Preparing for disasters is the best way to combat a dreadful event, even if you have no idea when it’ll come.
Disasters are undesirable events that are, most of the time, unpredictable. They can be devastating to anyone’s lives and can cause so much loss.
Although being prepared may not prevent the devastation, having the know-how on preparing for disasters may at least save you and your loved ones.
What to Look Out for in a Disaster
There are quite a number of disasters that can occur in our lives. Some may only cause small damage to our home or yard.
Others may be more severe and could wreak havoc in our neighborhood, leaving nothing behind in its wake.
Whatever the disaster may be, you can prepare yourself for all of them. Fortunately, there are three characteristics that all disasters have in common.
Having knowledge of these traits can make it easier for you to prepare in advance for any type of disaster.
#1: All disasters can cause panic in individuals or affected communities.
#2: All disasters can affect the availability of clean water, food, gas supply, and electrical usage.
#3: All natural disasters are unpredictable and extremely difficult to control.
These three facts about disasters could be just the knowledge you need to be able to avoid the shock and fear that comes when an imminent disaster is coming your way.
The worst thing that you can do when a disaster hits is to panic. This can lower your chance of survival and increase the chance of causing more harm to the people around you.
2 Factors When Preparing for Disasters
Preparing for disasters is important for anyone, not just for those who live in areas where natural calamities occur frequently.
Most disasters tend to strike quickly and without much warning, so it would not be wise to wait for the day to come to prepare.
Factor #1: Survival Mindset
The first thing that you want in order to be prepared is to have a survival mindset. Having this mindset can make you feel calmer when the disaster arrives and confident enough to act when needed.
Disasters are merciless, so you don’t want to be running around hysterically. Instead, you want to be available and ready to help others whenever possible.
Having a survival mindset will also lead to having a survival instinct.
Factor #2: Disaster Supply Kit
If you have a family or live with your family, it is even more important that you have a disaster supply kit. A disaster supply kit doesn’t just consist of food and water but should also contain tools and equipment.
Ideally, you want to have two kits set up. One in the home and the other in your car. You want the one in your home to be the comprehensive or main kit, while the one in the car is more of the contingency kit.
That way, if you are unable to utilize the main kit because of lack of time, then at least you’ve prepared a ready to go kit in the car.
Your disaster supply kits should have the following:
Food & water
These are the most important items to have in your disaster supply kits. You might have the best tools or the latest equipment available, but without food and water, you cannot go anywhere for long.
In the pack, you should store bottled water and canned food enough for each household member.
You should also try to choose items with the longest expiration dates. It is recommended that you have about six months’ worth of food and water.
It might even help to find food that your family is familiar with, such as those that you occasionally eat together at home.
One of the negative effects of disasters is the mental aspect. So, when you need to eat after a disaster, your family will at least feel comforted when eating a familiar meal together.
Tools & equipment
Once you’ve decided on the food and water to store, you can then start thinking about what tools and equipment you might need.
You want to make sure that you prioritize which of these items to store. You won’t be able to fit everything in the packs.
One way that you can decide on which items to have is by determining what disasters are common in your area.
Moreover, you should also consider disasters that can happen anywhere, just in case. The tools and equipment you choose should also be easy to use for anyone, such as your kids.
You certainly don’t want your tools or equipment to let you down when the moment comes.
Preparing for Disasters: Conclusion
Preparing for disasters is not something that anyone should be excited about. But, it is important if not necessary.
The 3 key characteristics of disasters mentioned here are just one thing to keep in mind when making preparations.
Remember, the better you are prepared, the better you will feel when the disaster finally comes knocking.
