Hurricane season is a week away. But when I talk about a disaster, I’m referring to things like hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and power outages… things that will leave us wondering if we were really prepared for a worst case scenario… things that will leave you and your family without power or electricity for days.
Here is a look at some things that I do to help prepare my family for a disaster. You can also check out my pinterest board for more ideas.
Have an Evacuation Plan
I love this Family Evacuation Plan. It is simple but detailed. This will be my first time implementing one in our emergency backpacks. I will put one in my husband’s backpack and my backpack so we each have a copy. I also plan on laminating them in case it gets wet. Having this evacuation plan is crucial in case members of your family are separated during the disaster.
Survival Kits
I am sure you have heard about having supplies on hand in case of an emergency, but do you have the right supplies in case disaster strikes? This survival list has everything that you will need in case the worse happens, and it seems like a lot, but it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. I personally love this idea of creating individual 72 hour packs for each member of the family because each person can carry their own backpack instead of packing suitcases or luggage. The parents’ backpacks will be a bit bulkier because they will carry extra supplies, like important documents, flashlights, batteries, etc. My husband encourages me to buy an extra case of water every time I go grocery shopping so we can always have extra on hand, just in case. It’s also a good idea to stock up on supplies when they are on sale during the year. Don’t prepare for a disaster right before it happens; plan accordingly throughout the year because we all know that those supplies will be gone really quick. Also, do not forget about your pets! Make sure you have supplies on hand for them. They are just as much apart of your family as anyone else, so take care of them accordingly. The City of Corpus Christi has a ton of information about taking care of your pets during a hurricane.
Community Resources
Know your community resources in case there is a call for an evacuation of the Coastal Bend area. Did you know that you can have alerts sent to your phone via ReverseAlert? This is a handy tool to have in case of an evacuation or just to be on alert about an upcoming storm, fire, etc. and it is FREE!! The city also has information on their website about evacuation routes, tips for preparation and how to secure your home, and more that you can access on their website.
What are some ways you organize your family emergency kits?
