There was an article recently in a San Diego, California newspaper asking the question if residents were ready and prepared ahead of time in case of a natural disaster. If anyone knows about natural disasters it should be the folks out in California where earthquakes and wildfires abound along with an occasional flood. ?While this article was certainly addressing the people in California, everyone across the country should pay attention because natural disasters can strike anywhere. Just ask the people in tornado alley or people along the Mississippi River basin who get flooded nearly every spring; or the people along the Atlantic Coast who get hit by hurricanes.

The article went on to describe what people needed to be prepared: build a “bug out” kit; make a plan; and be informed.

BE INFORMED

This includes knowing what disasters are specific to your geographical location. But wildfires and electrical blackouts, the result of any natural disaster including snowstorms, can happen just about anywhere.

MAKE A PLAN

This is a critical element in being prepared. It should include talking to your family about what to do if a natural disaster happens including having pre-selected meeting places right outside the home and one outside the neighborhood. Everyone in the family should know where emergency information and supplies are kept. This may sound crazy, but have practice drills once or twice a year on an evacuation route.

BUY OR BUILD A “BUG OUT” KIT

A “bug out” kit is an easy to carry container with supplies to last at least a week-preferably two weeks, that is grab and go. No two kits are the same and there is no “one size fits all.” Everyone’s needs are different, but here’s a list of some things that are recommended as a baseline.

• At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water for the family and don’t forget Fido or a can opener. The fact is in an emergency situation your very survival depends on food and water supplies that may not be available through normal channels.
• A first aid kit.
• Medications, an extra pair of glasses or contact supplies.
• A battery-powered or NOAA weather radio.
• Flashlight, extra batteries and a solar powered cell phone charger.
• Copies of important documents that show proof of address, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies and don’t forget the deed to your home.
• Extra cash.

You should remember that in a natural disaster, normal services are not available. Emergency responders are busy doing their thing. The burden of taking care of your family falls on you. You cannot rely on anyone else. Food and medical needs should be your first priority as far as planning goes. But plan you must. There’s an old saying that “if you don’t know where you’re going, you will never get there.”

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Being prepared means being equipped with the proper supplies you may need in the event of an emergency or disaster. It is best to keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry emergency preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you in case you must evacuate.

We are proud to be offering these emergency survival kits(Bug Out Kits) that you can easily store in a closet and grab quickly when you need to leave in an emergency.