Best 8 Tips To Avoid Disasters

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Disasters are inevitable: at some point in our lives, almost all of us will experience an earthquake, flood, tornado, blizzard or storm. But there is no need to worry. The best way to defend against any emergency is to have a disaster preparedness plan.Disaster prevention takes many forms: from knowing what kind of emergency to expect, to preparing an emergency kit, to preparing your home and knowing how to get back into your home when the coast is clear. Follow the advice of experts to make sure you have a foolproof plan.1.Know what kind of disaster to expect.Each crisis requires slightly different preparation, supplies, and skills. Determinhttps://7ikeyeti.com/2022/08/11/best-8-tips-to-avoid-disasters/ which disasters your city, state or region is most exposed to and plan accordingly. Also check your home insurance policy to make sure you are protected. While most standard plans cover events such as tornadoes, lightning and winter storms, you will probably need a separate policy for floods, windstorms and earthquakes.* Earthquakes: can occur in any state and at any time of year.* Wildfires: high risk in forested areas with low rainfall, such as Southern California.* Floods: The most common natural disaster can occur anywhere, but especially in low-lying areas.* Tornadoes: the “Tornado Ally” includes the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky and Ohio, which are on alert from March to August.* Blizzards: blizzards can occur anywhere the temperature drops below freezing.* Storms and hurricanes: the east coast are at high risk from June to November.2. Sign up for emergency alerts.Receive notifications on your phone through your service provider or through a free FEMA or Red Cross app. Some employers use a service like LiveSafe to relay emergency information to their teams-check to see if your company or school uses it and, if so, download the free app.3. Prepare an “emergency bag.”If you must leave your home in a hurry, you will need to have some essentials packed and ready to go. Keep the following supplies, recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency , in a portable container or “bug-out bag” in the area of your home where you will be taking refuge.List of emergency kits.* Three days’ worth of food and water (at least one gallon for each family member).* Battery-powered (or hand-cranked) flashlights and radios.* Spare batteries.* First aid kit* Whistles for helpGarbage bags, duct tape and dust masks * Wrench or box cutter* Wrench or box cutter* Manual for opening food cans.* Regional cardsCell phone with charger, inverter or solar charger * Wet towels and any other essentials* Wet wipes and any special personal or family health needs, such as pets.We also suggest that you have a smaller version of your kit with a few necessities such as hiking boots, non-perishable snacks and a flashlight at work. Generally, you’ll also need to have enough money for five days’ worth of necessities (gas and food), but any amount of cash will come in handy if the ATMs aren’t working.Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s a good idea to check them at least once a year to get rid of expired food and batteries.4. Prepare a plan of action.When things get chaotic, make sure everyone in the family knows what to do. We suggest designating two meeting points (one nearby and one a little farther down the block) and hanging a map with the marked points near the emergency kit.It is also helpful to note important contacts in case there is a power outage and no place to charge your cell phone. Prepare a mini contact list – there are printable templates at ready.gov – with important numbers that everyone can keep in their wallet. in fact you should save a copy in your emergency kit. Make a plan to see family members in case local lines are blocked. Text messages often get through, even when phone lines are jammed5. Prepare your home.Keep important documents and papers that would be difficult to replace sealed in a fireproof safe. If you have pets, be sure to include their veterinary papers and vaccinations. Some vets and kennels will not accept your furry family without these documents. Veterans should be sure to include their DD-214, which certifies their military service. If flooding is common in your area, put the documents in a zipper lock bag or waterproof container. Our experts at Good Housekeeping Institute like the Honeywell 6104 fire-resistant steel safe.List of important documentsLease agreements * Lease agreementsIf the power is out and you have time, unplug appliances and electronics and turn off air conditioners whether you are staying or leaving. This will prevent damage when the power comes back on. Leave a light open to alert you when power returns back.If water lines are likely to be affected, it is advisable to fill the tub and disconnect the line. Use H2O to go to the bathroom, such as washing your hands and flushing the toilet. If there is a risk of flooding and you have time, move valuable or hard-to-replace items, such as laptops, antiques and family heirlooms, to higher floors to avoid flooding.Our experts also recommend investing in a backup home generator to keep your home running even during extended power outages. Check out our selection of the best home generators.6. Prep your pantry.If you’re going to be at home for a while, weather the storm with nutrient-dense, storable products recommended by the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab.Shopping list:Canned vegetables and other canned health foods * Garlic powder* Garlic powder7. Store everything properly.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Information Service (FSIS), how you store food can make a difference on how you retrieve it later. If there is a risk of flooding, be sure to store dry goods in airtight containers high enough to keep them away from contaminated water.Grouping foods in the freezer can help keep them cold longer in the event of a power outage. If you have advance notice, freeze foods you don’t need immediately, such as leftovers, milk, fresh meat and poultry, to keep them at a safe temperature longer, and fill the freezer with as much ice as possible. Freezers filled with ice can also be useful if the power outage lasts more than four hours.Although it is wise to minimize opening and closing the refrigerator door after a power outage, the CISS recommends keeping a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer to determine if food is safe to eat. The refrigerator temperature should be below 40° Fahrenheit and the freezer temperature should be below 0° Fahrenheit.8. Return home safely.Returning home after a major disaster can be frightening. Do not let your family return home without taking these precautions.* Look for damage outside. Walk around outside and check for loose or fallen electrical wires, damaged gas lines, and cracks in foundations or beams. If you have trees , you should carefully assess their stability.* Notice sounds and smells. If you smell gas or hiss, call the fire department and ask them to come and check the situation before you go back inside.* Then check inside. If there is still no electricity, use a flashlight (not a candle, as open flames can burn objects or ignite gas) to assess the damage.* Inspect household appliances. For small appliances, such as coffee makers and toasters, carefully examine cords for frayed or exposed wires before reusing them. Refrigerators, cookers and washing machines can be more complicated; contact a service company to check connections and components for safety, then replace anything that is badly damaged.* Document the damage. This can be emotionally difficult, but if you want to make an insurance claim, you should visually record all damage with clear photographs and detailed notes before cleaning up.