Natural disaster preparedness tips

No one can prevent natural disasters. But you can prepare for them. Preparing for natural disasters before they happen may help you protect yourself, your family, and your home.

Different types of emergency situations call for additional steps in order to be prepared. Finding out the best emergency preparedness plan for any kind of natural disaster can help you prepare for a safe outcome. As you get started with this process, follow these emergency preparedness tips to keep yourselves safe.

Pack a natural disaster emergency kit

Having a natural disaster emergency kit on hand may help you keep your family safe during a disaster. Store supplies in a large waterproof container near a door or in your garage so you can grab it and find shelter quickly. Ready.gov recommends you have at least three days' worth of food, water and medications on hand. They also provide a list of items to include in your disaster kit:

• Drinking water (at least one gallon per person per day)
• Nonperishable food, such as canned veggies and protein bars
• Manual can opener
• Flashlights or portable lanterns and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• A crank- or battery-powered radio
• Sanitation supplies: toilet paper, moist towelettes, soap, trash bags and disinfectants
• Local maps

Depending on your situation, your kit might also include:

• Baby food, bottles and diapers
• Pet food
• Prescription medications
• Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution
• Dry clothing and blankets

Create and practice a natural disaster plan

Your family needs a clearly outlined action plan to follow that helps keep everyone safe during a natural disaster or an evacuation. According to Ready.gov, the four primary factors that your natural disaster safety plan should account for include:

• Where to shelter
• A route for evacuation
• Getting emergency alerts and warnings
• Family communication

As you're creating your action plan for a natural disaster, keep the following preparation elements in mind:

• Sign up for severe weather alerts in your area.
• Program emergency numbers into your phone.
• Decide on a meeting place for your family to gather.
• Plan escape routes from your home and neighborhood. Remember, roads could be blocked in large-scale disasters. Have at least one alternate route — or more if possible.
• Be sure all adult and teenage family members know how to shut off gas, electric and water lines if there's a leak or electrical short. Keep the necessary tools easily accessible, and make sure everyone knows where these are.
• Consider learning CPR and first aid training.

Remember your pets. Bring dogs and cats inside during a during a natural disaster, and make a plan for how you'll evacuate with them. And make sure they have ID tags. Natural disaster preparedness starts with creating a natural disaster plan so that you can feel confident and safe if the moment occurs. Create an action plan with your family and make sure everyone knows their role in the plan by staging drills, as practice will get everyone comfortable with what they need to do.

Check media coverage on the natural disaster

Local governments have systems in place to help area residents learn about impending or occurring natural disasters. The timely information these entities provide can help you understand what threats are present and know when it's necessary to evacuate.

Sign up for alerts from local and national organizations to get the information you need. These may include text messages about urgent situations. You'll also see and hear written and spoken messages via cable TV and phone calls. In addition, you can tune into NOAA Weather Radio, which broadcasts weather-hazard information and safety alerts 24/7.

Remember that the groups that provide these messages are experts. Respect their warnings and follow their guidance as closely as possible for your own safety. For more natural disaster planning and recovery resources, check out the following organizations:

The Red Cross offers some excellent materials on disaster planning and recovery.

FEMA has a wealth of information about preparing for and handling disasters.

Learn how to prepare your family for emergencies, both natural and man-made.

The IBHS offers disaster planning tips from the experts on reducing risk.

The National Weather Service has forecasts, alerts, radar maps and safety information.

Your state's official website may offer area-specific emergency and safety resources.

Manage the details on insurance coverage for natural disasters

Take note of your insurance policy numbers, and keep this information in a safe place that's easy to access. You'll want the numbers for your vehicle, home, and any other relevant policies you've purchased relating to things that might get damaged during a natural disaster. It's also a wise idea to have your insurance company's claims department phone number on hand in case you need to start the process right away.

As you're starting to prep, download your insurance company's app if it has one. These programs are convenient and let you do things like initiate a claim and check on its status. This is a convenient way to take action and move forward in the wake of a disaster.

While storing your insurance information in your phone and computer is a good start, your electronics' batteries may run down during a natural disaster. Keep hard copies of this information in your wallet, in your glove box, and even at your office or a relative's home in case you're unable to retrieve them from your own house but need to make a call.

Learn more about natural disaster preparedness

Create a plan with your family, figuring out what to do in the event of a natural disaster. Make sure everyone knows their role and the plan — then have drills and practice.

Having a plan can help keep you and your family safe. And the right homeowners insurance policy can keep your residence protected after a natural disaster or other covered event. Contact your local Nationwide agent today to discuss coverage levels and options.