Hurricanes, fires, floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes. These natural disasters, and others like them, wreak havoc on your life if you’re not prepared. With natural disasters seeming to be increasing in frequency and intensity, you may be wondering what you can do to ensure you and your family make it through safe and sound. We have compiled a list of things you should do and consider when preparing for weather-related, natural disasters.

So, what are some of the best things you can do?

First, determine your most significant natural disaster risk(s).

Do you live in a flood zone or near a large body of water? Flooding may be a real risk. Perhaps you live on a lot of acreages surrounded by brush or trees?  Fire might be your biggest threat. Where you live geographically will also determine whether you are more likely to be hit by a hurricane, tornado or an earthquake.

Take stock of your home, your grounds and where you live geographically to determine what natural disasters pose the greatest threat to you. Your answer will allow you to customize your preparedness plan. Tailoring your plan may be ensuring you have floatation devices and water-proof bags if you live in a flood-prone area or putting smoke filtering masks and heat reflective blankets in an evacuation bag if wildfires are a threat.

Also, consider your climate. If you live in a hot tropical area, you may need a way to stay cool and keep mosquitos at bay, or if you live where there are frigid winters, you will need to have supplies to help you stay warm.

Next, gather supplies to take care of your basic needs.

It’s important that while you are preparing, you plan for both sheltering in place and for evacuation. For example, when planning for water, collecting it in 55-gallon drums, or gallons is a great idea if you’re staying home, but if you are forced to leave, you need to have an alternative that is portable.

What are your ten basic needs in the event of a natural disaster?

Of course, there are the basic four of oxygen, water, food, and shelter, but you need to take it a few steps further when preparing. Your essential preparation in case of a natural disaster includes:

WATER

If you’re sheltering in place: You can’t survive long without water, and contaminated water may make you sick, or worse, kill you. So, it’s vital that you have water storage in case of a disaster. It doesn’t matter if you use 55-gallon water drums, or just store gallons of water, as long as you make sure to rotate your supply if storing store-bought gallons and check your drums of water annually, refreshing if necessary. 

The standard rule is to save one gallon, per day per person for a supply that will last AT LEAST 72 hours. Because government response time may be slow, we recommend at least a week, and preferably two.  Don’t forget to factor your pets into the storage equation.

Also, just because you may have water immediately after the disaster, does not mean you will continue to have it; it could stop at any time. So, if you’re able, fill up all household sinks and bathtubs with water for additional water storage.

If you find yourself unprepared, there are some potable water options in your home. The easiest to access is the back of your toilet tanks (not the bowl!). However, if you use cleaning chemicals in your toilet tanks, you cannot drink the water. Also, the water in your hot water heater is drinkable in case of an emergency. Keep in mind that sediment in the water from your hot water tank is normal, merely let the sediment settle to the bottom and drink the sediment-free water from the top. 

If you’re evacuating: There are so many water filtering gadgets available online that are lightweight and easy to carry that there is just no excuse not to have one. You can choose anything from a water filtering bottle, pitcher or even a straw. Any of these gadgets would be invaluable to have so that any source of fresh water you find can be utilized.

Additionally, you should be sure to carry water treatment tablets and a container to hold water such as a water bladder or canteen. Don’t forget to include something to hold water for your pet to drink from.

FOOD

If you’re sheltering in place: The good news is, at home, keeping two weeks of food storage in your pantry is pretty easy. Anything cured, canned, bottled or dehydrated with a good shelf life is a good idea. You can make it as inexpensive or expensive as you would like. Canned beans and meat are a good source of protein, and you can buy all the staples like milk, butter, and eggs in a dehydrated form that will last 20+ years. They even have full course dehydrated meals available that you merely reconstitute with water.

Remember to keep a manual can opener on hand, in case of a power outage and don’t forget to store food for your pets as well.

If you’re evacuating: When you have to get out in a hurry, you want to keep your food small, light and nutrient dense. Nonperishable foods such as jerky, nuts and nutrient bars are all good examples. Hi protein, hi fat food will help keep your energy up. For your 4-legged friend, freeze-dried pet food is ideal.

SHELTER

If you’re sheltering in place: When sheltering in place, your home is your shelter, unless something about your home is unsafe then it’s your garage or another outbuilding you have access to. Either way, be sure you have what you need to keep your shelter a safe place. Depending on what kind of natural disaster you’re facing, it may be anything from boarding up your windows to putting plastic sheeting over the vents, windows, and doors.

