Wisest Disaster Planning Advice

I've lived in earthquake, volcano territory for years, worked through one tornado, live in hurricane territory now, ended up unemployed for a time, and witnessed an attempted murder. Disasters can come in many varieties and most people experience them. A person's ability to survive disaster can be a matter of God's will, fate, luck but it can also be a matter of clear thinking, practice and planning.

Disaster Planning Should Involve Financial Stability and Accessibility

Financial stability is a matter of having your finances in order by keeping debt to an absolute minimum, having spare cash in the bank, on your person, and stored in a fire proof safe. All proof of identity should be kept in a fire proof safe including passports, birth certificates and copies, baptism certificates and deposits, government VISAs, social security card, lists of credit card numbers and institutions and their phone numbers or at least a back up copy. A copy of your will should be stored in the same place for your executor to find. Backup copies in your luggage during travel can be helpful in case of theft.

Never Turn Your Back on a Mentally Unstable Person and Have a Weapon On Hand

I watched a mentally unstable person go from cooking dinner for two young girls, to entering the house at a run with a yard implement and using it to attack someone in a crowded room, repeatedly striking the person in the head and shoulders and jabbing at the kidneys in less then five seconds. Know where the phone is at all times. Have a weapon on hand or nearby if you aren't sure about the mental stability of someone. If attacked, always know where the exits are, get out of the house, get onto 9-11, fight back as a last resort-it took a team of 9 police officers to arrest the person. If the person is outside, keep all doors and windows locked and gather everyone together and wait for 9-11 to arrive. Give first aid after the 9-11 call is made.

Know How to Use a Computer and Have Alternate Sources of Information Available

If you lose your wallet on vacation, being able to use a computer can at least net you the address of the local authorities-police or state department. Have local weather listed on your Internet home page. Have a news radio that has battery power or a crank to charge the battery. Prepare to evacuate as advised.

Have a First Aid Kit on Hand, even When You Hike, Camp or Travel

A first aid kit should have antibiotic cream, bandages of all types and sizes, scissors, knife, emergency blanket and candle, aspirin or Tylenol or Advil or all three, sterilization liquids like alcohol. A whistle, sun tan lotion, can also help.

Keep A Week or More of Food Supplies and Water on Hand, Six Months is Better

Non-perishable foods like bean, rice, oil, peanut butter, canned goods, dehydrated milk, nuts, are handy to have on hand during a disaster. Bottled water, or a tub filled with water, and supplies of bleach and or the means to boil it can be a life saver.

Have Alternate Sources of Light and Heat

We like the battery pack lamps since they are stable, won't burn anything and shed light. Flashlights, candles (for heat as well as light), and oil lamps or propane lamps are good too, although the latter requires fresh air. A pellet stove or gas fireplace can keep you warm during winter power outages in the north, in Florida they aren't as important. A gas cook stove and barbecue can help you eat when the power is out. One winter, all of Thanksgiving was cooked without electricity. Blankets are always welcome, fleece is especially nice.

Stay prepared for disaster and you won't be sorry.