Being prepared is the name of the game when it comes to natural disasters. It is important to have a plan of action, as well as an emergency supply kit. If a disaster should hit your area, many will be affected, from your elderly neighbor right down to your pet. When preparing your plan, be sure to remember others around you.

The first step should be to devise an emergency evacuation plan. Contact a family member or close friend who lives several miles away from you and ask them to be your emergency contact. This will be the place you and your family will meet in case of a disaster. You should also have a back up emergency contact who lives a substantial distance away in case the disaster has affected your entire area. Be sure everyone knows the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the emergency contacts. Keep in mind it may be easier to get a hold of someone out of town rather than locally, due to damage caused by the disaster. It would also be a good idea to supply your family with phone cards to use in case cell phone service is impacted.

Assign various responsibilities to family members. If you have younger children, decide who is going to pick them up from school or daycare. Determine who is going to be in charge of taking the family dog and who is going to check on the elderly lady who lives next door.

If you are dealing with a flood situation, schedule everyone in your family for a tetanus shot. Flood waters are filled with dangerous bacteria. A round of tetanus shots is also a good idea in the case of a tornado, for example, where clean up may involve rusty metals or handling wood with old nails.

Pack an emergency kit. You can grab an old backpack (preferably one that is water-resistant) or a plastic tote from the closet to create one. The “go bag” should include such things as a radio, first aid kit and flashlight, as well as batteries, prescription medications and copies of important documents including insurance policies and bank records. It’s also a good idea to include photos of valuable possessions to make it easier to file insurance claims. Remember to pack some non perishable food items (never underestimate the power of peanut butter and jelly!) and plenty of bottled water. Everyone should also have a change of clothes and sturdy shoes. When your bag is completed be sure everyone knows where it is stored and who is responsible for grabbing it in case of an emergency.

And finally, don’t forget to practice your disaster plan!

Here at Congresswoman Nancy Boyda’s office, we want you to be as well prepared for a disaster as possible. No one is safe from disasters; they often come without warning and can be very devastating. The best defense is to be prepared.