
How To Prepare For a Natural Disaster
Every year, approximately 6,800 natural disasters occur worldwide. From California to Australia, wildfires obliterate everything in their wake, reducing landscapes to ash. As global temperatures continue to increase, the frequency of catastrophic disasters is also rising. The Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters reported that natural disasters affect 218 million people and claim 68,000 lives annually. Therefore, there is a need to be prepared for these inevitable catastrophic events. Although it’s impossible to foresee when a natural disaster might strike, you can proactively safeguard your finances, possessions, and loved ones by knowing how to prepare for a natural disaster. However, through planning, you can fortify your family, residence, and belongings, increasing your resilience and expediting your recovery in the event of a natural calamity. Why Emergency Preparedness Matters Preparing for a crisis can make all the difference between loss and survival. There are numerous benefits to emergency preparedness. Given below are the major ones but not limited to: 9 Steps to Be Prepared for Natural Disasters 1. Identify Your Risk If your community lacks GIS(geographic information system) capabilities due to cost constraints or limited resources, alternative approaches to map hazard risks effectively. 2. Create a Family Disaster Plan Your family needs a plan that tells everyone where to meet if you have to evacuate, who you’ve identified as an out-of-state “family contact”, how to get emergency information in your community, and how to take care of your family pets. Each family member should carry the Family Communications Plan. Here is how to craft Your Emergency Plan with just three simple steps: 3. Practice Your Disaster Plan After you’ve sat down with your family and written your plan — practice it. Start by having family members meet at a designated spot outside your home — as you would after