Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Are You Ready For The Next Disaster?

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Person doing CPR (Caption: Emergency Preparedness 101)Emergencies can take place at any moment. That’s why it’s important that you’re prepared when the unexpected happens. Think hurricanes, tornadoes, zombies, or even the unthinkable – a pandemic (jump to our COVID-19, aka coronavirus coverage), atomic bomb or nuclear war.

We live in a fear-driven era and emergency preparedness kits are becoming more popular. We bring you the best kits, and have also put together some handy checklists for you to reference before, during and after natural disasters.

National Preparedness Month (NPM) – Every September, we encourage and remind Americans to prepare for disasters and emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. The 2020 NPM theme is: “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.”

Pandemic Prep & Safety

What Is A Pandemic?

Pandemics are states of disease that sharply increase in populations around the world with infections taking place more or less simultaneously.

While pandemic usually refers to infectious diseases, such as plague or influenza, it is also used to refer to other health conditions including cancer, obesity, and even addiction.

Sadly, advanced diseases such as COVID-19 (aka coronavirus), SARS and H1N1 have become more prevalent in recent years with COVID-19 growing towards pandemic levels quickly.

Take the time to learn how you can keep your family safe during these frightening times but also get a firm grasp on why this may not be as life-threatening as you fear, despite the media’s hype.

Here’s a checklist you can use to help prepare for most pandemics, including coronavirus:

Prep Checklist

  1. Wash your hands as often as you can (for at least 20 seconds) and minimize touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  2. Avoid close contact with people experiencing symptoms.
  3. Use tissues for coughs and sneezes, and discard them immediately thereafter.
  4. Keep your immune system strong by avoiding stress (easier said than done we know, especially with all the media drama), getting sleep, and eating healthy. Avoid immune suppressors and inflammatory ingredients including sugars, alcohols, dairy, and processed foods.

Learn more in our pandemic prep guide

Bug Out Bags

Person on phone with bug out bag (caption: Bug Out Bag List: The Ultimate Bag For Survival)Bug out bags are critical to have when it’s time to hit the road and escape danger. In our bug out bags article, we share 13 key categories to consider to make sure you have all the essentials. When you’re on the go, you’ll want to be sure you’re only carrying what you absolutely need.

The Best Emergency Preparedness Kits

Pills and medicines splayed out on table (caption: Best Emergency Preparedness Kit)Quickly gathering up your family and getting to a safe place should take priority over scrambling to search for emergency supplies. That’s why we think these disaster preparedness kits can be lifesavers. We suggest having one at home, at work, as well as in each of your families’ vehicles.

Types Of Emergency Food Kits

Outdoor camping stove with frying pan and egg (caption: Best Emergency Food Kits)Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, even the occasional snowpocalypse can leave you stranded in your home for days or even weeks. It doesn’t get more basic than making sure you and your family have a sustainable food supply. In our emergency food kits article we’ve got the lowdown on how to prepare food supplies and even some DIY tips to create your own.

Hurricane Preparedness List

Girl crying and holding her hand up to rainy window (Caption: Hurricane Preparedness List)As we face more frequent and powerful storms on our coastlines every year, it’s critical to know how to prepare for a hurricane if you live near the ocean or another flood-prone area.

The official hurricane season for the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, and the Gulf is June 1 to November 30 (with the peak happening mid-August to late October).

Check out our hurricane prep list for tips, and you’ll be ready to keep your family safe.

Thunderstorm & Lightning Safety

Lightening strike (Caption: Thunderstorm And Lightning Safety Tips)Severe thunder and lightning storms can come out of nowhere, risking costly damage to your home, and personal injury. Get a handle on these thunderstorm and lightning safety tips now, so you know what to do to prepare and stay safe when the situation arises.

Tornado Safety

Tornado in dark stormy field (caption: Tornado Safety Tips)Tornados can violently destroy everything in their path, not discriminating between property and people. And unlike hurricanes where you have a little more time to take shelter, these cyclones come out of nowhere. Take the time to learn how you can keep your family safe in our tornado safety tips article (especially if you live in the Midwest where they are becoming more frequent).

Winter Safety

Girl bracing the snow with hoodie and gloves (caption: Winter Safety Tips For At Home, Work & Traveling)Winter can be dangerous for many reasons. Cold temperatures, heavy snowfall and ice storms are just a few. Fortunately, you can typically prepare in advance for these extreme weather patterns. Prepare for the winter at home, work and while traveling to help keep you and your family safe.

Poison Prevention

Pills and medicine splayed out in the darkness (caption: Poison Prevention: Common Substances, Tips, Statistics & More)Poison prevention is absolutely key in all homes but especially if you have pets or children. Many common household substances can be responsible for poisoning if they are misused. That’s why it’s so important for you to properly store these items and know what to do if one is mishandled.

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The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

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