For most families, aside from an economic strain, natural disasters are the most common form of emergency they need to prepare for. Of course, this is a geographical concern, so you may be in an area that is more or less prone to certain types of natural disasters.
There are different types of natural disasters and the frequency with which they may threaten you. They also occur at various times of the year, so you may have months where there is no possibility followed by a month of frequent situations.
The preparations you need to make for natural disasters include: assessing your risk, taking preventative measures to protect your property and your lives, and knowing what to do during and after it occurs.
You may be dealing with different types of aftermath scenarios ranging from hidden dangers such as downed electrical wires to chaos in a society where looting is prevalent.
The most common forms of natural disasters that you want to prepare for include tornados, hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. Of course, there are less frequent types of disasters, such as a volcanic eruption, tsunami, or even a solar flare.
Make Preparations Based on Your Risk Assessment
You don’t want to waste your survival resources on preparations for things that probably won’t occur in your area. So the first step is to conduct a proper risk assessment based on your geographic location and your current property, supplies, and skills.
Some of them will be obvious, such as if you live in “tornado alley” or on the coast where hurricanes are likely. You also want to assess your property slant and location near water sources.
Is it in a location where enough rain could create a flood situation? Are you near a forest where dry conditions could prove hazardous in a wildfire? Are you located near a volcano, or on a fault line where an earthquake might prove devastating?
Not only do you need to be looking at your own property, but you need to be looking at the preparedness of your community and government officials. Will they be able to handle a large-scale natural disaster in your area?
You want to stock up on supplies that are suitable for your particular situation. For example, having a weather radio so that you know where any immediate threats are to your location would be necessary.
You have to think about whether or not the electricity will shut down, whether you will be operating in a situation where your vision is limited, such as smoky conditions, and the possibility that your water may be contaminated.
Not only do you need supplies to get you through the disaster, whether it’s a flashlight or food and water supplies, but you also want to have some way to communicate with rescue teams in case you are trapped and need their assistance.
Preparing for and Enduring Specific Natural Disasters
You want to think about whether or not you will need to evacuate or shelter in place. This is an important part of your survival, and you don’t want to put any of your family members at risk by having them try to go to another location if it’s more dangerous to go elsewhere than to stay put.
If you are in the middle of a natural disaster, make sure you ration your supplies so that you don’t go through them too fast before you can get to a safe place. While taking into account the needs of each member of your family, don’t forget about your pets and having the ability to get them to safety in a pet carrier along with their food necessities.
Earthquake
Earthquake preparation is really about knowing what to do when it is taking place. You don’t want to be in a fragile structure, so you need to know when to evacuate a building or simply take cover and shield yourself from any debris.
Consider having an expert come out and do an analysis of your property to see if the building you live in is capable of withstanding seismic activity.
Flood
If you are in a flood area, you’re going to have to judge your evacuation measures based on how much and how fast the water is rising.
You don’t want to wait until it gets too late for you to leave your location. You can set up water barriers ahead of time to protect your property from getting flooded. These can include sandbags and other inflatable products, which can help manage minor flooding.
Never drive through a flooded area, even if it’s just a few inches high, because you can be swept away and trapped.
Hurricane
If a hurricane is coming your way, you’ll have advanced notice about whether or not it’s going to hit your area, so you can evacuate in plenty of time.
You may want to board up your home and protect any important documents and belongings in case your property is not able to withstand severe hurricane levels.
Tornado
If you are in a tornado zone, you probably know to go in the smallest room without windows on the lowest level of your home possible.
If you can afford to invest in a small tornado shelter, which can be the size of a closet, this will be a good way to withstand any tornadic activity. If you happen to be outside during a tornado, such as driving home, get in a ditch and lie flat.
Wild Fires
Wildfires are natural disasters that can turn threatening in an instant, even if they seem to be headed the other way.
You can take protective measures for your property by creating fire breaks and clearing the land so that it is less flammable. Some people like to water down their home before leaving, but don’t leave too late so that you put your family at risk.
Volcanoes and tsunamis
These types of disasters usually give plenty of advanced warning, with scientists being able to offer warnings and predictions about when these will occur. Hopefully, you will have time to evacuate, but if not you can put as much distance between you and the ensuing disaster as possible.
Have a gas mask for a volcano situation that is sized to fit each member of the family and protect them from falling ash.
Solar Flare
A solar flare may not hurt you personally, but you will likely notice an effect on your electronics. Solar flares can damage satellites and disrupt satellite communications. They can overload power grids so you may be without power.
On March 13, 1989, a massive solar storm struck Earth, resulting in one of the most significant technological disruptions caused by solar activity. This event is often cited as a key example of how solar flares and associated geomagnetic storms can impact modern infrastructure.
The geomagnetic storm induced electric currents in the Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere, known as geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). These currents entered Quebec’s Hydro-Québec power grid, overwhelming the system.
Within 90 seconds, the entire province of Quebec experienced a blackout. Approximately 6 million people were affected, and the power outage lasted for around 9 hours.
During solar flare warnings, unplug non-essential electronic devices to protect them from potential power surges caused by geomagnetic currents.
Use surge protectors for essential electronics. These devices can help shield against sudden voltage spikes that may occur during geomagnetic disturbances.
For highly sensitive equipment, consider using Faraday cages or Faraday bags, which can block electromagnetic fields and protect devices from electromagnetic pulses (EMPs).
Navigating the Aftermath of a Natural Disaster
In the aftermath, you’ll have to deal with the fallout of the disaster. You may be operating in an emotional state – because it can be devastating seeing a loss of your home or even finding out about the loss of life that resulted from it.
You want to have your plan set up ahead of time so you can go through the motions without having to think about what to do next. First, evaluate the state of your property and the health of your loved ones.
It may not be safe to return home if it poses a risk. Have the numbers on hand to contact agencies like FEMA or Red Cross and any local community agencies that are set up to assist in the aftermath of an event like this.
You may have to make a decision about rebuilding and staying in the same place or relocating to a safer property. If you stay put and rebuild, you’ll want to have knowledge about materials and supplies that can offer future protection.
When things have settled, evaluate what occurred and how your reaction and supplies held up. Make any tweaks for future natural disasters to help you in the event another one occurs – and run through practice drills to ensure everyone is on the same page.