Natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and even economic disasters affect millions globally. Take the current floods happening in India and South Africa. In India alone, the floods have taken over 100 lives, and over 2000 people have lost their homes. In South Africa, 40,000 people were displaced, and 500 died. Every year, natural disasters endanger numerous people and cost millions of dollars as infrastructure is destroyed. That is why we, as people, must take measures to keep ourselves safe. When we get a warning about a disaster, preparing for it is essential. From stocking up on an emergency food survival kit to batteries to securing appliances and things that can harm us, there is a lot to prepare.

Here are a few ways to prepare ourselves for an upcoming disaster:

Stock up on emergency food

When a natural disaster hits, it affects the most food and water supplies. Everything is closed; the gas and electricity are cut off, and commuting to buy supplies is impossible. That is why stocking up on the best survival food kits is necessary. I keep a stock of fruits, veggies, and breakfast options that do not require too much heat or gas. For instance, Heaven Harvest’s emergency survival food kits come in multiple packaging options. From protein kits to organic kits to breakfast kits, we can choose anyone ideal for our family.

Stocking up on the best food supply kits is clever. But we also need clean drinking water, whose supply gets disturbed during natural calamities. Therefore, it is advisable to stock up on at least three months’ worth of water before emergencies arise.

Get homeowners insurance

In the event of a natural disaster, we end up losing a part of our house. Sometimes, the entire house is destroyed. To repair it, we need a handsome amount. Therefore, it is essential to have a homeowner’s policy. Basic policies in the market do not pay for repairs to houses destroyed in natural disasters like floods. Therefore, we should shop for the perfect policy covering the destruction and repair amounts.

Make the garage door natural disaster-proof

Our garage door was not built to withstand winds or too much water pressure. Thus, the hurricane blew it off easily. To ensure this does not happen, we should install garage doors ideal for withstanding winds blowing up to 130 mph. If we neglect the garage door, high winds or even flood water will enter our home. It will cause pressure to build inside the house, destroying everything, including the roof.

Store hazardous materials away.

We have a few chemicals at hand in the form of laundry detergent. Some of us also have other hazardous materials at hand. After hearing the warning about a natural disaster, the smartest move is to lock them safely away from everything. We do not want it to mix with food, water, or kids accidentally picking it up during high winds or floods.

Put caulk around windows and doors.

Hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes also come with high winds. If we have small cracks in our windows and doors, the wind can push the water inside through the holes. The rainwater or moisture that makes its way inside can cause severe damage. However, there is a simple way to prevent this. We can apply a fresh layer of caulk around these cracks, holes, and even door entries to prevent this. Do this before the start of the rainy season to be extra safe.

Trim tall branches

High winds, hurricanes, and even floods can uproot trees and cause damage. We always trim long bushes or uproot massive trees from the house before rain or hurricane season begins. If we don’t, the chances of them uprooting or a branch breaking the window and causing damage are high.

Prepare a supply kit.

A supply kit with batteries, candles, first aid, medicines, and blankets should be there. Apart from an emergency food supply kit, we also have this as it keeps us prepared for the worst.

Natural disasters can strike at any time. Even after the warning, we may not understand the severity of it until it hits us. But if we live in a disaster-prone area, stocking up on essentials and preparing ourselves to come out alive is necessary.