Are you prepared for a natural disaster? You never know when a disaster might strike and if you aren’t fully prepared the affects could be lasting. With a little preparation, you can help ensure that you and your family aren’t left picking up the pieces of a natural disaster. If you aren’t sure where to start to get prepared, here are some questions you should be asking yourself:

• FOOD
  • Do you have enough non-perishable food for at least seven days for everyone in your care?
  • Do you have means to cook the food?
• WATER
  • Do you have enough water (2 gallons per person/per day) for seven days?
  • Do you have a way to safely filter water in the event the need goes beyond seven days?
• SHELTER and SECURITY
  • In the event your home is destroyed, do you have a plan about where you would go? Remember that if YOU are displaced from your home, thousands of others will likely be displaced as well. So, for the most part, hotels and motels are NOT an option.
  • Do you have an alternate means by which to heat your home if utilities were to become unavailable for many days?
• IMPORTANT PAPERS, DOCUMENTS, AND VALUABLES
  • Are these items readily available and secure?
  • Do you have a list of contact information for insurers, financial institutions, families and friends, co-workers, and others?
• MEDICAL
  • Do you have any special prescription needs? If so, do you have a 30-day supply on hand?
  • Do you have a First Aid Kit?
  • Do you have the knowledge to help yourself and others with basic First Aid?
• COMMUNICATIONS
  • How will you communicate with others in your family and others in the outside world? If cell towers are damaged and unavailable, how would you communicate with family and friends?

If you answered no to any of the above questions take some time NOW to make plans and prepare so that you can not only survive a disaster, but thrive and help others as well.

Check back with us next week as we go over how to “hazard hunt” your home and give you the basics of what you need in a survival kit.

If you want to start preparing now, and easy way to get the conversation started about your safety is to fill out these FEMA Family Communication Cards, so you can make sure your whole family knows who to contact in case of an emergency.

Be safe out there!

For more information about Meramec Valley,
or to find an agent near you, visit
https://mymutual.net/for-an-agent-near-you