Natural Disaster Preparedness
Disaster prep isn’t about panic rooms and bunkers. It’s a packed bag, a plan your family actually knows, and a few habits — done once, ready whenever you need them.
1Build a 72-Hour Grab Bag
- Water and non-perishable snacks. Aim for roughly three days per person.
- Torch or headlamp, spare batteries, a power bank. Power cuts are the norm in most disaster scenarios.
- Document copies in a waterproof pouch. ID, insurance, prescriptions.
- Cash in small notes. Card readers and ATMs can go down when the power or networks do.
- A basic first aid kit and a week of any regular medication. Don’t assume you can restock quickly.
- A written list of emergency contacts. Don’t rely on your phone remembering them for you.
- Keep the bag somewhere you can grab it in ten seconds. Not buried at the back of a closet.
2Know Your Plan Before You Need It
- Agree a family meeting point. One nearby, one further away as a backup.
- Pick an out-of-area contact. Local phone lines can jam — someone further away is often easier to reach.
- Know your local evacuation routes and nearest shelter. Look this up once, before you need it.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts. Most areas have a free text or app-based alert system.
3At Home
- Know how to shut off gas, water, and electricity. If you’re ever told to.
- Keep a battery or hand-crank radio. For when the power and wifi are both out.
- Store a few days of water for your household. Plus supplies for any pets.
4When an Alert Comes
- Verify it through an official source first. Before acting on anything unconfirmed.
- Grab your bag and go — don’t stop to pack more. The bag exists so you don’t have to think in the moment.
- Text rather than call. Networks jam for calls faster than for texts.
- If told to evacuate, go early. Waiting for total certainty often means waiting until the roads are jammed.