September is “National Preparedness Month” – You can be the hero!
Being prepared for emergencies doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
For most of us it just takes some planning and slow-and-steady commitment to follow through. Check out my article Basic Preparedness for a list of essential items to have in your emergency supplies kit.
Plan
Beyond the emergency supplies (food, water, first aid supplies), you need to have a plan in place. Talk with your family about the kinds of disasters and hazards that can happen in your area, and have a designated meeting place near your home, and another one outside of your neighborhood in case it is not possible to meet close to home.
Gather
Make sure you have updated contact information for family, friends, and neighbors on hand. If the power is out, your computer is not a great place to store your contact list.
Gather copies of important paperwork, such as birth certificates, insurance policies and place those in your emergency kit.
Purchase emergency kit supplies whenever you are able to and don’t stop until you have everything you need. Watch for sales, or buy just one extra item at a time.
Check
About once a year, check your emergency kit and update paperwork and contact information. Once a year is also a really good time to rotate your stored food and to check the expiration dates on everything. If you are storing tap water in re-used plastic bottles, you should change out the water a few times each year.
Check out this guide from FEMA for National Preparedness Month for more ideas: NPM: Preparedness on a Budget