The weather is changing worldwide. Life on a farm in Oaklahoma isn’t the simple life it’s made out to be anymore. A sunny day by the sea isn’t as easy-living as it once seemed. When disaster rumbles in the background and threatens to rip through every aspect of your life, even the roof over your head, will you be ready to protect the most valuable things- your and your family’s life? Do you have the knowledge that you’ll make it through no matter what? Do you have the peace of mind to know you’ll weather the storm?
Deep breath. Yes, of course you do. You’ve made a plan with your family. You’ve taught your kids emergency preparedness. Everyone in your family knows where to go, how to get there, and who to call when they’re safe. You and your family are even certified in first aid, so you can help others and sustain yourself in the midst of a terrible storm or other natural disaster. And best of all, you have the peace of mind that in your very own home, you’ve got the best of storm shelters to keep you, your family, and your pets safe. That’s the immeasurable value of a US Safe Room.
Step 1: Build a Safe Room and Prepare Storm Shelters
It’s even on the FEMA Disaster Preparedness List. Having a safe place in your home to retreat to in times of disaster and Emergency is critical. Households with safe rooms and storm shelters survive hurricanes, F4 tornadoes, and other unknown disasters.
But building a safe room is just the first step. Emergency preparedness should center around a family disaster plan so that every family member knows how to and has the supplies to survive, before during and after a storm. Sit down with your family and make a plan. Go over the details every few months or so, and keep written copies of it in your safe room and storm shelters.
What your family disaster plan needs to include:
- Meeting Places and Safe Zones: Know where you’ll go if a disaster or tornado warning is issued in your neighborhood. Know where you’ll go if you’re at work, and your child is at school. Write a plan for all scenarios, and make sure each member of your family knows a safe destination to stay in until the storm passes.
- Contact Information: FEMA supplies a Family Communications Disaster Plan sheet for citizens to include printed copies of in your car, your home, and your evacuation bags. Make sure everyone, including your youngest children, know how to respond to a disaster. Everyone needs to know who to call and who to trust in case of injuries and evacuations. Also be sure to include shelters and safe buildings within your community that you can travel to- if you have to.
- A list of Valuables you can’t live without: Do you know where your Grandma’s wedding ring is? Your father’s war diary? Make sure you have easy access to these important items so you can take them into a safe room in the case of a Tornado warning. Or better so, store your valuables in storm shelters long before disaster strikes. Never compromise your own life and leave a safe room in the midst of a severe storm or tornado warning. Objects and heirlooms aren’t nearly as valuable as human life.
- Basic Medical Training: Everyone in your family needs to know the basics of bandaging, CPR, and survival knowledge. Get certified by the Red Cross and make an effort to stay in practice.
- Extra plans for those with special needs: Will storm shelters be wheel chair accessible? Does your disaster plan explain how to carry Grandpa downstairs? Do you have all the medications you need? Know your family, know your friends, and make a plan.
- An NOAA Weather Radio and other Alert Systems: Not only should these warning systems be located around your house and on your bedside, in case of a nighttime emergency, but you should have an extra warning radio in your safe room to alert you of a storms safe dissipation. News broadcasts and weather reports are critical information for determining your safety actions.
- A plan for your pets: It’s not worth leaving one living being behind. Don’t tie up your pets at home during an emergency! They have the right to life too. If you want your animal to be safe, you’ll need to take them with you into your safe room or community shelter. Make sure you have enough space for them and the rest of your family, since storm shelters come in various sizes. In the event of an evacuation to a shelter, make sure you have a plan for your pets in case they’re not allowed in. Locate a pet friendly motel out of the vicinity of the severe weather or ask a neighbor to shelter your pet in their safe room if you can’t get home in time.
- A way to shut off utilities: Natural gas, water, and electricity are all important to shut off during an emergency so that more damage isn’t caused to your home. Follow FEMA guidelines, and make sure all family members know how to turn these utilities off. It could make the difference between having a home after a disaster or opening the front door onto a pile of ash.
- Stocking up on Supplies and Skills: Make sure there’s a bag in the trunk of your car and your safe room containing these essentials.
- First Aid Kit and Instruction Manual
- A list of Local Emergency Numbers
- Portable Battery operated TV or Radio
- Prescription Medications for all family members who need them.
- Car keys
- Cash
- Signal flares
- Matches and tinder
- Hand wipes and garbage bags for sanitation
- Maps of the area with phone numbers and addresses of safe places marked and recorded
- Wrench for shutting off utilities
- Can opener
- Swiss army knife
- Water supplies – See here: Emergency Water Supplies
- Food Supplies- Granola bars, cans, and high-moisture low-sodium foods that won’t dehydrate you. See here: Emergency Food Supplies
Step 1 in the Family Disaster Plan is Obtaining the Peace of Mind that comes with Strong, Code Compliant Storm Shelters. Contact US Safe Room Today to Ensure your Family’s Safety with Steel Safety!
