101 Ways
to Prepare for Emergencies
Emergency
Preparedness Tips
1. Remember to prepare for everyone in the home.
When you are putting
together a plan to prepare in the case of an emergency, it is very important to
remember to plan for not only yourself and your children, but also for your
family pets and any guests who could potentially be with you at the time of the
emergency. Many people fail to plan for their pets, and unfortunately many pets
are lost each year as a result.
Sometimes, you have to act in the best interest of the people, and there
is nothing that you can do. But it is definitely worth putting together an
emergency plan for your pets.
2. Have meeting places lined up, and make
sure that everyone
knows where they are. You should
generally have three-five locations that everyone in the home knows about where
you can meet up in the case of separation during an emergency. This could be a
neighbor’s front yard, a local business and possibly a relative’s home a few
miles away. This way, you will not have to wander around looking for family
members because they too will make their way toward the pre- determined
locations.
3. Attach your appliances to the floor.
Particularly in flood prone areas, it is recommended that gas appliances be
attached to the floor. Your appliance will most likely be destroyed in the case
of a severe flood; however the risk that you are alleviating is that of your
gas line rupturing, presenting a possible explosion risk within your home. You
can use straps, mounting bolts or another method for attaching the appliances
to the floor, or even to a wall. Just remember that is you attach to the wall,
the wall should be constructed of solid material.
4. Buy plenty of flashlights and even more
batteries. It is always important
to have a flashlight on hand. In
general, most people use flashlights ten or more times during the course of a
year. A good quality flashlight should be on hand in the kitchen, or other
central room of the home. In addition, everyone should have a flashlight near
their bed in case of a middle of the night emergency. There are now a lot of
emergency flashlights that do not require batteries. Instead, they are powered
by a hand crank and have a halogen bulb for added brightness.
5. Inspect your home carefully. One of the first
things to do when planning for emergency preparedness is to get to know the ins
and outs of your home. At a minimum, you should know where all of your utility
shut-offs are located. You should also take a look around to see if there are
heavy objects which could fall on someone and result in an injury. Take care to
check the handrails on your stairs to ensure safety in a situation where the
stairs are unstable.
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6. Reconsider your storage areas. Take some time
to look through your storage areas to ensure that the heaviest items on shelves
are at the bottom, near the floor.
Make sure
that any storage shelving is secured to the wall in some way. Consider whether
there is any risk of a fire, or if your storage area contains little more than
fuel should a fire start. Clean out old things that you do not plan to use, in
order to reduce the fire hazard.
7. Find all of the chemicals in your home. It is
important to know where your chemicals are stored, and whether they present an
additional risk in the event of an emergency. For example, you should never
store ammonia and bleach in the same location! Many people do not consider
this, however should the two combine the results could be very dangerous due to
the emission of toxic gas. Paint, paint thinner and other chemicals should
NEVER be stored near your furnace, water heater or any other appliance with a
lit pilot light.
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8. Find a safe spot in your home. Depending on
the type of natural disasters to which your location is prone, this spot can
range from the basement to the attic. Generally, everyone should have a high
ground location in the case of a flood. However, if your area is prone to
earthquakes you would most likely want to be somewhere like under a sturdy
doorframe. If tornados are common, you should have a below ground location,
with little that can fall on you from overhead.
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9. Have a written plan. Many people spend a lot
of time putting together an actual emergency plan, but they never put it in
writing. Well, in the case of an emergency there is a good chance that someone
will miss a critical step in the process of evacuation, etc. Therefore – always
have a copy of your plan for each member of the house. Perhaps the plan can be
stored in a nightstand drawer with a flashlight.
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10. Review your emergency plan. You are not the only one who needs to be familiar with your emergency plan unless you
live alone. Make sure that everyone knows his or her responsibilities according
to the plan. And, make sure that you review the plan upon occasion to make sure
that it still works for you and that everyone knows exactly what to do in the
event of an emergency.
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11. Invest in emergency lighting. In the event of
a fire or power outage, it is a good idea to have some sort of emergency
lighting available. Invest in lighting that can be moved around as needed or
anchored into place. Flashlights are one example of emergency lighting, but
battery operated light bulbs are available on the market.
