The first thing you need to realize is that disasters can strike anyone. If not a natural disaster like a wildfire, flooding, hurricane or volcanic eruption causing your evacuation it could be an every day disaster like a house fire or a flooded basement. Unfortunately, thousands of Americans this past year have experienced this first hand. Mentally preparing yourself is the first step in becoming prepared. Here are some questions you should ask yourself to start:
- What kind of disasters put my family at risk? Is there anything I can do to lessen this risk?
- What would I do if my family only had 5 minutes to pack everything up and leave our home behind? Do I know where essential items are? What are those essential items?
- What might we encounter on the road that I can plan for NOW? Think about weather, hunger, thirst, boredom (sitting in traffic). Are we prepared to get away if we have to walk? What if the roads are blocked, or we run out of gas?
Answering these questions will help put you one step ahead of a bad scenario. Having already considered what you will do, you will be better prepared to lead your family to safety.
The next step is to prepare Evac Bags for you and your family. SAVEyourAce.com currently offers a Child Starter Evac Pack that has items they may need in an evacuation scenario, as well as a list of items for you to add. Our lightweight bag has two full size shoulder straps for comfort (not just strings like a soccer bag), as well as extra outer pockets for water bottles and items you want quick access to. Other items we include account for boredom, visibility (so you can stay together) and comfort.
Once you have made or purchased your Packs, make sure to go over them with each member of your family. This way they have ownership of their individual pack, and know exactly what is in it. What good is a flashlight if they don’t know it is there? Also, make sure they know how to use each item. This would include explaining what a space blanket is (and that it is an actual blanket!), and how to activate their glow stick.
Once your bags are created, put them in an easy to access place — like on a hook by the door — and then make sure to revisit them every 3 months or so. Change out the water and snacks, make sure the shoes and clothes still fit, etc. This way whenever your Pack is needed, it is ready. Make sure you are keeping in good physical shape in case you have to walk while carrying your bag. Then sit back, and Enjoy the peace of mind you get from being prepared!