Disaster Readiness!

9/3/2019 (Permalink)

In the last ten years the U.S. has officially declared 1,000 disasters.

in 2017 we had 3 major natural disasters alone; Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

The goal is to plan now, because the odds are that you will be affected one day.

Here are 6 things to know before one of these disasters strikes!

1. Know where your gas shut off valve is located. Shutting off the gas before an emergency can help avoid gas leaks and potential explosions.
2. Know where your electrical shut off is. Electrical problems cause an estimated 25,900 house fires each year and this number grows during a disaster.
3. Make an emergency communication program. Family members will know where to go, what to do, and how to reconnect.
4. Make sure you have insurance, and make sure you know what it covers- flooding? Earthquakes? Etc. Floods are the most common and costly natural disaster. A few inches of water can cause thousands in damage.
5. Plan for your pets, most shelters will not accept pets due to public health reasons unless it is a service animal. So search ahead to find a shelter who allows pets.
6. Know your evacuation routes. Many communities have them, make sure you know these routes as in a disaster every second counts.

Always remember you can visit www.FEMA.org for more information on disasters and how to plan!