12. Check out your landscaping. During a severe
storm, most homes are not damaged by the storm itself. Instead they are damaged
by falling limbs, trees and power lines. The power lines are generally brought
down by falling limbs and trees. Therefore, it is important to check your
landscaping at least annually to ensure that all of the trees and shrubs
surrounding your home are well manicured and not touching your home or power
lines.
13. Do not store kerosene, gasoline or other fuels
inside you home. While it is tempting to keep these fuels in the home for
convenience, in the case of an emergency they could cause an explosion, fumes,
etc. So consider a storage shed or garage as a better location.
14. Buy smoke detectors. While fires are only one
type of emergency, high quality smoke detectors can tell you about a fire in
your home and depending on the location, a neighbor’s home. It is important to
have a smoke detector on every level of your home, so that in the event of a
fire everyone will hear it sounding. You might even want to call your local
fire department for installation recommendations or assistance.
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15. Talk to your schools. If you are a parent of
school aged children, it is important that you know exactly how the school will
react in the event of an emergency in the school or in the local area. Your
school must have a written response plan, including information about how
parents will receive information. You can contact the school via telephone to
have questions answered, or you can request a copy of the emergency
preparedness plan.
16. Determine the fastest and most out of the way
route to local hospitals. In the event of an emergency, you may need to take
someone to the hospital. If the emergency is just at your home, traffic may not
be an issue and you can use the shortest possible route. However, in the even
of road closings, heavy traffic, bad weather, etc. you will probably want to
take the most out of the way route to get where you need to go. This may seem
like a bad idea, but it will take less time than sitting in heavy traffic on a
main roadway.
17. Get to know your neighbors. It is always a good
idea to know who your neighbors are, and what there experience is. For example,
if you have a neighbor who is a nurse, you might be able to call on them should
someone be severely injured – until the paramedics arrive. If
there is a neighbor who is home during the hours that you work, you could give
them your contact information in the event that there is an emergency and offer
to do the same in return.
18. Make sure that someone nearby has a set of keys
or the pass code for your garage door. It is important that at least one other
person has access to your home in the event of any type of emergency. That
person should know where your telephones are located as well as your utility
and power shut-off locations. Offer to do the same in return.
19. Develop an evacuation plan. This is a part of
an overall emergency preparation plan, however it is important that more than
any other part of the plan – your entire household know what
to do should there be a need to evacuate the home. Pick out a spot in a
neighbor’s yard to assemble once everyone
is out and make it clear that everyone is to stay in that spot so that heads
can be counted. This is
critical,
so that in the event of a fire you can inform the fire department whether there
might still be someone inside.
20. Carry pictures of your kids. Believe it or not, carrying photos in your
wallet is a fantastic idea, and not just
because you can show them off. In the event that a family member turns up
missing, you will have photos with you that can be shown to authorities
immediately. This can make all of the difference when it comes to finding a
missing person.
21. Pick a relative who lives out of the area to
coordinate communications in the event of a major emergency. This is because
often local calling is impossible during a disaster situation and long distance
is easier. Make sure that everyone in your family knows to contact that person
and how to get in contact with them. This includes the phone number, email
address and physical address of the relative.
22. Don’t let that gas tank fall below half. In
today’s busy world, it is often tempting to wait until the gauge says “E”
before stopping for gas. However, particularly in the winter when the risk of
accidents and traffic congestion is higher – you need
to make sure that you have enough gas to handle whatever comes your way. This
could mean the difference between being able to power your heater in the winter
or your air conditioner in extreme heat.
23. Always carry a flashlight in your car. It is
important to always have a flashlight on
hand in your car, preferably the type that does not require batteries. You
never know when you might need one. Keep it in your glove compartment or in the
console between seats. You would be better off not keeping the flashlight in
the trunk; in the even of an accident you might be unable to retrieve it.
24. Keep water in your car. It is a good idea to
keep several gallons of fresh water in
your car at all times. Water serves many purposes, drinking, cleaning, or even
putting out a campfire. A case of drinking water might be a good option due to
portability of the small bottles.
25. Keep blankets in your car. An emergency blanket
or two is always an excellent idea for your trunk. Should you ever become
stranded in the winter, you will need to stay warm without running the car.
Additionally, should you ever experience a home fire; you might need the extra
blanket to wrap up in while the fire department is working to extinguish the
flames. Keep the blanket in the car year round, and you never risk not having
it when you need it.
