With this week marking the start of the 2011
hurricane season, as well as the many reported
tornadoes over the past several month, there is no
better time to take steps to ensure your family
remains safe in case of a natural disaster. There is no
guarantee of outside help, so homeowners should
take control of their own ability to respond to floods,
hurricanes, wildfires and other emergencies.
According to a 2008 FEMA survey, more than half of all U.S. households have
some sort of disaster preparation in place. If yours isn’t one of them, here are
some steps you should take:
• Gather important papers, including the deed to your house, proof of
insurance, medical records, passports, social security cards and a list of
personal contacts, and make several copies of each. Keep one set at
home in a portable case and another offsite in a safe place.
• Make sure you know where to find the main electrical and water shutoffs,
and have the correct tools handy to turn them. This could save you
valuable time in case of an emergency and may spare your home from
significant damage.
• Prepare a basic emergency preparedness kit that you can use inside
your home or grab quickly in case of an evacuation. Some of the items to
include are water, non-perishable food items and a can opener,
flashlights and batteries, and a first-aid kit.
• Select a time each year, perhaps on New Year's Day or the start of
hurricane season, to make sure you have the most up-to-date paperwork
and to check for expired food items.