If you’re evacuating: A quality tent will provide you with the most security against animals and the elements. Tents are also simple to set up and more comfortable than the alternative tarp. Tents can also be heavy and cumbersome to carry, and that’s why some people prefer a tarp over a tent. Tarps can be used off the ground, or as an open shelter that can utilize a fire close by for heat (you can’t build a fire in a tent). Tarps are also more versatile, for example, they can be used to collect rainwater. Unless you are an experienced outdoorsman, a tent will be your safest bet for a shelter in the event of an evacuation.

MEDICAL CARE

If you’re sheltering in place: Most people have everything they need for their medical care at home already, and when your home, if you don’t have something, you can find a substitute that will do the trick. The best thing you can do is make sure you have extra of the essentials stocked so that you don’t run out. Get a good first aid kit just in case. Ask your doctor for an additional supply of medication for your natural disaster plan.

If you’re evacuating: Knowing you have to pack light, you want to take the bare essentials, but you also need to plan for the unexpected. First, you need a way to wash, disinfect and bandage wounds. This may include antibiotic ointment or silver spray, bandages (including butterfly and ace bandages), gauze, and medical tape. Additionally, consider trauma pads with blood clotting agent, burn salve, a mylar blanket and a quality multipurpose tool with tweezers and scissors. Also, your prescription medication, burn cream, pain/fever reducer, and antidiarrhea medications. If gathering all of this yourself seems overwhelming to you, find a good first aid kit as your base and supplement any essentials you feel are missing.

COMMUNICATION

If you are sheltering in place or evacuating: Communication is your lifeline. Your first primary tool for communication is, of course, your phone. For that reason, make sure you have a portable battery pack, preferably with a solar recharge so that you can keep your phone charged at all times. Unfortunately, towers go down, and that would render your phone useless, no matter how charged it is. That’s why you also need a battery-powered NOAA emergency weather radio so that you can stay up to date on the weather, evacuations, where to meet, how to get help, etc.

HYGIENE

If you’re sheltering in place: Just like with your medical care, you should have all the hygiene items you need at home, but be sure to keep extra stock of the essentials like soap, toothbrush/ toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, etc.

If you’re evacuating: When you are evacuating, you should minimize your hygiene items to a small bar of soap, a toothbrush with paste (or powder), deodorant and a small hairbrush (hair ties if you have long hair), baby wipes and feminine hygiene products.

LIGHT

If you are sheltering in place: Keep battery-powered flashlights and lanterns on hand with a surplus of batteries in case of a power outage.

If you’re evacuating: When you are evacuating, your light needs to be useful and not interfere with work or travel. Headlamps are an excellent choice for light because it leaves your hands free to carry things or work. Also, light sticks are a good choice because they don’t require batteries, and while not the brightest, will work well enough to keep you from tripping over each other and help you mark essential areas in the dark.

FIRE

If you are sheltering in place or evacuating: Fire is so important that it has its own category. Fire is essential because it is used for heat, sterilization, security from animals and cooking. Waterproof matches and/or a fire starter are crucial to have.

CLOTHING

If you’re sheltering in place: At home, you should have all the clothing items you need. Feel free to use them but be conservative with washing them as doing so uses water which is one of your most vital resources.

If you’re evacuating: You don’t need much. An extra set of clothes (including unders), a couple pair of socks (you need dry feet!), some good boots, a wide-brimmed hat, and work gloves.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• Important documents. Birth certificates, social security cards, insurance policies, health cards and any other documents that will be important to have when recovering from a natural disaster should be kept in a waterproof container. A ziplock bag will work in a pinch. Have them gathered together, ready to grab and go at a moment’s notice. Another great idea is to make electronic copies of these documents and put them on a thumb drive, or a small portable hard drive.
• Save your personal pictures and video. Personal pictures and videos are among the most precious possessions that we can’t replace. Sign up for a virtual storage service that automatically backs up your devices so that no matter what happens to your camera, computer or phone, your most precious possessions stay safe.
• Insurance Claims. Take pictures of your home and things for insurance claim purposes and save those virtually to keep them safe. Check your policy coverages to make sure they cover what you need.

Want more? Here are some additional preparedness tips from the CDC

In addition to being prepared for a large-scale natural disaster, you should also be prepared for the smaller weather-related disasters that occur much more frequently.
With every changing of the season, frozen pipes burst and tree limbs fall onto roofs, but it doesn’t have to happen. With regular maintenance of your home and property, you can avoid much of the heartache and cost of these weather-related incidents.

 Is your home and property ready? Check out this annual home maintenance checklist by season.

We understand that emergency preparedness can get overwhelming. The important thing is that even if you start slow, make sure you start. Don’t get so overwhelmed that you do nothing. Gather a few things at a time, and continue to do so until you and your family have all of the things you need to be prepared for a natural disaster.