Stock up on the essentials
One thing you can do well in advance of a natural disaster is to stock up on the essentials. It means having enough food, water, and other supplies sufficient to last at least a week. In many disaster situations, you won’t be able to rely on clean tap water. Therefore, you need to have enough bottled water stored to save you in several days. Prepare a gallon of water per person per day.
You also need to ensure that you have enough nonperishable food on hand to last a week. Any food items that do not require refrigeration will do. When you have canned food in your disaster supplies, make sure you bring a manual can opener, too. Lastly, make sure you include first aid and prescription medication. It’s better to keep a fully stocked first aid kit and at least a week’s supply of medications on hand at all times, for safety precautions.
Prepare your house and car
Although your preparations may be different depending on what type of natural disaster you will experience, you should always do what you can to be ready for it. For hurricanes and tornadoes, you need to board up your windows, while for earthquakes, that means bolting appliances, water heaters, and large furniture to the walls or floors. Remember that you need to know where the gas valves are in your house and how to turn them off. It’s a brilliant idea to fill the gas tank in your car, just in case you need to leave the area quickly.
Stay informed
When you know that a storm, fire, or other threat is on the way, it is essential to tune into local radio or television stations or NOAA radio. You need good information to stay ahead of any developments and evacuation orders. One of the right things you can do is to find the best channels for emergency information ahead of time, long before it’s too late. In this manner, you will know where to turn for the information you need at a critical time. If you are leaving your home, know which routes will help you best avoid floodwater, first responders, or traffic jams.
Be ready for anything
Basic preparedness will enable you to make it through any natural disaster. But keep in mind to plan for a range of possibilities. For instance, even if you don’t live in a flood zone, it is advisable to keep important documents, passports, etc. in a waterproof and fireproof container. Losing your important papers will only make your life harder after the disaster. Besides, if you own any animals, make sure that your emergency plans include them too. Make sure they wear tags or that their microchip information is up-to-date. Thereby, you increase your chances of being reunited with your pets afterward.
Even though natural disasters are unpredictable, emergency preparedness is not. You can take important steps now and in the early stages of the circumstances to ensure that you have what you need to make it through harmlessly. If you have questions learning how to prepare for a disaster in your rental, contact Real Property Management Three Rivers today or call us at 724-804-8254 for more information.