Making a Disaster Preparedness Plan

Disasters like hurricanes come with a notice giving you ample time to take precautionary measures. However, calamitous events like wildfires, earthquakes, and floods can occur in an instant. Therefore, you must have a disaster preparedness plan in place so that you can ensure the safety of your loved ones. 

Where to Begin?

Figure out the type of natural disaster that your area is prone to. For instance, people living in Florida and surrounding areas should plan for floods and hurricanes, while Californians can prepare for earthquakes and wildfires. 

Plan Safety Measures Before the Disaster

Hurricanes and Floods

You’ll find out about floods and hurricanes through the news. Begin by packing valuables to take them with you. Keep the remaining valuables on high grounds like kitchen counters, top cabinets, etc. if you can’t take them. Never leave your pets back home if there’s a flood warning.

Take heavy winds into account and store your outdoor furniture and hanging planters inside. Fill up buckets and your bathtub with water in case of blocked water lines post-storm. 

Earthquake

At the time of an earthquake, sit down, cover yourself, and hold on to something sturdy. Evaluate your living space and designate a spot for it. An area that’s away from the windows and can shelter you is the best, like under the table. 

Wildfire

Last year there were 45,393 wildfires in the US. Wildfires don’t give much time for you to escape. Therefore, if you live in an area that gets affected by wildfires, ensure that you keep a bag of essentials in your car at all times, so that you can evacuate quickly without panicking to grab things. 

Have a Disaster Supply Kit in Place

You may not always end up staying inside your house. If that happens, you must have a survival kit at your disposal. Take a big backpack and add essentials like:

• Nonperishable food
• Flashlight with spare batteries
• Water – 3 liters per person
• Sanitation items like tissues and wet wipes
• First aid kit
• Emergency blankets
• Handheld radio
• Cell phone chargers
• Maps and compasses
• Required medication for up to a week
• Money in small bills and ample change
• Photocopies of important documents like insurance policies, home deed, passports, driver’s license, etc. 
• List of emergency contact numbers.

If you have pets, you should also keep ample water for them along with pet food, extra leash, and vaccines. 

Get Home Insurance Quotes in Indian Orchard

If you’re looking for affordable insurance plans to help you during times of disaster, contact Western Mass Auto Insurance. Our auto and home insurance agents in Indian Orchard can help you get your process your claim application quickly so that you don’t have to wait for an eternity to get what you deserve. You can also download our smartphone application and make the process quicker.