If the horrific, devastating images from recent wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding has taught us anything, it’s that you can never be too prepared for a natural disaster. You can get, and always be, ready by putting together both At Home and On The Go emergency preparedness kits.
Start by testing and replacing the batteries in your flashlights, as well as stocking up on backup batteries, candles, box matches and lighters. Set aside some storage for a Home Emergency Kit, in case you lose power during a winter storm. Fill the space with some non-perishable food items, 5-gallon jugs of water, and those flashlights, backup batteries, candles and matches we talked about. If you want to go the extra mile, invest in a small generator and camping stove.
Know Your Zone
Do you know your zone? And in the age of apps, Genasys Protect is a free app and a great tool to help you know (a) what your zone is, and (b) when an evacuation warning or order has been issued for your area. You can also add multiple zones so that you know if alerts have been issued for family and friends miles away.
Want to be alerted to wildfires in your area? Try Watch Duty, another free app created by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization co-founded by John Mills in 2021, which is powered by active and retired firefighters, dispatchers, and first responders, not by crowdsourcing. The organization operates through a small core team of paid staff and a large network of trained volunteers who monitor radio scanners and public safety sources to provide real-time, verified information on wildfires and other disasters.
Get “Go Ready”
If you want to be prepared in case of a sudden evacuation order, get a portable storage bin at your local hardware or home store and make yourself an “On The Go Kit.” Start by putting in a pre-packed overnight bag with about 72-hours worth of toiletries, medications, clothes, underwear, and socks. Pack up copies of important documents and any family heirlooms you would be devastated to lose in there as well. And remember your furry family members. Include your pet’s food, medications and necessities as well.
If you’re not sure where to start, the American Red Cross can help with suggestions and even a starter kit, and Costco sells emergency preparedness kits as well. Look, nobody wants to think about this. That it could happen to you. But if it does, you probably won’t have time to think. It’s better to be prepared, so you can act.
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