Emergency Preparedness: Top 5 Mistakes Emergency preparedness is so important, and has so many different facets, that sometimes people can’t help making mistakes. There are a lot of things to remember: beyond food and water storage(which are another article each all on their own), emergency preparedness means having supplies for communication, shelter, and first aid. It also means preparing the home for disaster, as well as communicating with the community, insurance companies, and many other things. This may seem overwhelming--and it can be at times. However, there are a few crucial things to avoid while preparing for an emergency. If people take care to not make these mistakes, then they will at least have the basics of emergency preparedness down. 1. Communication The first most common mistakes people make while trying to prepare for emergencies is simple: they lack communication. Everyone in the household should know and practice an emergency plan. Make certain that family members understand what to do if disaster strikes, no matter where they are at the time. It’s also vital that people have an out-of-state contact that they can use to stay in touch with other members of their family. Often, if a disaster is severe enough, communications will be out for the area or even the whole state. Having a contact who will be outside the disaster area could mean the difference between communicating with family and remaining isolated for days or even weeks. Communication has more than one part to it, however. While having a way to keep in contact with family and friends, and having an emergency plan is good, it’s also important to communicate with sources of authority. This includes people like insurance agencies; talk to them about their procedures during a disaster, and find out what kinds of coverage are available. The insurance company will likely be one of the first numbers someone will call after an emergency, so it’s important to be familiar with them. People should also communicate with local authorities about their city’s disaster plans: in an emergency, people should know whom to contact, where to go for food or medical supplies, and where emergency broadcasts will take place. 2. Cash Although many people are reluctant to have a fair amount of cash somewhere in their house, it could be vital in an emergency. During or after a disaster, electricity will likely be out; therefore, so will the ATMs. And people aren’t going to want to take credit cards or checks when they aren’t sure they’re going to be paid. If someone is going to buy any emergency supplies, they will need cash during a time of need. So in order to feel secure in their preparations, someone should have a good amount of money--a few hundred dollars-somewhere in the house. Cash will be important during a disaster when other methods of payment are no longer valid; but what about personal emergencies? It’s also a great idea to have some cash set aside for things like layoffs or medical emergencies. People often make the mistake of just assuming that if their bank account is positive now, it will stay that way. Having a supply of cash that they won’t spend anywhere means that people can have more peace of mind. 3. Common Food Storage Mistakes Food storage has recently become so varied and at times, complicated, that it could have an article all on its own. The biggest mistakes that people make, however, are: they don’t have variety, they aren’t familiar with the foods they store, and they store it improperly. Food storage is meant to be a precaution, not a punishment. Yet many people believe that once they have stored staples like wheat, honey, dehydrated milk, and salt, they don’t need to worry about it anymore. The truth is, there isn’t much people can make with just those four ingredients. Wheat is often useless without eggs to cook it with, and without ingredients like cooking oil, baking soda, yeast, and other essentials, people can’t do much more with their wheat than make honey-flavored gruel. Obviously, it’s imperative to have the basics, but they must be supplemented with spices and other materials.
Even during an emergency, people need variety. In fact, having good food is especially important during a disaster, since with the added stress of unusual circumstances, people will be exceptionally anxious. A variety of foods will help meals seem more like a treat and less like a chore--they will keep up morale, and will help everyone remain calm. As far as variety goes, people should consider storing those staples, plus some MREs (Meals, Ready-To-Eat), dehydrated or freeze-dried foods, and some comfort foods. Freezedried foods keep all of the nutrients and taste, so people will be more willing to eat. These quick and easy foods are also instantaneous and are therefore a good addition to any food storage; that way, if people are too tired to cook, they can still have a delicious meal. Comfort foods include anything from hard candies to tea to Jell-O or pudding, and are important for the psychological aspect of disasters and emergencies. If someone is in a position where using food storage is necessary, they and their family will be under a lot of stress. Keeping some relaxing, familiar foods around will help them reduce their level of anxiety and will make the whole disaster easier to endure. Once someone has a balance of good foods that they are adept at making and a familiar with eating, they also need to be concerned with how they store it. Keeping something in its original bag means leaving it suspect to mold, insects, and other germs. Try to store food in a cool, dry place in approved containers in order to extend the life-span of some goods up to 30 years. 4. Information Another important mistake people make is to leave behind important documents and numbers. While safety is the most important part of emergency preparedness, once the disaster is over, people will find it difficult to prove their identity or make contact with their insurance company if they have no information about themselves. Many people have heard that they should keep important documents like birth certificates, marriage licenses, and insurance policies in a waterproof container. And many do--but if people are forced to evacuate, it is unlikely that people will remember to take those documents with them. Having copies of the documents in a convenient and easy-toremember place will ensure that people will be able to prove their identities and make the right claims. In addition to this, people should have a list of phone numbers that might be important to know. If the electricity goes out, there will be no way to charge cell phones, and people could lose all contact if they don’t have all the numbers written in a hard copy. Keep the insurance company’s number, plus phone numbers of any doctors or pharmacies written down in a secure location. In addition to these, write down policy numbers and credit card numbers for easy access. 5. Procrastination The last mistake seems like the most obvious one, but it’s also the biggest mistake that people tend to make: they procrastinate. People drag their feet when it comes to food storage, because it’s expensive, because it takes time, and because it is an uncomfortable subject for them. No one wants to consider the possibility that they could fall victim to a natural disaster. People would often rather bury their heads in the sand, go about their normal life, and hope for the best. This doesn’t work. People must face the possibility of disaster head-on, and should start their disaster preparedness as soon as possible. Some things--like having a disaster plan or talking to the insurance company--don’t cost any money at all. And other things--like first aid kits and food storage--don’t have to be expensive. There are tons of stores like The Ready Store, which specializes in preparing people for emergencies for less. Although it is an uncomfortable subject, people don’t have to be afraid of emergency preparedness. Preparing for disaster can be easy and inexpensive, and will help people face disasters without fear. Remember: as long as people are prepared, disasters don’t have to be emergencies.