Whether you live on the coast, in the plains, or near fire-prone areas, having an emergency preparedness plan can help provide peace of mind and ensure you can act quickly when needed. We’ve put together a guide on emergency preparedness tips to help safeguard your family, home and pets against natural disasters. By making a plan, gathering supplies and staying informed, you can be as prepared as possible in the event of an emergency. To help you stay ready for whatever comes your way, here are practical steps for preparing your home and family for hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires.
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Hurricane Preparedness Tips
Hurricanes can bring destructive winds, flooding, and power outages. By making a hurricane emergency preparedness plan, assembling the right supplies, and staying informed, you can take steps to help safeguard your home before a hurricane hits. Here is a helpful list of ways you can prepare your home in the event of an emergency.
- Have an emergency plan. Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family and members of your household to discuss what you should do in case of a hurricane. You can visit ready.gov for more advice on putting together a plan.
- Make an emergency kit. Have a several-day supply of non-perishable food as well as one gallon of water per person per day. You should also have an extra power source to recharge your phone in case of power loss. Learn more about essential emergency preparedness items to include in your kit here.
- Check your insurance policy. Review your current insurance policy to ensure you have adequate coverage for your home and property. If you have any questions, reach out to your insurance company. Don’t forget to take photos and videos of the inside and outside of your home prior to a storm to help with documentation should you need to file a claim.
- Secure your home. Be ready for the storm by preparing your home in advance of a hurricane. Depending on the path of the storm, you may cover your windows with hurricane shutters or wood. Make sure any trees around the property are trimmed and clear rain gutters. Bring loose outdoor items such as furniture inside to prevent flying debris. Visit the State of Florida’s comprehensive hurricane guide for more.
- Stay informed. Sign up for local alerts and have a phone, emergency radio, or other resources to get information about the storm and any local government communications. Tune into your local news for updated weather reports and be sure to heed any warnings or evacuation orders.
Quick Tip
Know the difference between a Hurricane Watch and Warning. A watch is when a tropical storm or hurricane is possible within 48 hours. A warning means the storm is expected within 36 hours.
Tornado Preparedness Tips
When it comes to tornado emergency preparedness, every minute counts. Take the time to understand alert systems, gather supplies, and make a safety plan to help protect you, your loved ones, and even your pets when severe weather strikes. Here are some tips you can take before, during and after a tornado to stay as safe and prepared as possible.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio provide real-time emergency alerts. If your community uses sirens for tornado warnings, be sure to familiarize yourself with their sound so you know when to take action.
- Prepare for the possibility of a long-term stay at home or in a shelter by gathering essential supplies. Stock up on cleaning supplies, non-perishable food, bottled water, prescription medications, and basic medical supplies to ensure your family’s needs are met if services are disrupted.
- Create an evacuation plan that includes your pet, and coordinate with family, friends, or neighbors to confirm someone can care for them if you are unable to. Consider having your pet microchipped and make sure your address, phone number, and an outside emergency contact are up to date. Build a pet emergency kit that includes food, water, medications, and comfort items. Your pet is an important part of your family, so be sure to prepare for them as well!
- Protect your home and property. Bring in outdoor furniture, grills, or trash cans that could become dangerous projectiles, close windows and doors tightly, and move valuable or fragile items away from exterior walls. While your priority should always be personal safety, these last-minute actions can help reduce potential damage.
- Take immediate shelter when a tornado warning is issued. Move to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, avoiding windows and exterior walls. During the passing of a tornado or severe storm, protect yourself by covering your head and neck with your arms or using furniture, blankets, or a mattress for extra protection. After the storm, stay clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines, as they may still be live and extremely dangerous.
Quick Tip
Know the difference between a Tornado Watch and Warning. A watch is when conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop. A warning is when a tornado has been sighted or radar indicated and is imminent or occurring.
Wildfire Preparedness Tips
Wildfires can move quickly and put entire communities at risk. By understanding warning systems, making an evacuation plan, and preparing both your household and property in advance, you can help reduce risk and respond more effectively to keep you and your family safe. Here are some key ways to prepare for a wildfire emergency:
- Recognize warnings and alerts. Monitor local news and emergency alerts to stay informed on evacuation orders and official information. Be sure to have a backup battery or way to charge your phone to keep up with new information during an emergency. You should also consider having a battery-powered radio.
- Create an evacuation plan. Know when and where to go in case an evacuation is ordered. Learn your evacuation routes and be sure you are ready to take your family and pets with you based on instructions from local authorities.
- Gather emergency supplies. Build a go-bag with at least three days’ worth of essentials you and your family need so that you can evacuate quickly. Make sure everyone in your household knows where it’s stored in case of emergency. You can also prepare to shelter in place by stocking up on non-perishable food, bottled water, first aid materials, flashlights, batteries, medications, and N95 masks to protect from smoke.
- Review important documents. Ensure all of your documents are current and stored in a safe, easily accessible place. Keep copies of insurance policies, identification, medical and financial records in a fireproof safe or a waterproof container and consider saving digital backups to the cloud or an external drive.
- Prepare your home. Create a fire-resistant zone that is free of leaves, debris or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home. When possible, use fire-resistant landscaping and building materials to provide your home with additional protection. Designate a room that can be closed off from outside air if needed.
Quick Tip
Know the fire danger rating system. The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) uses weather, fuels, and fire data to calculate fire danger for a given area. These scales help predict the likelihood of ignition and spread, as well as ability to control the wildfire.
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