If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that you need to be prepared for anything. Since September is disaster preparedness month, it’s a perfect time to make sure you have a plan in place to protect your family and property in the event of sudden disaster. Besides creating your plan, it’s also a good idea to practice the plan with your family so that if you ever need to act quickly, you can.
While some types of storms, such as hurricanes, give you plenty of warning, other disasters can happen in mere minutes. Fires, floods, and tornadoes can strike quickly and move fast, giving you very little time to react. That’s why it’s such a good idea to have a solid evacuation plan in place and have some items on hand in case you need to shelter in place.
Planning In Advance When Possible
If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather conditions, stay informed with local weather and news information. During hurricane or tornado season it might be a good idea to keep the outdoor areas free of items that could become projectiles and keep trees trimmed to reduce wind damage. Prep areas of the home to make objects less moveable or breakable and identify areas where you can seek shelter if the home becomes unstable. Inside doorways, for example, are a good place to stand during an earthquake.
Should You Shelter In Place Or Evacuate The Home?
Your local authorities will let you know if it is safe to shelter in place. Make sure to have enough emergency supplies on hand to stay inside your home for up to several days. This could include things like fresh bottled drinking water, non-perishable food, and medical supplies.
In the event that conditions become too unsafe, you might be asked to evacuate your home and move to a more secure location. When an area is evacuated, even emergency services might be suspended in the areas for the rescue workers own safety, so staging when asked to evacuate can be very risky. If you live in an area where evacuation might be necessary, like a flood zone or wildfire area, then you should have a go-back packed and ready with some clothes, medication and water in it. Don’t forget your pets! Pack some water and food for them as well and bring them with you. If it isn’t safe for humans, it isn’t safe for your pets either.
Practice Disaster Plans With Your Family
It might not be a fun topic to talk about, but your family needs to know what to do when disaster strikes. In the event that not everyone is home when an evacuation or shelter in palace order is called for, have a safe destination to meet up at. Have a communication plan in place that involves calling or texting a specific family member, like mom or dad, to let them know everyone is safe or to communicate breaking news.
If you want to be fully protected, make sure you get quality insurance from your trusted Oklahoma home insurance providers today.