26. Store water in your home. The recommendation is
that you have around thirty gallons per person on hand at any time. This may be
a bit more space than you can afford to give up. If you can store large
containers of water for cleaning, flushing toilets and general use you will
find the space requirement less. If you
think this
is too much water to be stored, consider all of the ways that you use water
each day.
27. Keep plenty of ready to eat food at home. Foods
that are stored in cans are airtight and
waterproof. This makes them a great option in the case of an emergency. Canned
food should be marked with a permanent market on the top or bottom in the even
of labels being removed. Periodically check for expired food and buy
replacements when necessary. Be sure to have a manual can opener on hand as well.
28. Store some food in your car. While you may not
want to store a lot of food in your car, having at least a day’s worth of food
will enable you to maintain strength in the event that you become stranded.
Freeze dried or dehydrated foods like nuts and jerky and dried fruits are the
best options since your car will be exposed to temperatures that range from
freezing to extremely hot and you need foods that can tolerate these
conditions.
29. Keep grilling supplies on hand. You should make
sure that you have an alternate cooking method such as a charcoal or gas grill
available in the event of an emergency. You will need around 50 pounds of
charcoal to cook meals for a week.
30. Consider carrying a tent in your car. In the
event that you are stranded, you might want to sleep in the tent or use it for
shelter at some point. A small tent is compact and can easily be stashed in
your car.
31. Keep hand warmers in your glove compartment.
There are heat packs called hand warmers on the market which will heat upon
opening and keep your hands warm for several hours at a time. You can use these
heat packs inside of your gloves or even inside of your shoes. It’s not a bad
idea to have these on hand at home as well.
32. Consider purchasing a propane heater. While
most people have stopped using kerosene heaters, propane heaters are a safer
alternative to use in the event of an emergency situation. You will generally
need to purchase propane tanks to fuel the heater, but these are relatively
inexpensive and available. You can even carry the heater in your car, if you
are at risk of being stranded. You won’t want to use the heater without
ventilation; however it would work in a tent.
33. Keep a complete first aid kit on hand at
home. In
your home, you should have a complete first aid kit that includes
bandages, antibiotic cream, instant ice packs and ipecac syrup. You can
purchase a kit, or put one together yourself if you would prefer.
34. Keep a first aid kit in your car. In your car,
you should at least store bandages and medical tape. A complete kit containing
ice packs, aspirin, antibiotic cream and gauze would be the best option however
if you have room.
35. Always keep a copy of your prescriptions. If
you are taking prescription medication, it is important to make sure that you
always have at least a week’s supply on hand, and that you have a copy of your
prescriptions so that in the event of an emergency you can have them filled
quickly.
36. Keep candles on hand. Candles are not as
strongly recommended as they once were due to the risk of fire. However, having
candles in the home is a good idea in the event that you can’t find a
flashlight, batteries or you have already expended the batteries that you had
on hand.
37. Keep a portable radio on hand. Whether in your
car, in your home or both, you will want to have access to a portable am/fm
radio in the event of an emergency. This will enable you to hear forecasts,
news reports or instructions to follow. Always ensure that your radio has fresh
batteries and several back up sets that have been tested. A radio that does not
require batteries would be an excellent idea since there is no need to
batteries.
38. Keep your cell phone fully charged. Get a car
charger, and make sure that before you leave the house your phone is with you
and fully charged. Today’s cell phones charge rapidly and hold their charge
longer than older phones. You might want to consider an upgrade to a newer
phone if you haven’t done so in a while.
39. Use ICE numbers. ICE numbers are in case of
emergency phone numbers and contact information that should be entered into
everyone’s cell phone. Add one or two ICE contacts and label them as such, ICE:
mom, ICE:home, etc. This gives others the ability to get information about you
and to your family in the event that you are sick or injured.
40. Keep a list of important phone numbers handy at
all times. It is a good idea to carry a list of important phone numbers
including doctors, emergency services, schools, your co-workers home numbers
and local hospitals. You may also want to include the cell phone number of your
friends and family members as well. You never know when you will need to use
the list, and it is best to have it with you at all times.
41. Consider buying a police or weather radio.
While these appliances can be costly, they can come in handy when you need to
get access to emergency information in a hurry. Generally, these range between
one and several hundred dollars and require batteries for operation. Keep
plenty of batteries on hand, as well as a list of frequencies that you might
need to locate.
