Most natural disasters occur quickly and unexpectedly. Recent events are an important reminder that we all need to be prepared for the unexpected. In Massachusetts, it could be anything from fires to hurricanes or blizzards. Here are some tips on preparing for natural disasters in Massachusetts.
Pack a Go-Bag
If you need to leave your home quickly, there may be little time to track down important items throughout your home. Consider preparing a go-bag that you can quickly grab and add to. Here are some things that you may want to include in that bag:
- Medication
- First-aid kit
- Flashlights
- Phone Numbers (in case your phone dies)
- Cash
- Identification
- Non-perishable Snacks and Food
- Water Bottles or a Reusable Water Bottle with Filter
- Hand Sanitizer or Wipes
- Rain Coat(s)
- Warm Clothes
- Portable Phone Charger
- Multi-tool
- Pet Supplies
Naturally, some things may need to be grabbed at the last minute instead of packed ahead of time. Include a list of items to grab, to make it easier to remember them.
Save Important Documents
You may have heard stories about people losing valuable items, such as old family photos or naturalization certificates. You can take steps ahead of time to protect those items by digitizing them. Scan important documents and photos to a portable drive. As an added precaution, upload them to a cloud server as well.
Develop Good Habits
Since you never know when disaster will strike, you may want to develop some routine habits to protect yourself. Here are some examples:
- Always keep a certain supply of bottled water in your home.
- Don’t allow your vehicle gas tank to get too low.
- Keep a portable charger fully charged and available.
- Maintain a stock of non-perishable foods.
Family Tips on Preparing for Natural Disasters
If your family is like most, you leave busy lives and are not always together. Make a plan with everyone on where to meet in case of an emergency. If you are unable to reach each other by phone, that pre-planned meeting location will prevent everyone from roaming aimlessly or dangerously to find each other. Also, in cases where you are all together and must leave your home, assign each person a responsibility. By working together as a family, you can exit your home more quickly and without forgetting essentials.
We hope that these tips on preparing for natural disasters in Massachusetts will help your family be ready for the unexpected!