Preparing Your Family for a Natural Disaster

Emergency preparedness begins at home, and while most of the focus of preparedness is tied to large organizations, companies, and events, the same principles apply to each and every family. Imagine, each family in a neighborhood are prepared for a natural disaster. The news images and reports would be quite different from what we normally see.

 

 

For families where a parent is a first responder, advanced preparation and cooperation is key. For the parent staying behind, there is extra pressure to take care of everything, and for the parent heading out to help others, there is a need to know their own family is taken care of. Discussing and practicing the same emergency preparedness techniques that are implemented on a larger scale will make everyone feel more comfortable.

 

Kids love learning, extending their education to include information about natural disasters that are likely in your area. When learning about hurricanes, for example, you could talk about the warning signs, how the information is disseminated, and what can be done in preparation. When learning about a specific region’s threat, children may be concerned with relatives who live there, which is a great way to get them thinking about how they can help others prepare for natural disasters.

 

Preparing as a family is going to make things run smoother when and if a disaster strikes. Just like schools have fire drills and bus evacuation drills, your family should review your plan at least every six months so that everyone is on the same page. Each member of the household should know what to do in an emergency. Even if the youngest person can only remember to leave the house and go to the neighbors, that is an important step to practice. Have your children aid in preparing a ‘get ready kit’ so they can be as comfortable as possible when evacuating.

 

When reviewing your plan for evacuation or leaving the house, be sure to check with the neighbors whose help you are counting on. That will often start a conversation about preparedness and will encourage them to prepare as well. When meeting new neighbors, consider asking them about any special things they may need help with if a disaster strikes your neighborhood. While most people are going to help without knowing each other, it would save time if you’ve already had some of these conversations.

 

 

If you’re looking for more ideas and information on making your family the most prepared it can be, the American Academy of Pediatrics has put together a Family Readiness Kit. This kit outlines some of the key topics related to preparing a family for an emergency. The main areas discussed include both educational information as well as how to help others prepare.