Natural disaster and man-made threats are hazardous and can quickly strike us anytime without warning. People face high risks during these times of emergencies and it is imperative to be prepared and have plans for anything that may occur.
The key for your home and family for protection and survival is individual preparedness, that is, when you at least prepared for the worst, then no harm could possibly happen.
The main goal of emergency preparedness is to fulfil responsibilities – that every individual has a role to play. At times, various of hazards are faced by every region, homes, and basic knowledge is an integral part of being prepared. It is best to know the risk in your area and prepare for the different situations. You should also be familiar with basics in first aid and safety.
THE ESSENTIALS OF GENERAL PREPAREDNESS
Know What To Do
- Before an Emergency
In case of emergencies (hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, tornado, floods, etc.), do you actually know how and when to protect yourself? How about your home and family?
You must have heard lots of contradicting information over the years and hoped not to hear the same mishap or damage or broken homes stories ever again. No one can tell what will happen next.
Indeed, and the best weapon during times of natural disaster and man-made threats is to study these phenomena, make a plan and never forget to always prepare for a survival or an emergency kit no matter what kind of disaster you might encounter.
Prepare Your Kids (and Yourself)
- During an Emergency
If you want you and your family to get the chance of survival during times of emergencies, then keep calm. Think before doing anything else and try to comfort others.
Remember, that you need to maintain a prudent mind in times of disaster and it will be handled best without panic and fright. If you panic, then you will only make the situation worse, and even perhaps make everyone stressful. Keeping calm and collected can have a positive impact on everyone involved.
- After an Emergency
Being disoriented and confused after a catastrophe or any kind of disaster, is a common thing, but remember, the best way to get hold of the situation is to keep your calm.
The feeling of bewildered and shocked can be overcome and coping with a disaster is a gradual process. Most often, it can be traumatic if the necessary assistance is not available immediately.
Quick Tips After Emergencies:
- Secure yourself and your family if help does not come immediately
- Rebuilding Your Home or Office
- Personal Hygiene and Handwashing
- Make a Recovery Checklist
- Cope and Begin to Move Forward
Over the years, hurricanes have turned out to be a home-wrecker, a nature-destroyer, and even a man’s killer that has cost the loss of million lives, billions of properties damaged and these are definitely threatening. If you want your home and your family to survive and recover from this kind of catastrophe, then, preparedness and awareness are the keys to withstanding it.
Hurricane tends to be more intense and destructive and they do not occur frequently compared to as other natural disasters do. The good thing is, you can prepare ahead, and forecast the event when will strike. Basically, there are things you can do to keep your home, your family, even business safe and secure from hurricanes.
To prepare your home, your family or even your business from the wrath of the hurricane and keep them safe and secure. Here are few things to keep in mind:
- When a forecast of a hurricane has been announced or reported, prepare as soon as possible your stock supplies. Have a closet or any safe place where you can keep your goods, clothes, medicines, water supply, or whatever item that you need.
- In an emergency, be prepared to be self-sufficient, you need to take care of yourself and family for a minimum of 72 hours. Paying attention to the emergency radio can help you be informed of evacuation order in your areas.
- After the calamity, refrain from entering a building or any structure is flooded. Don’t walk barefoot around. When you are thirsty and run out of water supply, never drink tap water until you have confirmed that it is not contaminated. If there are means to contact local authorities in your area, try to reach them immediately and ask for help or support.
Naturally, when rivers, streams, and lakes overflow due to heavy rainfall, flooding occurs. However, it can also be caused by various factors. For some, it constitutes one of the most recurrent and disrupting weather hazards.
Usually, a flood tends to develop slowly with a few apparent signs of the forthcoming condition. It usually gives enough warning of the approaching danger.
In a highly urbanized area, a flood is inevitable and the most threatening part of it is the rapidity of the water level as it rises, thus creating a flash flood. Sometimes, in a matter of minutes or even seconds, with little to no warning signs, it significantly increases the danger or risk caused by these flash floods.
Indeed, floods can be distressing to a household or business. Thus, it is a must to identify the flood risk in your locale and upkeep yourself and your family on what to do and how to securely evacuate, when flood waters start rising. Below are a few safety reminders to guide us:
- When there is a forecast of flooding, it’s time to be alert. It is best to monitor immediately your surroundings; listen to the radio, watch the news on the television or go online. As you may know, flash flood develops rapidly, it is better to go upstairs or to the highest possible place at home. Do not wait for the water level to gradually rise. It is important to know the evacuation route in your area.
