Emergency Preparedness Disaster Recovery Plan

Be it a flood, earthquake, tsunami, wildfire, thunderstorm with tornado, hurricane, or record-breaking winter storm or volcano eruption. The unsettling fact of the matter, Mother Nature has a nasty reputation for changing our world and lives in ways we do not want to consider.  Making it easy to understand why even though a bit hesitant, we know as part of our emergency preparedness disaster recovery plan we must be prepared.

1. Prepare for any emergency

2. Respond to the emergency

3. Recover from the emergency

4. Mitigate and prevent an emergency

Depending on which area of the country we live, work or travel. Each region Influences what types of man-made or natural disasters we need to plan on dealing with. After all, folks living in the Midwest are not about to experience a hurricane. Thunderstorms with tornados and earthquake yes, suffering the devastating effects and the aftermath of a hurricane like Katrina no.

However, everyone needs to be prepared to deal with medical emergencies. Basic first aid lifesaving techniques are something every member of the family should have a basic understanding. Check with your Family Doctor. Or Red Cross for classes in your area. Everyone should learn basic first aid, CPR and emergency response do’s and don’ts.

Property damage and loss is devastating to say the least. It is difficult to maintain a positive attitude when dealing with damages to our home, and property loss. One of the first things homeowners and renters alike, find ourselves faced with, what insurance coverage we have, and what it will cover. Remember things will get better in time.

Be prepared for dealing with heartless insurance adjusters. They will be far more concerned with what the law forces them to do, rather your loss and hardships. It is the law and the insurance company will not negotiate the price they pay to repair or replace your loss, everything will be about how much depreciation and actual cost to rebuild or replace differ.

Oh, by the way you should be prepared to wait a minimum of four to six weeks before the insurance adjuster will get around to processing your insurance claim. You see the insurance companies only have a few adjusters, in the aftermath of a disaster that affects a community. It will take time to get things repaired or replaced.

In the event, the disaster takes one or more of your loved-one’s life, what will the survivors face. Your spouse, kids and pets, protect and provide for in a will.

1. Steps that prepare us for dealing with emergencies, who to contact when separated, where to meet outside the home and put together an emergency preparedness kit.    

2. Define how to respond to emergencies, for instance meeting beside the mailbox or street corner in case of a fire, Calling a close family friend or family member that everyone knows to contact in an emergency. This person will need to know everything about you, birthday, special medical conditions, in short anything that identifies you.

3. Be prepared to deal with the recovery phase after a disaster. Keep copies of important documents in a safe place other than your home or business. Insurance policies, Wills, copies of utility bills, birth certificates and arrangements for food and shelter in the event your home is a total loss.

4. Mitigate and prevent as much as you can before a disaster strikes. Depending on where you live, you may need to take steps that will protect your home from flooding, earthquake damage, or damage caused by high wind. Remember an ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure. It is far better to be overly prepared, than react after a disaster strikes to think about developing your own disaster plan dealing with all the pressing emergencies.

Emergency preparedness is the last thing we want to think about, I understand that feeling. However, you have spent a bit of your time reading this article, which in my mind means you want to take the appropriate actions we discussed here.

Congratulations, now get to it, put together your contact list, your grab and go kit, and please take a Red Cross first aid class or at least a refresher course. What do you have to lose?

Thanks for stopping by to read this article. Please do take a moment and ask any question you like in the comment section below.

Be prepared, stay safe as you can, and make it a great day. Mike