Why Prepare For Disaster

Disasters and emergencies can occur without warning whether you are prepared to handle them or not. A lot of times, disasters strike when you least expect it and just happen before you even get a chance to react. Fortunately, you can do something to minimize the danger and the potential damage to your property.

Are You Prepared For A Disaster

Disasters whether man made or natural can be overwhelming, no doubt, about it as most of the time people forced to leave their home or neighborhood. Family members separated during emergencies more often than not unable to communicate for a day or two especially when there is no electricity and other basic services running properly.

Natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricane are not just disastrous but can leave you broke. These disasters can strike anytime, without warning, and even with government notice, nothing can prepare you from the most destructive and deadliest tropical cyclone just like what happened last year when hurricane sandy hit America.

The powerful storm has devastated the city, resulting in million dollar damages. But of course, without preparation the damages could have been much worse like what happened to countries that have been hit by the storm. Aside from natural disasters, people should also consider the danger of nuclear fallout and other man-made disasters because the threat are real. After all, it takes just one insane leader to start World War III or a terrorist to wreck many lives.

Why Prepare For A Disaster?

There are numerous reasons why people should prepare for disaster, but just to give you an idea, here are 8 reasons you should prepare for a disaster:

1.  Minimize Damages to Property – Preparing for disaster especially natural catastrophe can help minimize your financial losses. You see, preparing your home, from another deadly storm by having your roof or porch fix can reduce the potential damage to your property.

2.  Prevent Loss of Lives – You can prevent potential loss of life with proper and quality planning.

3.  Reduces Financial Losses – These days, there are numerous ways to reduce financial losses from disasters like insuring your home and businesses against natural and man-made disasters.

4.  Easily Cope with The Impact of Disaster – Preparing for all kinds of disaster can help you cope with the impact and even rise above the  catastrophe as you have secured valuable items, move out of harm’s way, etc.

5.  Reduces Anxiety and Fear – Being prepared can help reduce anxiety as you know what to do in case there is an earthquake, storm, explosions, biological threats and other potential disasters that threaten mankind.

6.  Reduces the Effect of Disaster – It is a fact that disaster can disrupt lives, but with proper preparation, you can avoid the lasting effect of any kind of disaster.

7.  Help Other People – if you have prepared for a disaster, you can help someone even yourself while waiting for rescue.

8.  Survive – The most salient reason why you should prepare for a disaster is that your chance of survival is high especially if you can be self sufficient for three days to a month.

Disaster Preparedness Kit

Being prepared simply means having proper supplies you may need for an emergency. The emergency kit should be easy to carry so you can take it with you in case there is a need to evacuate.

Disaster kit

Listed below are the basic supplies for emergency:

• Water is a must and at least one gallon per person, a day (3 day supply for evacuation and 2 week supply at home)
• Non-perishable food, instant or easy-to-prepare foods
• First aid kid
• Multi-purpose tool
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Extra batteries
• Medications (one week supply)
• medical items
• Sanitation and personal hygiene supply
• Cell phone with chargers
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Extra cash
• Photocopies of personal documents (medication list, medical information, passports, birth certificates, proof of address, deed/lease to your home, and insurance policies)

Disaster Supplies

Additional suggested supplies for members of the family:

• Baby supplies
• Games and toys for children
• Pet supplies
• Two-way radios
• Can opener
• Extra set of car keys and house keys

Disaster Preparedness Supplies

Additional supplies for home or in emergency kit based on the types of calamity common to where you live: