Are you prepared for an emergency? It’s never too late to start getting ready. And since we’re observing National Preparedness Month this September, we’re giving you a helping hand. So get your tactical pens and notebooks ready to take some notes, because we’re sharing 20 valuable emergency preparedness tips that could save your life. From stocking up on essential supplies to creating an evacuation plan, these tips will help you be better prepared for any type of emergency situation. So read on and start prepping today!
1. Know the risks
The best way to prepare for an emergency is to know the risks specific to your area. Do you live in a hurricane-prone region? Is your community at risk for flooding or earthquakes? Are you near a potential target for terrorism? Knowing the risks will help you better understand what kind of emergency preparedness steps you need to take.
2. Prepare for all kinds of emergency situations
Emergency preparedness tip #1 gives you a good head start, but it’s also important to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies. Have you listened to Alanis Morisette’s hit song “Ironic?” There’s a line that goes, “It’s like 10,000 spoons when all you need is a knife.” The same can be said for emergency preparedness. If you only focus on one type of emergency, you may find yourself lacking when a different one strikes. So it’s important to have a well-rounded emergency preparedness plan so you’ll be ready no matter what happens.
3. Develop your situational awareness
Situational awareness is knowing what is happening around you at all times. It’s being aware of your surroundings and potential risks, so you can take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. In emergency situations, situational awareness can be the difference between life and death. By being aware of your surroundings, you can avoid dangerous situations, find shelter or evacuation routes, and stay safe during an emergency.
Start by being consciously aware of your surroundings at all times. This means taking a good look around you, noticing who and what is in your vicinity, and being alert to any potential danger. In addition to looking around, also take the time to listen carefully. Emergency situations can often be heard before they’re seen, so listen for any unusual noises or disturbances that may signal an emergency.
Your intuition can be a valuable tool in emergency situations. If something feels wrong or out of place, it probably is. Trust your gut instinct and take action if necessary. It’s also important to stay alert and focused during emergency situations. If you’re not paying attention, you could miss critical information or put yourself in danger. So stay awake and aware at all times when emergency situations are unfolding.
4. Stay physically, mentally, and emotionally fit
In emergency situations, it’s important to be physically, mentally, and emotionally fit. Columbus’ Rule #1 in the apocalyptic Zombieland film is “Cardio.” And while you may not be preparing for a zombie apocalypse, emergency situations can often be just as physically demanding. So it’s important to stay in shape and maintain your stamina so you’ll be ready to face any emergency situation.
But physical fitness isn’t the only kind of fitness you need to be concerned with. Mental and emotional health is just as important. It’s common for people to experience fear, anxiety, and stress during emergencies. You need to have a well-balanced mental state and be able to think clearly under pressure. One way to do this is to practice meditation or deep breathing exercises. These exercises can help you stay calm and focused during emergency situations.
It’s also important to have a positive outlook and remain hopeful during emergency situations. This can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that emergency situations are often temporary and that things will eventually get better. Maintaining a positive attitude will help you stay emotionally strong and maintain your mental clarity during times of crisis.
5. Know your limitations
As much as you want to prepare for every possible scenario, you can only do so much. Emergency preparedness is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. You need to tailor your emergency plan to fit your specific needs and resources. And most importantly, you need to know your limitations. If you’re not physically able to evacuate on your own, for example, you’ll need to make sure your emergency plan takes that into account.
6. Avoid panicking
One of the most important emergency preparedness tips is to avoid panicking. Being mentally and emotionally stable will help a lot when things seem bleak. It’s natural to feel fear during emergency situations, but it’s important to keep your head and not let emotions take over. When people panic, they often make bad decisions that can put themselves and others in danger. So it’s important to stay calm and think clearly during an emergency.
One thing you can do to avoid panic is to know what to do ahead of time. If you’ve already planned and rehearsed your emergency plan, you’ll be more likely to stay calm and act decisively when an emergency situation arises.
7. Develop an emergency plan
One of the most important emergency preparedness tips is to have a plan. Without a plan, you’ll be more likely to panic and make bad decisions during an emergency situation. So it’s important to sit down with your family or roommates and come up with a plan for what to do in case of an emergency. Your emergency plan should include things like evacuation routes, emergency shelters, and who to contact in case of an emergency.
8. Practice your evacuation plan regularly
Your emergency plan can be futile if you can’t execute it properly when the time comes. That’s why it’s important to practice your evacuation plan regularly. This will help ensure that everyone in your family knows what to do and where to go in case of an emergency. This will also help pinpoint any weaknesses in your plan so you can make the necessary adjustments.
9. Prepare to shelter in place
Not all emergency situations will require evacuation. Sometimes it’s actually more dangerous to try to evacuate than it is to stay put. This is often the case during natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. If you live in an area that’s prone to these types of disasters, you need to have a plan for bugging in or sheltering in place.
To increase your chances of surviving, it’s important to fortify your home as much as possible. Strengthen your roof, windows, and doors. Take measures to make it flood and fireproof. If possible, build a bomb shelter on your property or somewhere nearby. If not, turn one of your middle rooms into a safe room where you can take shelter during an emergency.
10. Learn to improvise
No matter how well you plan, there’s always a possibility that something will go wrong. That’s why it’s important to be prepared to improvise. If you find yourself in a situation where your original plan isn’t working, don’t be afraid to think on your feet and come up with a new plan. Quick thinking and creative solutions are necessary for survival. So it’s important to be flexible and adaptable when things don’t go as planned.
11. Get to know your neighbors
You may have noticed how survivors in an apocalyptic movie tend to band together and help each other out. Well, there’s a reason for that. In emergency situations, your neighbors can be your biggest asset. They can provide you with support, resources, and information. So it’s important to get to know them ahead of time.
Make an effort to introduce yourself to your neighbors and strike up conversations with them. Offer to help them out with yard work or other tasks. While it’s great to develop a good relationship with your neighbors, doing so will also give you an idea of what skills and resources they have that you can tap into during an emergency.
This goes both ways, of course. You should also offer to help your neighbors when they need it. That means providing them with information about your emergency plan and letting them know what resources you have that they can use.
The most ideal thing here is for you and your neighbors to start a community of preppers. That way, everyone is on the same page and you can pool your resources and skills to increase your chances of survival.
12. Join or form a community emergency response team
A community emergency response team (CERT) is a group of trained volunteers who respond to emergencies in their communities. They provide support to first responders and help with disaster relief efforts. If there’s a CERT in your community, you should definitely join it.
And if there’s no CERT in your community, you can always start your own. Getting a group of like-minded individuals together to form a CERT is a great way to increase emergency preparedness in your community. You can also take steps to prepare your community for emergency situations. This includes things like organizing emergency supplies, developing evacuation plans, and holding emergency drills.
You can also volunteer to help out with emergency response efforts. There are many ways you can do this. You can donate blood, become a wildfire fighter, or even help out with rescue efforts. Of course, you have to go through training first. But once you’re trained, you’ll be able to provide valuable assistance during an emergency. This will help you learn and share important life-saving skills and tips. Not to mention, it’s also an excellent way to make new friends and build relationships with people who live near you.
13. Stay informed
In emergency situations, information is power. The more you know about what’s going on, the better equipped you’ll be to make better decisions, avoid potential dangers, and take action. In today’s day and age, there’s no excuse for not being up-to-date on current events. You should keep a radio or TV tuned to a local news station so you can stay up-to-date on emergency situations. You can also find information online or on social media. But be sure to only get your information from reliable sources to avoid misinformation.
Make sure you have a way to charge your devices so you can stay connected even if the power goes out. Get an emergency radio that can be powered by electricity, batteries, solar power, or a hand crank. Always keep a backup battery charger and extra batteries on hand, too. Consider signing up for emergency alerts from your local government or law enforcement. That way, you’ll always be in the loop when it comes to emergencies in your area.
14. Have an emergency communication plan
If you’re separated from your family during an emergency situation, it can be difficult to get in touch with each other. That’s why it’s important to have an emergency communication plan in place. This should include a meeting place that everyone knows about and a way to get in touch with each other if you’re not together.
Ask a relative or close friend to be your family’s emergency contact person. This person is tasked with contacting everyone in the group and making sure everyone is okay. They will then relay the information they get to the others so everyone knows how each one is doing. It’s important to get the contact information of your assigned emergency contact person so everyone can report their situation.
Invest in HAM radios and two-way radios so you can still contact people from afar even if the power and communication are down. Walkie-talkies can be useful for short-range communication with your family and neighbors.
15. Stockpile food, water, and other supplies
One of the most important emergency preparedness tips is to have emergency supplies on hand. Stock up on clean, drinking water and store them in safe containers. You’ll also need water for washing up, cleaning, and cooking. Aside from boxes of bottled water and emergency water pouches, purchase collapsible containers, too. You can fill them up right before a disaster hits so you’ll have ample supply in case the water gets cut off.
As for food, non-perishable items are best. Store food that doesn’t require cooking or refrigeration. Canned goods, dried fruits and nuts, protein bars, and emergency rations are all good options. Stockpile ingredients and other things you’ll need to make decent meals, too. This includes salt, sugar, cooking oil, and spices.
16. Stock up on special needs supplies
If someone in your family has special needs, it’s important to have emergency supplies on hand to meet their needs. For infants, be sure to have a supply of formula and baby food. Even if you’re breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to have emergency formula on hand, too. Stress can affect nursing moms’ ability to produce milk. Store baby diapers, too. Not only can they be convenient during emergencies but they can also be used on bleeding wounds.
For elderly family members or those with chronic illnesses, make sure to have their prescription medications on hand. Have at least a week’s worth of supply, if not more. You should also have emergency medical supplies like oxygen tanks, catheters, and other necessary items. if they require or prefer particular foods, stock up on the ingredients needed to make them.
17. Get pet supplies
Don’t forget about your furry family members! When an emergency strikes, you’ll need to have enough pet food and water to last them for at least a week. It’s also a good idea to have a carrier or crate on hand in case you need to evacuate. This will help keep your pet safe and stress-free during a chaotic situation. Other emergency supplies your pet needs include a leash, collar with ID tags, pet first-aid kit, and copies of important documents like your pet’s vaccination records.
18. Gear up
Aside from your supplies, you also need survival gear. There are different kinds of emergency kits designed for certain situations. A bug out bag, for example, is an emergency kit that you need whenever you have to evacuate your home. This should contain all the essentials you need to survive for at least 72 hours. The CDC recommends having at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for 3 days. So if you have a family of 4, that’s 12 gallons of water you need to have stored. Of course, it’d be better if you have more than a 3-day supply of water.
It’s also important to stockpile non-perishable food items like canned goods, dry goods, and other shelf-stable items. Aim for having at least a 3-day supply of food per person. Store your emergency food in a cool, dark place and rotate them every 6 months so they don’t go bad.
A get home bag is another emergency kit but this is designed for when you’re away from home and can’t get back immediately. This should help you survive until you can get back home to your family and your main emergency supplies.
A car emergency kit is also a must. You never know when you might find yourself stranded on the side of the road. That’s why it’s important to keep an emergency kit in your vehicle at all times. Aside from your car tools, emergency flares, and jumper cables, your car emergency kit should also have food, water, first-aid supplies, and a change of clothes, among other life-saving items.
An everyday carry kit or EDC kit is a small emergency kit that you can take with you everywhere you go. This should have items that you’ll need on a daily basis, like a flashlight, knife, multitool, and emergency whistle. But it should also have items that can come in handy during an emergency situation, like a fire starter, paracord, and emergency cash.
19. Invest in search and rescue equipment
If you live in an area that’s prone to certain disasters, it’s a good idea to invest in search and rescue equipment. This should include items for personal safety like gas masks, N95 respirators, helmets, safety goggles, gloves, hiking boots, reflective vests, and rain gear. You’ll also need tools a gas shut-off wrench, headlamp, rope and harnesses, flathead axe, hatchet, prybar, bolt cutter, window breaker, Halligan bar, fire extinguisher, rescue ladder, and a stretcher. A drone will be useful in searching for missing people and pets. It can also help survey the damage in a disaster area.
20. Learn survival skills
Survival skills can and will come in handy during an emergency situation. Learning how to start a fire, purify water, navigate using a map and compass, and signal for help are just some of the things you should know how to do.
Other survival skills you can learn include foraging for food, building a shelter, and self-defense. These skills will not only help you survive an emergency but they can also give you the confidence and peace of mind knowing that you can take care of yourself and your loved ones should the worst happen.
Learn how to provide first-aid, too. You should know how to treat injuries like cuts, broken bones, burns, and more. It’s important to know how to stop bleeding, deal with shock, perform CPR, and do the Heimlich maneuver on kids and adults. These skills could mean the difference between life and death.
Prepping can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Hopefully, the 20 valuable emergency preparedness tips that we’ve shared with you will help get you started on the right foot. And, if you’re looking for more life-saving ideas, be sure to check out Gentleman Pirate Club.