- When it comes to your water supply, like drinking water, do not settle with tap water. Storing safe and clean water is vital in times of disasters. Before the event of an emergency like flooding, stock up on food and other supplies, or an emergency kit. Put up a checklist and a plan. Make sure that your family and friends are familiar with the plan as well for you to use when an emergency strikes.
- The moment you notice a slow flood occurs, secure your home and your family. In this event, you may have time to prepare and help lessen the damage before evacuation. Never walk to a moving water. In case there is a need for you to walk through the water, then use rain boots. Call 911 immediately if you’re incapable of evacuating in time. Make sure you provide pertinent information about your condition.
- In the event of being rescued, stay safe. You may only return back home once the authorities have declared that it is safe. It is important to listen to news whether your place is secure and stable. Also, check if the water supply is safe to drink. For your safety boil it for 10 minutes. Throw away the things that have been contaminated with the flood water.
Observation of Flash Flooding
People are exposed to natural hazards wherever one lives or work. Many of these hazards may be familiar to you but possibly without full understanding. Earthquakes, as we may know, occur without warning. It strongly affects every individual, every home and every region, even the whole nation within seconds of massive destruction. Thus it is imperative to prepare no matter where you live or work.
No one can tell when it will havoc our lives or our home. The good news, however, by understanding the danger, you actually have an edge to take the right steps and reduce or shun injuries, damage, or longstanding financial liabilities. With this, being prepared and doing whatever you can so you will survive and recover quickly is very important. Here’s how to get started:
- The shaking of an earthquake can move almost everything: from small to large in size, from light to heavy in weight. Try to imagine your home or workplace being picked up like a toy and shaken sideways, or no constant direction – what would be thrown around? Can you prevent it? Secure your safe and start right now by first identifying the hazardous items. Secure all movable furniture like bookshelves. Move heavy objects to the lower shelves. Find time to study if the area or place you live is within the active fault line and check if your ground is likely susceptible to the strong impacts of the earthquake.
- Automatically apply the drop, cover and hold during earthquake especially when you are indoors. According to the reported cases where injuries and deaths are caused by earthquakes, it is often due to falling debris or flying objects, and it is rarely because of the collapsed building. In case you are outdoors, find a clear spot especially in a wide open area (away from buildings, trees, and power lines). Drop to the ground, then simply stay outside and try not to go inside a building.
- Keep in mind that earthquakes are often followed by aftershocks. It usually lasts for days or even weeks when a major earthquake strikes. Remember, you need to check your gas lines and make sure there are no gas leaks. It is better to wear shoes because there might have broken glasses or chemical spills. Never walk on the floor barefoot until it is safe. Hence, without warning, indeed an earthquake can shake an entire state. Remember when you prepare and take precautionary measures for something unpredictable like an earthquake, your chances are greater in keeping your family safe and secure.
Earthquake Preparedness and Response
A Fire is a threat that occurs indoors and outdoors. If a fire blast in large areas, it becomes a wildfire that can occur both in the countryside and rural areas.
Knowing and learning the basics of the dos and don’ts when to shun this kind of hazard, during the occurrence and recovering from the disaster are very helpful to save lives and shun casualties.
- Every now and then, you have to master and review the evacuation plan especially in identifying the emergency exits whether you are at home and in your workplace. You may speak to authorities in your town to learn what the evacuation route in your area and then deliberately discuss this with everyone in your family and your employees. Safeguard family members who live nearby who know the route and have the means of transportation. Make sure that you have all that you need to know how to handle and operate the fire extinguisher and where it has been stored while there has no wildfire yet.
- When there’s a wildfire, stay calm and get ready to evacuate safely. In case you are inside your car, park in a clear vegetation; while on foot, leave as fast as possible before you are told to evacuate. Be prompt in leaving your home or workplace and make sure to clear the roads and trails to give way for firefighters to ensure immediate action of the disaster.
- Keep in mind that you need to return only when it is safe. Going back to your property can only be done once the officials or authorities declare it safe to do so. In case you are injured and you need medical attention, seek immediate help and treatment of smoke inhalation, burns and other kinds of injuries. In a practical sense, contact your insurance company assess the damage to your property and file a claim.
EcoBlueLife.com is a replacement water and air filter company located in the United States. The views and opinions contained herein are solely those of the original author and do not represent Eco Blue Life or its affiliates. This article was originally published on TheBerkey.com
