(RNN) - As winter begins to melt and turn into spring, it means sloshy roads and tornado threats.
Residents all over the country are preparing for the seasonal turn,
and there are some things you can do to prepare yourself for bad weather
to keep you and your family safe in the event of a disaster.
Now is the time to make a kit and know what to do when bad weather hits.
How to prepare before the disaster
The time to prepare your home is long before a disaster or severe
weather event happens. It's vitally important to make a plan and have
the supplies necessary to either take shelter after a storm, or evacuate
on short notice.
Darryl Madden, FEMA's Ready campaign director, said the most important thing to do is to plan ahead.
That includes knowing what to do in several disaster scenarios, from
tornadoes to hurricanes to wildfires, and making a plan with your
family.
He said it's a good idea to sit down and imagine what would happen -
and what you would need - if the power went off for an extended period
of time.
He also said communication is vitally important, whether you need to
call emergency services or get in touch with relatives, friends and
neighbors to let them know where you are, and how you're doing.
"Have a communications plan," Madden said. That includes things like an NOAA weather radio and phone access.
He said it's best to get a crank-powered radio so it doesn't rely on
any energy other than what you can generate yourself in case the power
goes out. Another thing you want to look at is a solar-powered phone
charger, so if you're without power for an extended period of time, you
can still communicate.
Next, you need to have the supplies necessary to survive at least 72
hours on your own. In heavily hit or rural areas, it can take rescue
personnel a long time to make it to you.
"You want to have three days' worth of water for each individual,"
Madden said. "Any resources that they need, obviously, food and water is
their primary concern."
He said the most important things are water, a first-aid kit and a
flashlight, followed by necessary medications and specific needs such as
formula and diapers for small children. He also said non-perishable
food is not a bad idea to keep on hand.
"It's not something you have to focus on every time, just you know
when you go to the store, grab a couple of things that will keep," he
said, and advised storing the food somewhere besides the pantry so it's
out of the way.
He also said that people with critical medical conditions that
require special treatment, such as dialysis patients, should get in
touch with their local emergency manager, fire department, or EMA to
inform them ahead of time about your condition. That way emergency
personnel know where you are in case of a disaster.
Also, don't forget to have emergency supplies both in your home and in your vehicle for whatever the weather may bring.
You can find a full list of precautions and responses to have in case of specific emergencies at
http://www.ready.gov.
If you have to evacuate
If you have to evacuate, the No. 1 thing to keep in mind is that
you'll have to move very quickly. As part of that, Madden said you'll
want an evacuation kit to be light and easy to move.
It should include things such as water, food, extra clothing, medicine, medical support and any important paperwork.
Also, don't leave Fido behind. If conditions are not safe for people, they aren't safe for animals.
If you have a pet, the ASPCA listed a few guidelines for keeping them
safe. They include preparing ahead of time and arranging a safe haven,
or caregiver, for your pet if you can't take them with you, and keeping
emergency supplies such as a leash and collar or cat carrier and food
with your evacuation kit.
The full list of precautions you can take for a pet in the event of a disaster can be found on the
ASPCA's website.
Madden, however, emphasized that in the case of an emergency, human life takes precedence over that of pets.
"You have to make critical decisions, if time is of the essence, save yourself," he said.
But he said planning ahead now can prevent making difficult decisions later.
How to prepare your home
Once a year, you should look over your homeowner's insurance to make sure your home and belongings are covered.
"Understanding your policy is really good heading into any storm
season, this is a good time to review it, understand your coverage and
understand your deductible," said State Farm spokesperson Missy Dundov.
Dundov said sometimes homeowners may make additions throughout the
year and forget to update their insurance to cover their cost. Another
important aspect to look at is flood insurance.
"Homeowner's insurance, your standard homeowner's insurance, covers
most weather-related claims; the only big one it doesn't cover is
flooding, and that's a separate policy," she said.
Flood insurance is handled by FIMA, or the Federal Insurance Mitigation Administration.
Something else people should consider is making a home inventory,
which is important when filing claims and can help expedite the process.
Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for Allstate Insurance, suggested making a
list and storing it online or in another system that operates over the
cloud. A third option is storing it on a flash drive you keep with you
in the event of an emergency.
Smith said the most important thing to do is take pictures. Both
Smith and Dundov said not having a home inventory list can making filing
difficult when a room or home is destroyed.
"It does help your insurance adjuster when they come out to help them know what the room looked like beforehand," Dundov said.
Dealing with the immediate aftermath
After a disaster hits, Madden said your first line of response is going to be your neighbors.
"I can't emphasize this enough, especially in this day and age, most people don't know who their neighbors are," Madden said.
Next comes local emergency managers and responders, who will try to
direct relief to the areas that are the most severely impacted. Phone
lines may be down, or busy, leaving you with limited options for
communication.
Afterwards, FEMA steps in.
"We come in to reinforce the initial first response. We can activate
the search-and-rescue teams, we can then find out where unmet needs are
and obviously bring those resources together," Madden said.
The Red Cross may also set up to help victims of the disaster, and provide things such as food, water and shelter.
Also, it's important to prevent injuries from disaster cleanup.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends protecting yourself from
insects, staying out of standing water, staying away from uninspected
buildings and leaving immediately if you hear shifting or unusual noises
coming from a structure.
The organization also said you should use machinery, such as
generators, in well-ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide
poisoning. Also be aware of water in your surroundings and don't use
electrical devices near it to prevent accidental electrical shock.
Finally, be aware of possible gas leaks and opt for using battery-powered lights instead of candles, which can be a fire hazard.
If you take steps now and plan ahead, it will make recovery easier
later. But Madden warned that preserving human life is the No. 1 goal of
any safety measure, not saving your home or belongings.
"One thing that we really kind of want to emphasize is property
damage can be repaired, and individuals cannot," Madden said. "Always
use common sense."
Having an emergency kit in your car can help save your life when
the unthinkable, like an ice storm in Atlanta that stranded thousands,
happens. (Source: MGN/CNN)
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