Three Cheap Things You Can Do to Prepare for a Disaster

Preparing for a disaster doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are three things you can do right now to better prepare you and your family.

First, pack your bags. You should designate a bag for each person (and pet) in your family. If you don’t have a bag, consider a hard-sided container you could load into a vehicle. Think about what you’d need for 24-48 hours, either at home with limited resources, or away from home during an evacuation. Consider using supplies you may already have on hand, like canned goods and older clothing.

Next, make a plan. This plan should include what you’d do when forced to stay inside your home without access to conveniences like utilities and what you would do if forced to evacuate. Use tools like maps or online resources to plan the routes you’d take when leaving or the things you’d change at home when staying.

Lastly, brief your family. Take the time to educate everyone in your family on your plans and allow them to ask questions and participate. Emergencies will be handled better when everyone knows the direction they’re headed and what they’re taking.