Food4Patriots Offers Tips On How To Prep For A Disaster

Food4Patriots Offers Tips On How To Prep For A Disaster

According to Food4Patriots, a leading supplier of emergency survival food, preparing for disaster is something every household needs to do. Not only do we live in an unstable economic and political climate, but with mounting concerns about natural disasters, it is best to be prepared for anything.

It is important to be able to stand on your own two feet when disaster strikes. Depending solely on the government for food, shelter, and other resources is not the optimal plan, especially since responding to large-scale emergencies is a major challenge for public officials, health care providers, and emergency personnel.

Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reiterates this standpoint in their guide to citizen preparedness, stating that even though local officials and relief workers will be working after a disaster takes place, they cannot reach everyone immediately, meaning that help may arrive for you in many hours or even days.

“It’s important to be ready to take care of yourself and your family. As we’ve seen before, the government cannot be counted on to take care of its people when the going gets rough. Relying on any outside help as part of an emergency plan is the wrong move,” says Allen Baler of Food4Patriots.

Not knowing what will happen or when it will happen is at the core of what an emergency means. You may get separated from your family, power supplies may be cut, and you may face situations that are unfamiliar to you. This is why preparing as much as possible in various ways is critically important.

The good news is that there are many resources out there dedicated to helping citizens prepare. Some preliminary steps you can take include reading your school or company’s evacuation plan. Staying knowledgeable outside of the home is just as important as preparing inside the home. This will not only give you the tools necessary to keep you safer in the event of an emergency outside of the home, but it will also give you the basic knowledge needed to step forward and assist others.

The Epicenter, an online resource offering emergency preparedness and survival supplies, suggests keeping a small group of supplies in your desk or at a location where you can easily get to them in emergency situations. Another suggestion they offer is to always keep a card in your purse or wallet with important phone numbers and other information. This could include things such as allergies or other medical conditions that someone should know if they ever needed to help you.

Always remember to keep some necessities in your car as well as your vehicle, as this could be the most important tool in finding safety during an emergency. Water, food, blankets, and medical supplies are excellent items to keep with you.

The Epicenter also suggests keeping your gas tank at least half full, especially when it’s very cold, citing a crippling winter storm that took place in Seattle a few years ago. There were a great deal of abandoned vehicles in the roads because most of them ran out of gas while waiting for help.

Remembering to keep your vehicle in the best shape you can is also a great way to be prepared for any emergencies. Take your car in for regular check ups and have your mechanic regularly replace the brake pads, battery, thermostat, and other important features.

The Department of Homeland Security encourages citizens to create a family disaster plan. They suggest developing your plan around these concerns: how you will get to a safe place, how you will contact each other, how you will get back together, and what to do in different situations. Make sure that after discussing these concerns with your family, the plan is written down in clear writing on a heavy paper that will hold up for a long time. It’s a good idea to post the plan in a central location within the household so that everyone can access it if necessary.

When creating a disaster kit, remember items like duct tape, a shovel, a basic tool kit, jumper cables, and small containers of gasoline. First aid essentials are a vital part of preparing a good disaster kit. The Office of Emergency Planning reminds us that important documents should be included in the kit. They suggest keeping wills, passports, photos, and birth and marriage certificates in a small, waterproof container in an easily accessible place.

According to Allen Baler of Food4Patriots, “Being prepared for disaster is very important, because it usually strikes when you least expect it. When you’ve made the proper preparations, you can at least rest assured that you’re ready for whatever may come.”

Baler’s company, Food4Patriots, creates pre-packaged kits of high-quality survival food, packed in secure, lightweight containers that are rated to last for 25 years and are waterproof. These are nutritionally sound and provide all the essential nutrients your family needs.

“These are crazy times. You never know what can happen. The best defense is to be ready for anything.”

Ryann Carlson contributed to this article.