Monday, August 14, 2017

Is Your Family Prepared For The Unexpected?




One of the most important things in life is to think ahead and prepare just in case an emergency happens. You probably have an evacuation plan for your family in case of a fire and you probably have a savings account of some kind in case your roof caves in or you or a family member needs emergency surgery. There are so many things we need to prepare for, it's so easy to forget about the fact that you should always have a good supply of food for each person in your home.

Emergency And Disaster Kits

You can find a lot of great, printable lists online to help you create your own emergency and disaster kit. Some common items you will find on these lists will be:

Flashlight
Batteries
NOAA Weather Radio (Preferably a battery operated or a crank radio.) 
Water (1 gallon per person per day.) ( 3 days worth for evacuation and 2 weeks for at home.)
Non-Perishable Food ( 3 days worth for evacuation and 2 weeks at home.) 
Personal documents
Cash
Matches
Whistle
Medications
First Aid Kit
Sanitation and personal hygiene products
Cell phones and chargers
Emergency blankets
Maps
Hand sanitizer
Family and personal contacts
Multi purpose tools

Extra Supplies Needed On A Personal Basis 

Every family is different and we all live in different places that have their own common disasters that would require additional items. 

Families with children should include coloring books, crayons, puzzle books, small toys, maybe even have a backpack or knapsack for each child! You can even fill them books and snacks or have your children help fill their own. (This is a great way to also discuss the importance of preparing for an emergency with them!) 

You could also pack extra clothing, towels, sleeping bags, anything else you think your family may need. 

If you have a baby, you may need to include things such as baby formula and diapers. 

Storing Your Kits

There are 3 main places you should store a kit. Home, vehicle, and work. Disasters and emergencies don't usually happen at the most convenient times so it is best to think about the places you frequent and be sure you are taken care of in any case. 

Of course your work and vehicle kit will be much smaller than the one you have for your home. Typically the best thing to do is keep a grab and go type case for work and pack a condensed version of the above list. Plan to need supplies for at least 24 hours. 

Other Ways To Prepare 

You might be the type of person who is always in survival mode and you want to add more to your kits. (Or you have already watched every Survivorman episode and you are prepared for everything! Even a zombie apocalypse! 

You may want to check into amateur radio. In the case of a disaster, cell towers may become overloaded. 911 may stop working. The only way to contact somebody will be smoke signals or HAM radio. 

HAM radio is very reliable and can connect you with like minded individuals who are capable of helping to organize help for people who are stranded. You can communicate and find shelters, find out about evacuation orders, understand what is happening, and keep in touch with others who may have more information. 

Another way to be sure your family will be OK is with a Survival Seed Vault. These come in handy cans that are easy to store for when you might have to rely on them. They come in waterproof containers. These seeds are extra special because you will continue to harvest seeds from the originals! 

What steps have you taken for surviving a natural disaster or some kind of emergency? Pleasse let me know in the comments! 

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