42. Remember your ABCs. Fire extinguishers, that
is. A type ABS multipurpose fire extinguisher is the best option for home
since it can be used for any fire. A five pound unit can stow away in the
kitchen, but you might want to keep a larger unit in the home in case you need
it. Check your fire extinguishers and replace as recommended.
43. Keep a crow bar in your home. A crowbar is an
important and extremely versatile tool to have on hand. You can use it to break
glass, to pry something open or to lift a heavy object using leverage. The
longer the better, in terms of size.
44. Carry a pocket knife. With heightened security
concerns, you can no longer carry a pocket knife in many locations, but
whenever you are driving you should have one in the car with you. The
multipurpose type is best, and you will find that the tool will be a great help
in many different situations.
45. Get a power converter for your car. Not only
will this type of converter power your kids DVD player on long trips, but it
can actually power any 120v appliance including a small television or radio. In
the event of an emergency you will be glad to have this option.
46. Keep cash stashed. At a minimum, you should
have $100 dollars in cash available at any given time. Keep in mind that in an
emergency you may not be able to use an ATM. It is best to have several
different denominations of bills from ones to twenties. You should also have a
roll of quarters on hand.
47. Keep a set of clothes in a plastic container.
There are Rubbermaid containers with
handles that would be perfect for storing a complete set of clothing for a four
person family. You should plan to have a complete set of clothing ready for
each member of the household including boots or shoes and a jacket of some
sort. In the event of an emergency, you will not need to spend valuable time
packing and searching for somewhere to store the clothing.
48. Stash duplicate credit cards, ATM cards, and
extra checks somewhere accessible. In
the event of a fire, or other disaster you may not have time to grab these
things before you leave home. However, keeping a spare set in a lock box at
your office or the home of a friend will give you the added security of knowing
that you can get anything that you might need.
49. Carry antibacterial gel in your car. In order
to stay clean, you might want to use antibacterial gel, which is commonly
available to wash your hands before eating, etc. You can keep a small bottle in
your glove compartment.
50. Carry heavy gloves in your car. It is a good
idea to carry heavy leather gloves in
your car, in case you would ever need to change a tire or remove snow or ice
from your
car. There are many other times that these could come in handy, even for added
warmth in the winter.
51. Always have a pen and paper available. You
never know when you are going to need to write down instructions, directions,
phone numbers or anything else.
Keep them
at home near the phone, in your purse or in your car.
52. Keep a few trash bags in your car. Having trash
bags on hand is always a good idea, because you never know when you will need
them. Because they are plastic, they can be used to cover a broken window or a
wet seat. They can also provide a moisture barrier between clothing layers in
the cold.
53. Keep a sandbag in your trunk. Not only can the
added weight help you to keep your car steady in the snow and rain, but should
you become stuck in the snow, you can sprinkle the sand beneath your tire to
provide needed traction.
54. Stay where you are during an earthquake. If you
are experiencing an earthquake, it is best to stay right where you are and not
to try to leave home or work. You should try to get under the most solid object
or in between a sturdy doorway to protect yourself. If you are unable to get
under something sturdy, lie down against a wall and protect your head and face
as best you can.
55. If
you are driving during an earthquake – pull over
somewhere safe. If you can, find a place to park that is not
near a building, sign or power line that could fall on your car. If it is
winter time, you may need to turn on your car occasionally for heat, however
keep a window open just in case of carbon monoxide seeping in. You should
listen to the radio for updates and stay inside of the car until the earthquake
shaking has stopped.
56. If your power goes out, use a
flashlight. Candles are not recommended
unless as a last resort due to the risk
of fire. You should go around and unplug major electrical appliances, so that a
power surge will not destroy the equipment. This is particularly true for
televisions and computer equipment.
57. Never run a generator inside of your home. This
includes the garage, if it is attached to the home. The risk of carbon monoxide
poisoning inside of the home is significant, regardless of the level of
ventilation. You should use extension cords to connect to the generator instead
of trying to power your entire home at one time.
58. Stay off of the phone during an emergency. Try not to tie up local phone lines or cell phone transmission lines in a major
emergency. This will inhibit the ability of emergency personnel to communicate
with one another. Instead, keep calls to a minimum.
