including pets. You will also need to include an extra set of eye glasses for any family members who require them. These should be kept in the same waterproof container, so that you can get to them quickly in an emergency.

You will need to stock up on extra grocery items such as bottled water and canned nonperishable food items, including pet food, that can be opened easily. If you have an infant, be sure to include plenty of extra formula as well as diapers.

It is a good idea to talk to family members and outline a meeting place in the event that you are separated during an emergency. You must discuss one place directly outside your home and another place outside of your town, should you be separated during a natural disaster.

At this point, you are ready to build your emergency supply kit. Include in your kit a battery powered radio and flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, warm blankets and at least one complete change of clothes for each family member. If your canned items require a can opener, be sure to include one in your kit. It is also important to include toilet paper or moist towelettes and plastic bags for personal sanitation as well as any feminine products you might need. If you have small children, it is a good idea to include some items for them such as games, puzzles and coloring books. Lastly, take your extra prescriptions, important documents and extra grocery items and add them to the top of your kit in a separate container in case you need to access them in a hurry.

At this point you have a plan, and the tools necessary to execute your plan should disaster strike. While nobody wants to go through an emergency or natural disaster, if you have to, you will be glad that you took a small amount of time to prepare your house and your family.

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