Guest Author - Emily Wilska
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has deemed September National Preparedness Month, so it's a great time to take a few simple but important steps that could help keep yourself, your family, and your home safe in case of a natural disaster or other emergency. I recently had the chance to hear a talk by JoAnn Scordino, a Professional Organizer who specializes in emergency preparedness. Here are some of the things JoAnn recommends doing to stay ahead of the game should disaster strike.
Safeguard Important Documents
One of the biggest headaches for anyone having to deal with an emergency is accessing important documents and information, especially those necessary for tasks like filing insurance claims. It's worth taking the effort to organize and safeguard these documents. JoAnn recommends making copies of all important and hard-to-replace documents such as birth certificates, insurance policies, mortgage documents, and critical medical data. Store either the copy or the original in an off-site location, such as a safe deposit box or with a trusted friend or family member who lives in another state. Keep the other version of each document in an easy-to-access but secure spot in your home, ideally in a container that would be easy to grab if you had to leave quickly.
Take a Home Inventory
Doing an inventory of the items in your home makes it much easier to file an insurance claim after damage or loss. A simple way to take an inventory is to walk around your home with a video camera and recording each item (be sure to open drawers, closets, and cabinets). Snapping photos is another option. Also keep a list of valuables, including things like serial numbers for electronics, and attach copies of purchase receipts. Keep copies of your videos or photos and inventory list in an off-site location.
Designate an Emergency Contact
Because communication can become extra important--and much more difficult--in the wake of an emergency, it's critical to designate an emergency contact. Choose a trusted friend or family member (again, ideally someone in another state) and give that person a list of the people you would want contacted in case of an emergency. (Also give local friends and family the name of your contact person.) In her talk, JoAnn reminded us that cell phone networks become very quickly overloaded when disaster strikes, and that emergency personnel need these networks in order to do their jobs, so it's best to keep a corded phone on hand. And even though they're becoming rarer by the day, pay phones may still work if a disaster strikes, so keep a stash of quarters in your emergency kit.
Create an Emergency Plan
Having an emergency plan for your household or business can help you make a fast, effective escape in case of emergency. JoAnn suggests making a plan with information on where family members or office mates should meet if evacuation were necessary; instructions on how to assist children, persons with special needs, and pets; and a regular schedule for emergency prep tasks like checking smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Most importantly, be sure everyone who's affected by the plan is familiar with it and knows what to do if disaster strikes.
Assemble Emergency Supply Kits
Last but definitely not least, create grab-and-go kits with essential supplies for your home, car, and office. The Ready.gov website has a comprehensive checklist of what to include in your kits (see the Related Link on this page). Though most emergency preparedness resources recommend including enough supplies for 72 hours, JoAnn advises having enough for up to a full week--a more realistic estimate of how long it might take outside help to arrive in a disaster scenario.
Remember that, as with any organizing project, you don't need to tackle all of these preparation tasks at once. A few simple steps a week will get you closer to being safe, secure, and ready in the case of an emergency. And when you're prepared, you can rest more easily and focus on everyday life.
