5 Ways You Can Prepare For An Emergency

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Are you prepared for an emergency? From natural disasters to power cuts, loss of water, or being unable to leave your house for any reason, there are many emergencies that you can come across in life. But how can you prepare for an emergency, and what do you need to have ready should the worst happen?

Get A Generator

A generator will provide you with a backup power source should you not be able to use your primary source of power. You can rely on your generator to help out in an emergency, but you need to make sure you are caring for it properly to keep it in good condition, from general Generator Maintenance to services and having additional parts and cleaning accessories to keeping it safe and dry so that when you do need to use it, it is ready to go.

Stockpile Supplies

Next, you need to make sure you have a stockpile of supplies that can last you and your family for at least a few days. Your emergency stockpile should include bottled water, tinned foods, dry foods, snacks, and items such as first aid supplies, medication, clean clothes, batteries, blankets, radios, flashlights, and anything else you might need. These should all be kept in a secure waterproof container or somewhere they can be easily accessed when you require them.

Create A Contact List

A written contact list is a list of numbers and people you can call to help you out. This should include family and friends and services, including your doctor, insurance company, mortgage company if required, your landlord, place of work, and any other people you might need to contact in any type of emergency, including local tradespeople and emergency services. Keep a list handy in your home and your car, and ensure that you have easy access to it should you need it.

Develop An Emergency Plan

An emergency plan is something that you will follow in the event of something going wrong. Be it what you and your family will do in the event of an extreme weather event or should you have an emergency at home. You can create a contact chain of who needs to contact who to make sure people are safe or get help where it is needed. Where you will meet, what each person is responsible for, and what you expect to happen should things not go to plan. The clearer people are about their role, the smoother it will be for everyone.

Have An Emergency Fund

Emergencies can crop up at any time in many different ways. An emergency fund can help you get back on your feet should you need additional financial assistance. How much you put in your fund is entirely up to you. You can have one major fund or smaller funds for different emergencies, i.e., getting laid off from work, repairing your home, or paying for alternative accommodation while it's repaired after a storm, for example. Or you can have health emergency funds to cover medical care if you’re not able to work due to being ill or injured or an emergency fund solely for car breakdowns.

Staying safe in an emergency can be made easier thanks to how well you're prepared for an emergency and what you are able to control. Having emergency funds, supplies, and a good chain of command for keeping family safe can be great places to start.