Basic Preparation Advice for Potential Emergencies
- Take Your Time
- Include Informational Books
- Plan for Pets
- Test and Maintain Equipment
- Designate a Shelter Space
Many people don’t feel the need to adopt a prepper mentality, but this lifestyle does present a few tips and strategies to help the average person get ready for a disaster. The first real step in emergency preparation is determining what kind of emergencies are most likely in that area. Earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are all destructive and disruptive in very different ways. These tips are certainly not the only ones to follow when preparing a household, but they have applications for anyone who wants to be ready when disaster strikes.
Related resource: 50 Most Affordable Schools for an Emergency Management Degree
1. Take Your Time
Some people invest heavily in supplies and equipment immediately after they decide they want to be more prepared. This sense of urgency makes sense considering the unpredictable nature of natural disasters, but it’s much easier to find deals and prioritize expenses with a bit of patience and planning. Anyone who wants to prepare themselves, their family and their home should take time to do research, learn from emergency management professionals and talk to others who have experience in this area.
2. Include Informational Books
In the age of smartphones and the internet, paper books aren’t quite as popular as they used to be. However, one of the basics of preparation is limiting reliance on electronic devices and internet connectivity. Collecting a few practical books, including survival guides and medical texts, can make a huge difference in an extended emergency scenario. Even basic information like how to create a fire, lists of edible local plants and a visual guide to first aid can be life-saving.
3. Plan for Pets
With a long list of potential preparation items and tasks to work on, it’s easy to forget about the needs of pets as well. Pet owners can stock up on food, litter, and other essentials ahead of time, purchasing new ones to rotate into storage while using the oldest products they have. It’s possible for emergencies to confine people and animals to the indoors for days at a time, so the household also needs a plan for sanitary disposal of pet waste.
4. Test and Maintain Equipment
Prepping a home with a generator, power tools, and other equipment offers a lot more options when disaster does strike. However, owners also need to maintain and test all of their mechanical devices on a regular basis to make sure they will work when it counts. Gasoline and oil are both essential supplies that have a limited lifespan, so they need to be rotated or replaced as well.
5. Designate a Shelter Space
Whether it’s a room inside the house, an external structure on the property or a community facility, everyone should have a designated space to seek shelter during a disaster. Windowless rooms that are as low as possible without risk of flooding are a desirable choice for high-wind conditions, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. If possible, furnish the shelter space with a few days worth of basic survival supplies.
It doesn’t take an apocalypse to create a prolonged emergency that jeopardizes the safety of average people. There’s no way to fully plan for every possible contingency or challenge, but following a few basic prepper tips helps homeowners find economical and effective ways to be more prepared.