How prepared for a natural disaster are you and your family?
Have you prepared or thought through what a disaster plan for your family should look like? You don’t want to be unprepared when disaster strikes – when an incoming storm is set to tear the roof of your house off and turn your lives upside down.
Okay, so you’re not prepared, don’t worry. There’s no better time than the present. Get yourself sorted with a family disaster plan. Teach your children how to be prepared and the proper procedures for emergencies they may face. Make sure you all know where to go, how to get there, and who to call when you are safe. Perhaps have a list of all the important points drawn up and kept in an easily-accessible place in the house.
And, the most important point – we believe – is to install a home storm shelter in your home. It’s the only way to have real peace of mind that your family and valuables will be safe when disaster strikes.
What Your Disaster Plan Should Include:
- Meeting Places
Create a list of all the suitable and safe destinations for your family members during a disaster or tornado warning. Remember, you’ll have to include different places according to where each family member may be – from work, school, and home.
- Contact Info
A list of emergency contact numbers should be kept at home and in your car, just in case. And, make sure everyone knows who to call during a crisis. Also, make a note of where the closest town shelters are.
- Valuables to Grab
We all have a few things that are valuable to us, be it monetary or sentimental value. Make sure you know where they are and that they’re easy to grab in a hurry. Or, if you have a home storm shelter, why not leave them in there for safekeeping?
- Basic First-Aid
Have at least one family member trained up in first-aid knowledge, and then pass on some of the necessary information to the rest of the family. Simple things like bandaging and survival knowledge will go a long way in a disaster.
- Warning Radio
If you are only able to have one warning system on NOAA weather radio, then keep it at your bedside table – but one in your safe room is a good idea as well. News broadcasts and weather reports are critical during times of crisis.
- Shut Off Utilities
Shutting off utilities such as gas, water, and electricity are important during a disaster – in order to mitigate further damage. Make sure all family members know how to do this.
- Plan For Your Pets
If you have your own home storm shelter, no problem. But, if you don’t you’ll need to check if the town storm shelter allows pets and make a plan B if it does not.
- Stocking Up
Having a bag of essential supplies is, well, essential. Keep it in your home storm shelter, garage, or even the trunk of your car. Pack it full of things like a first aid kit, important family medications, cash, flares, matches, Swiss army knife, water and food supplies, and all-important numbers as mentioned.
Sheltering During COVID-19
As some parts of the country are entering their severe weather season, will public storm shelters pose a health risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic? At the moment, some town storm shelters are currently closed because of the health guidelines set out to cope with the pandemic. So, find out now whether your closest shelter will be open during a crisis and what their procedures will be, to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Best practices for disaster preparation during the Coronavirus pandemic:
- Add hand sanitizer and masks to your supply bag.
- If you do find yourself needing to go to a town storm shelter make sure you follow all the regular COVID-19 safety protocols: continue social distancing, wear masks, and wash or sanitize your hands often.
- Install a storm shelter for your home. It really is the best way to keep your family safe and even more so in these uncertain times.
We at Lone Star Safe Rooms believe in the importance of these home storm shelters for the protection of your family and the peace of mind they can bring. If you have any questions about installing a safe room and what is the best option for your family, give us a call at 817 682 7854 or go to the website.
References:
https://www.ussaferoom.com/family-disaster-plan-storm-safety101/
Keywords:
Storm shelters for the home
home storm shelters