59. If you experience a hurricane, keep your food
safe. Dealing with the aftermath
of a hurricane is bad enough. You don’t want to complicate matters by adding
food poisoning to your list of problems. Any food that has come into contact
with flood water should be thrown away immediately. Even if just the plastic
packaging is wet, there is good chance of contamination. Frozen food that is
completely thawed should be thrown away – not
cooked. Keep your family safe through the recovery and you will find it a lot
easier to get things done.
60. If your power is out in the summer, consider
buying some ice blocks. You can generally protect your refrigerated and
frozen food for three days by keeping the doors closed. However, when
temperatures are soaring you may want to purchase some ice blocks for your
freezer to help preserve your food.
61. Be aware of what to do in case of a radiation
emergency. If you live near a power plant, or there would be a terrorist attack
involving radioactive material it is important to know what to do. Every major
city will have a plan for preparedness in the event of a radiation emergency.
Ask questions and find out what that plan is. Ask your children’s’ schools what
they would do. Develop a plan of your own once you have gathered the necessary
information.
62. If a
tornado is in the area, you should
get underground or to your
basement. If a tornado is imminent, a
tornado watch will change to a warning and you must act immediately. If you are
in your car, find shelter anywhere that you are able. If you are at home, take
a radio and water and get to the lowest possible point in your home to wait out
the storm. Never try to get outside to photograph the storm, as tornados move
quickly and unexpectedly.
63. Find an exit route from every room in your
home. It is very important to make sure that there is a way to exit every room
in your home, preferably two ways to exit.
If you are trying to determine an exit strategy for rooms on the upper
level of the home, a portable rope latter might be the answer. Make sure that
everyone in the home knows how to get out safely and how to use equipment like
ladders, etc.
64. Plan for those who cannot. If you have an
infant, or an elderly family member in
your home you will need to plan on their behalf and most likely to act on their
behalf as well. This increases your responsibility significantly during an
evacuation because you may need to physically move others and any necessary
equipment out of the line of danger. Enlist help from others in the home
whenever possible, and make responsibilities simple to understand and carry
out.
65. Store important documents in a water and
fire proof container specially designed
for home document storage. In this container, you will want to place originals
or copies of your family members’ birth certificates, social security cards,
driver’s licenses, wills, etc. It is better to have a copy than to have to go
through the legwork of recovering lost documents when you need them the most.
66. Prepare to throw things away. Yes, it
sounds like something we would all
rather not do. However, if a porous item (clothing, furniture, bedding,
carpeting, etc) is wet for longer than 48 hours there is a significant chance
that mold will begin to grow on those items. If your home is flooded, there may
be little to salvage. However, by throwing out the damaged items you are
protecting your health. Talk to your insurance company before doing anything
other than removing the items from inside of you home, however.
67. In the event of a flood, prepare to clean
immediately. In the case of a flood that affects your home, the best defense is
an immediate clean up. Remove damaged and wet items, and dry out what you can.
If it’s sunny – consider moving wet items outside
immediately. Remove as much water as you can from inside of the home using
hoses, wet/dry vacuums or even buckets. Drying the dampness quickly is
important. Wipe all surfaces with a detergent and hot water and dry them
completely.
68. If you live near a wildfire, protect yourself
from the smoke. Unlike a regular fire,
a wildfire is not contained and it could be burning anything in its path. This
includes poisonous plants, plastic, homes, etc. It is imperative to watch the
news, and listen to radio reports about the local air quality. Otherwise, if
you suffer from a respiratory condition you could be putting yourself at
significant risk. Invest in a HEPA air filter, whether you already have medical
problems and stay inside if the smoke is blowing your direction.
69. Wear light colored and lightweight clothing
during an extreme heat wave. Extreme heat is just as dangerous as extreme cold,
and it is important to be on the look out for health problems in yourself and
others that are caused or irritated by the heat. Stay inside, in air
conditioning, whenever possible and if you must be outside, cover as much of
yourself as possible to shield our UV rays.
70. Stay home in the event of an influenza
outbreak. While the flu may not
seem like an emergency, imagine what
would happen if you’re entire city became infected. If you are having flu
symptom, you should protect those around you and make every attempt not to
spread the virus.
71. Be prepared.
While this may sound cliché, it truly is important to always be ready
for a situation that requires some level of heightened response from you and
your family. Having an emergency preparedness kit on hand is a great idea,
because it will get you through most emergencies. If your locale is prone to
specific types of natural disasters, you should make sure that you are covering
everything you will need in your planning and preparations.
