September is National Preparedness Month, and with the hurricane season pummeling the US, we want to a break from home improvement tips and put some focus on disaster preparedness for your home. It’s never a bad time to make a plan – Here are some things to consider when planning for your family’s safety:
Prepare for what you are most likely to face.
If you live in Iowa, you likely don’t need to be ready for a Hurricane. If you live in coastal Florida, you likely 
Prepare some emergency supplies.
Generally, it is a good plan to have one gallon of water, per person, per day for all of the members in your home. If the water goes out, are you ready for that today? If not, it might be an appropriate time set some aside. On top of this rations, first aid, and supplies will be critical if you are stuck in your home. Make sure that you have enough to last for a few days to evacuate. If you plan to stay at home, plan for more than a week of supplies.
Prepare a communication plan.
When disaster hits, cell phone service can be spotty and people can get separated. To ensure that everyone is in touch, designate a trusted contact in another part of the country. Since out of town calls will likely work better than local cell calls in a time of disaster, everyone can call this contact to check in and get status updates for everyone in your family. Be sure that your children have that number memorized, as well as all their personal information and address.
Learn the best evacuation routes for your area and plan accordingly.
This is critical. Avoid a lot of madness by learning the evacuation routes away from your home. This includes the best roads you will take to get out of town or to a meeting area, as well as all of the plans to get away from your house. If the water is rising, will you take a door or will you take a window? Also, be sure to set a meeting location for your family, perhaps another person’s home or the local shelter? Have a plan and review it often with your loved ones.
Prepare for getting caught away from Home.
What happens if disaster hits when you are away from home? Having a plan to get to your loved ones will be very important. Keep some supplies in your trunk. Communicate with your children’s school ahead of time to be sure of how they will notify you and what you will need to do to get your kids from school.
While some of these things may seem fairly basic, it’s usually the no-brainers that we forget first. Take some of these tips, put them to work, and have a wonderful and safe September!
** Source - Home Owners Network **
