Living here in Florida, you kind of just need to be prepared for a disaster. This is a a hurricane state so they are bound to happen at some point while living here.
Types of Disasters
So, what is a disaster? They are natural or human-generated calamitous events. They produce great loss of human life or destruction of the natural environment, private property, or public infrastructure. Disasters can happen at anytime. You might get some kind of a warning and some of them you won’t. Here are just a few of them:
- Wildfires
- Hurricane
- Tornado
- Terrorism
- Earthquake
Hurricanes are probably the only ones that we get some kind of warning. Usually, we have a few days, maybe even up to a week, to prepare for them. Recently, we have had two hurricanes hit back-to-back. Both Hurricane Helene and Milton caused devastation but Helene was way more catastrophic.
How To Plan For A Disaster
We get no warning for some of these disasters. Seriously. For instance, wildfires can strike out with hardly any notice. What about a tornado? We might get a warning over our cell phones but those things come quick. Are you really prepared for a disaster should one arise?
Look at the tragedy in the mountains of Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene. They had a little warning but most of the people living in that area were not prepared. Nothing like that has ever happened before so it came as a total shock to so many of us. Most of them had no time to evacuate.
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Things to Do to Prepare
I constantly stay prepared for a disaster here in Florida. You just have to. I’m not a scared person or afraid. I just like knowing that our family will be taken care of as much as possible.
The Must Haves
- My first tip is Don’t Panic and Pray. If you know there is a natural disaster on its way, start preparing right then and there. Strap things down, get sand bags, etc. If you are told to evacuate, make all of your arrangements and start leaving sooner than later. If you wait too late, the roads can become gridlock if everyone is trying to leave at the same time.
- Try to keep cash on hand. We have followed Dave Ramsey for years. Keep $1,000 for emergencies in a secret space so you don’t spend it. There are 52 weeks in a year. If you tuck $20 a week away for one year, you would actually have $1,040. We all spend $20 on stupid stuff a week. Start planning now for those “what if” moments. If the power is out and you have to travel, the gas pumps will only accept cash.
- I always have batteries. I keep them in a case and check them throughout the year to make sure they are still good. Batteries are good for so many things around the home.
- Any important papers like birth certificates, marriage license, wills, etc., make sure they are in a well kept place. Have them at an easy reach in case you need to leave in a hurry. You could always grab them and take them with you. This waterproof/fireproof safe works good too. It’s portable so you can take it with you. I have read that some people put important papers in the top rack of the dishwasher. If you close the door all the way, they should be fine in there, unless there is a fire.
- Two-way satellite radios work great. If you lose cell signal, you will still manage to talk to someone who has the other one. They come in pairs. HAM radios work great too.
- Food – you have to eat so be prepared with bulk storage or meal kits. Most of them last 10-15 years. We were capable of cooking on my cooktop as well as the grill.
See My Top 10 Items You’ll Want In Your Emergency Kit HERE.
- Solar Powered Charging Bank with Hanging Lights – this was a lifesaver for us during Hurricane Milton. We could cook in the kitchen on my gas cooktop. My daughter just hung the them up and provided a lot of light.
- Generators – You can use a whole house generator or smaller individual ones. I know Florida offers tax-free on hurricane supplies during the year. Every bit of savings help, that’s for sure.
- Hand Water Pump – Do you rely on a well for your water source? What will you do if your power goes out? Installing a hand water pump is pretty easy and can be a life saver. Having water available is not just for humans but you’ll need it for your pets and livestock. If you are handy, look here to see how to install your own pump.
The Conveniences
- Wi-Fi – This may sound silly but we live in a tech world. If you lose power and it comes back on, you might not have anything on TV to watch. Maybe your cable is out or what if you use the Firestick for your tv? It might not work, as it is Wi-Fi based. Have a dvd player handy. I’m serious. Make sure you have some dvd’s you can watch, especially at night when it’s all dark. We just went through “tv withdrawal” with my 77-year old mom through the hurricane. She really had a difficult time so we plugged up a dvd player for her. Not the same as what she likes watching, but it’s better than anything haha. I for one, enjoyed all the silence. I’m not much of a tv watcher anyways. I did miss the internet. Fortunately, I was able to go to our office. I could get on the internet there if I needed to.
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I hope this list helps you prepare ahead of time. I just buy things here and there as I can afford them. Food is the first thing I stay prepared on throughout the year. Just do what you can. Rally around your family/neighbors and help each other out. These disasters are life changing. One thing I know for sure is that community is so important. Lock arms with the people you do life with and make sure everyone is taken care of.
The whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal 5:14
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