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Disaster Preparedness For Homesteaders

Author: MARLENE AFFELD // Last updated on DECEMBER 28, 2020 1 COMMENT

Emergencies, by their very definition, are stressful.

I, like many homesteaders, find myself concerned about the possibility of an emergency event such as a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, or an act of terrorism.

Do you too, wonder if you have done all you can to help prepare for a catastrophic survival situation? Panic and confusion are natural responses to an emergency. Being prepared—both physically and mentally—can help you stay calm, collected, and able to promptly respond to a life-threatening event.

Make A Family Readiness Plan

You can take several actionable steps to prepare beforehand to protect the health, safety, and well-being of yourself and your loved ones.

Have a family meeting, requesting everyone’s input in crafting a homestead readiness plan. Determine how you will communicate with loved ones. Discuss the particular steps you will have to take in different emergency scenarios.
You and your loved ones may be apart when disaster strikes. You should have a plan so that you all know how to best contact one another. Phone circuits in the affected emergency area may be overwhelmed with calls. It is often easier to make contact with a relative or friend in another state than it is to contact someone in the immediate area.
Know the location of the two closest emergency shelters to your homestead. Practice driving alternate routes to reach the facilities. If you have pets, make sure to know which emergency shelters are equipped to provide shelter for your animals.
Choose an out-of-town relative or friend as a connection. Make sure that all family members memorize the number: often a text will go through, even though a phone call will not. Confirm that all family members have emergency contact information programmed into their cell phones. Include numbers for ambulance services, police, fire department, and nearby hospitals.

In order to prepare a family disaster plan, everyone in the household must know the types of emergencies that are most likely to occur in your area and the correct way to respond.

Source: https://insteading.com/blog/disaster-preparedness-for-homesteaders/