72. If you are inside a building that is on fire,
get out. This is the very first thing that you should do. Do not re-enter the
building for any reason. Call 911 and report the fire if crews are not already
on the scene, and find people that you can
stand with
because it is best to stay in groups. If you are at home, you will want to
locate all of your family members so that they know you made it out safely.
73. If you are on the scene of an explosion, get
away from the area quickly. Your first response to an explosion will most
likely be instinctive and you will begin looking for an escape route. This is
important whether you are inside or outside. Never use an elevator in a
building that has experienced an explosion or one that is on fire. Tell
everyone you see to go with you, but do not stay behind to talk them out of the
building. If there are someone who cannot exit the building on their own, alert
the authorities when you get outside or help the person if you are able to get
them out quickly and safely.
74. Make noise if you are trapped. In any situation
where you become trapped, it is important to protect your mouth and nose from
any sort of contaminant and then to make as much noise as possible without
screaming. If you see or hear movement above, it might be a good idea to yell
at that point. But find something to bang on, or with until you can attract
attention. Generally, if a person becomes trapped under debris, etc. there is
someone who knows that they could be there and people will be searching.
75. Stay calm. The absolute most important thing
that you can do in any emergency situation is to stay calm and maintain a
positive attitude. In groups, one panicking person can cause massive confusion
as others become panicked as well. But, if you are able to maintain a sense of
calm you will help to alleviate the fears of others around you.
76. Know when to call the authorities. In any
emergency, there is a feeling that someone should be notified. Well, if a
hurricane strikes your town there is a good chance that the police already know
about it. However, if you see a fire in your office there is definitely cause
to call 911. If you suspect a gas leak at your home, you should call the gas
company. Know ahead of time what authorities you will notify in any specific
emergency. Generally, if you do not know who to call, calling 911 is a good
option because they will alert the correct people.
77. If you have to evacuate, prepare your home. If
you are told by authorities that you
must evacuate your home, you will want to take the following steps. Turn off
the utilities, remove as many valuables as possible or hide them well within
the home lock every door and window and grab your cell phone, water and a radio
at least. If you have time, you will want to pack some clothing – but in an
emergency there is not always enough time.
78. If you are involved in a chemical related emergency,
use water. Generally, water is the best substance to use if you are exposed to
chemicals of any sort. If you are not affected, but are on the scene of a
chemical emergency use water to rinse the victims and their eyes for at least
15 minutes. Cover your mouth and
nose with
what ever you can in order to protect your respiratory system from any harmful
fumes and odors.
79. Make a mental note of where the exits are. This
is true for all public places, specifically those to which you have never been.
Look for exit doors as well as alternative exits from parking areas in order to
feel confident of your ability to get away in the event of an emergency.
80. When staying in a hotel, always review that
sign on the door. How many times have you ignored that sign on the door
containing the emergency exit information? Stop ignoring it – it could
save your life in the event of a fire or other problem.
81. If you are building a home in a flood-prone
area consider have your utilities installed on the top-most floor of your home.
In case of a flood, you will need to be
less worried about ruptured utility lines and shutting off your utilities in a
hurry. You might also consider moving your utility connections in an already
built home for added protection.
82. Get a home inspection. If you live in an area
where natural disasters of any sort are common, it would be worth the
investment to have a home inspector come in and tell you how you can improve
the structure of you home to withstand whatever comes your way.
83. Keep a household inventory. It is always a good
idea to know what you have in your home, because in the event of a fire or
natural disaster you will need this information for insurance purposes. You
should update the inventory every few months and keep receipts with replacement
value whenever possible.
84. Consider videotaping your home and possessions.
It is becoming
very common today to keep a media recording of your home and its
contents. You can use still photographs or a video recording. Just be certain
to keep these in a safe location, where they will not be damaged by water or
fire.
85. Always write down the model number and
serial number of
electronic devices and computer equipment. This will allow you to
accurately report the items contained in your home in the event of an
emergency. Recording the serial number is also a good idea in the event of
theft.
86. Keep accurate records about your home. If you
make home improvements or remodel any part of your home, you will want to have
records to show what has been done and the cost of the work. This may affect
the valuation of your home by an insurance company in the event of damage. It
is also a good idea to have a record of these items should you decide to sell
your home at some point.
