Severe storms hit throughout the year. Many areas are no strangers to tornadoes, either. In fact, in 2020 alone, some states experienced as many as 35 tornadoes. Plus, a fire can happen at any time. Statistics indicate that around 353,100 house fires happen in the United States each year. To be ready when disaster strikes, you should have a plan. Take these steps from to prepare for whatever comes your way.
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Tips for Creating a Family Safety Plan
Weather-Proof Your Home
Brace your garage door to give it much-needed support to hold up against a storm. Additionally, secure your doors with deadbolts and multiple hinges, and have sandbags available in the event of a flood to place in front of outdoor entryways.
Have an Evacuation Plan
If flooding, a tornado, or a severe storm hits, you may be under a mandatory evacuation. Figure out where your local evacuation centers are. If you have a pet, the shelter may not allow your pet unless it’s a service animal. Therefore, you may need to find an alternative plan, such as staying at an out-of-town friend’s or family member’s house.
Devise Emergency Plans
You should create emergency plans for storms and fires.
In case of a fire, note different ways to escape if you can’t use one of the exits. Additionally, create a course of action for a fire that blocks the stairway, so people on the top floor may escape safely.
Designate a meeting spot outside, and have a plan of how to communicate if you’re separated. Then, make sure you practice the plans, so your children are well aware of what to do in an emergency.
In addition, educate your children on how and when to call 9-1-1. Practice mock calls, so your children know what to say. Additionally, ensure your kids know their address.
During a storm, you need a place that’s away from windows, such as the basement or a closet. On the other hand, if a flood is approaching, you should stay in the uppermost level of your house unless instructed to evacuate.
Pack an Emergency Kit
You should have certain items on hand at all times in the event of a power outage, a storm,
or other severe weather, such as the following:
- Candles
- Batteries
- Battery-operated or crank radio
- Flashlights
- Non-perishable food items such as gronola bars, canned goods, dried soup
- Matches-lighter
- Water
If you need to evacuate, you should pack:
- Clothing for all members of the family
- Some non-perishable snacks
- Blankets and pillows
- Water
It’s wise to create a digital emergency kit as well. This should include copies of all your identification documents, as well as contact information for your banks, insurers, and loved ones. If you have multiple scanned PDFs you want to combine, this site could be helpful. You can easily upload and combine multiple documents into one file for safekeeping.
Prepare for Repairs
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Unless you’re new to an area, you’re probably already aware of the severe weather that can hit. Therefore, you know that you could require a window repair or replacement after a storm.
Research in advance, instead of waiting until you need the service immediately. That way, you can spend time and make a sound decision. When searching for window repair, check reviews online and request referrals from satisfied customers. Get a quote for a potential window repair or replacement.
Prepare for the Best Outcome
Fires, tornadoes, floods, and storms are just some of the unfortunate events that can occur. Prepare your family ahead of time for the best outcome.
The Bottom Line
Any little bit of preparedness you can do now will relieve stress ahead of time. Even if you aren’t “where you want to be”, something is better than nothing. I recommend looking for gaps in your preparedness plan, then check out this list of classes to fill in those gaps.
Thank you to our guest writer Sharon Wagner for a wonderful piece.
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