87. Hire an appraiser. If you have not already done
so, you should have your expensive and priceless belongings appraised by a
professional in order to determine a replacement value should the items be
damaged or destroyed in an emergency.
88. Make sure that you have adequate insurance on
your home. It is important to have an
insurance policy that will cover at the very least, the replacement value of
you home. There are many different types and levels of coverage. Carefully
investigate the options to ensure that you have enough coverage and high enough
limits.
89. If you are renting, don’t skip the insurance.
Many landlords will require tenants to
purchase rental insurance. This covers the replacement of the tenant’s
belongings in the case of an emergency or fire. The cost is minimal and the
investment is definitely worth it.
90. Insure your belongings. Homeowner’s insurance
often covers only the structure, therefore you will want to purchase an
insurance policy that will cover the replacement cost of your belongings should
they be damaged or destroyed. In most cases, the most basic coverage will cover
the value of the item and not the replacement value of the purchase price. Ask
plenty of questions in order to ensure that if you need to go out and
repurchase everything – you will have the ability to do
so without worry.
91. Keep your health insurance cards on hand at all
times. It is important to always have your health insurance cards at
the ready in case you need to be taken to a hospital for any reason. Parents
should keep the cards of their children on hand as well, in case of an
emergency.
92. If you are moving into a new area, talk to an
insurance agent to find out what is
commonly excluded based upon the location where you will live. It is
common for flood damage to be excluded from homeowner’s policies in
flood- ridden areas. Fire insurance is generally a separate policy, and most
standard policies will not cover natural disaster (or, Act of God) damage.
93. Set up an emergency financial fund. It is a
good idea to establish an emergency fund in a separate savings account. In the
event of an emergency you may need to be able to pay for food, clothing and a
hotel. Or, you may need to be able to replace your refrigerator due to flood
damage. Either way, insurance companies often take weeks or longer to process
emergency claims and you are better off being able to carry the upfront costs
while waiting for reimbursement.
94. Consider putting together an evacuation box.
This is a good way to make sure that you are ready if evacuation is imminent.
Use a waterproof box that contains cash, maybe traveler’s checks, medication,
important papers and photographs of family members. It should also contain a
list of important phone numbers and
duplicate
insurance cards, or copies. Anything else that you might need should be in this
box.
95. Store valuable papers off-site. Many people
have rented safe deposit boxes through their bank as a place to safely store
records, papers and duplicates of important documents. This is a good place to
store insurance policies, your will and a copy of your prescriptions.
96. Know ahead of time what you would take with
you. If you are faced with one hour until evacuation during an emergency, you
will want to know ahead of time what you will want to grab first. Most likely,
you will already have cash and important documents, but you should develop a
list of items to grab and their location within the home. It is recommended
that you take only those things that cannot be replaced.
97. Make sure that your will is up to date. It’s difficult sometimes to realize that
in a natural disaster and other
emergencies we put our lives at risk simply by being alive. Therefore, you
should always keep your will updated and on file with an attorney. If you are a
parent, be certain to include stipulations regarding your children.
98. Consider a savings account with a credit union
or bank that
is outside of your local area. In the case of a major emergency,
local banks will most likely be closed.
Therefore, you would be wise to consider a bank account with an institution
that will most likely be unaffected by a local emergency. It may take longer to
get access to the funds, however at least you will be able to get to them.
99. Keep some of your investments liquid. If you
are the type of person to invest your emergency funds, that’s a wonderful way
to see your savings grow over time. However, if you need to wait ten days to
liquidate an asset you may experience significant problems. Therefore, a money
market might be a good idea for at least part of your emergency fund.
100. Know your local area. Even if you are new to
a location, it is important to know the area very well. You should have several
planned routes for evacuation if necessary and you should know where to go in
case of an emergency. Become familiar with where the police and fire
departments are located as well as any other businesses or organizations that
you may need in case of an emergency.
101. Keep copies of your computerized files. It is important to always have a back up of your computer files in the event
of any sort of emergency. Many people no longer keep paper records for their
homes and businesses. A good idea is to make a DVD or CD back up every month
and to place it somewhere that you can get to it in an emergency. You can place
it in your firebox or consider keeping it at your office.
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