You see them on the news all too often – hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, hail, ice, lighting earthquakes and fires. Severe weather and emergency situations can happen at any time, but fall is especially high for storm systems and fire hazards. If you checked out our September blog posts for National Emergency Preparedness Month, you’re already ahead of the game when it comes to putting together your home emergency kit so you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. (Catch up on those here if you haven’t already.) But aside from the supplies you’ll want to have on hand, you’ll need to be mentally prepared as well.

We’ve become so accustomed to having power that you barely even realize it’s there – until it isn’t! Ever tried to sit in a dark room with nothing but your thoughts for extended periods of time? We don’t recommend it. Here are some tips to keep you sane.

Immediately After Losing Power…

First things first – when you’re suddenly left in the dark, check your circuit breaker and surroundings to see if the outage has affected other homes around you (although your first instinct is likely to check your phone battery). Although it’s easy to assume one of your neighbors is or has already done this, take it upon yourself to report the outage to your electrical company. They might have more information for you, but it will definitely help them in identifying the problem (thus, restoring your power quicker).

Gather Your Gear

Hopefully you’ve already built your home emergency kit, but if you haven’t yet, start with gathering your light sources. We recommend lanterns, headlamps and flashlights over candles to reduce risk of fire. You should also have some extra batteries on hand to fit your light sources (who knows how long this outage could last). We also encourage you to have some portable chargers at the ready, or even better – one that is solar powered (like this), so your devices can stay charged. The Radiant 314 Lantern from Nite Ize actually doubles as a power bank if you need to charge your devices without losing light.

Assess Your Food Situation

Note the time of the outage right when it happens because your refrigerator is now a ticking time bomb of food freshness. The USDA says food will stay cold for only four hours following loss of power, but remember to NOT open the doors until needed – this will only speed the warming process. A full freezer should stay cold for 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-full). It’s good practice to keep thermometers in the fridge and freezer to make sure the temperature is right for keeping your food safe.

It might be a good opportunity to have a backyard barbecue if you don’t get power back before your time window is up. Better drink those brews while they’re still cold too. Light ‘em up with a SlapLit Drink Wrap and call it a party!

Have Some Fun!

Power outages might not be “fun” per se, but they’re a great time for a good old-fashioned family game night. Break out the board games, set up your lanterns and transport yourself back to a time before smart phones, tablets and video game consoles. It’s worth having some non-electronic entertainment at home for situations like these. If you’re by yourself, fear not! We’re willing to bet you have some books (the ones with paper pages) lying around that you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t gotten around to yet. For a small, cute little reading light, the BugLit works great!

Keeping your head up, mind occupied and remaining calm during a power outage is important for your safety and mental wellness. Hopefully you won’t be left in the dark for too long!

It's that time of year again when the ghosts, goblins and witches come out to raid your candy bowl. Halloween is just a few short weeks away and it's time to get those decorations up so you're ready to scare the bejesus out of treat-seeking children. Nite Ize is here to help you hang, secure, and light up your spine-chilling adornments.

Hang it With an S-Biner

S-Biners: our versatile, iconic dual-gated carabiner clips are perfect for hanging spooky skeletons and more. (Be sure to pick up the orange aluminum variety for an extra touch of seasonal color.)

Gear Ties Get it Done

You can never have too many Gear Ties on hand, and it might be a good idea to keep some in your holiday decoration boxes you keep in the attic to dust off every year. Here's a 12" Original keeping this ghost secured to a tree limb, making sure he doesn't fly off into the night to terrorize the neighborhood.

This 18" Loopable Gear Tie (orange of course) is the perfect solution for hanging wreaths where you need them.

Lights. ALL the Lights.

We have all kinds of options when it comes to keeping your porch LIT on Halloween. First and foremost, kick the candle to the curb and use a NiteGem, SpotLit or Mini Glow Stick in your pumpkin. This one above is a SpotLit XL in Disc-O mode (for an extra bit of flair). And, after the festivities are over, you can clip this light to your dog's collar during those dark fall walks! 

Make your zombie graveyard an eerie shade of red and maybe light up a skull or two. NiteGems and SpotLits work great, and even our Radiant 100 Mini Lantern on red mode is a perfect fit for this creep-tastic scene. If you're going the extra mile with a cauldron full of dry ice, put a Disc-O Select NiteGem on green and drop it in for some seriously spooky witch's brew. NiteGems are also waterproof, so you can throw a few in a punch bowl or cooler to illuminate the beverage selection if you're planning on having some extra "spirits" join you (pun intended).

Crack a Cold One

Last but certainly not least, after your yard is sufficiently scary you'll need to kick back and relax while you wait for the trick-or-treaters to flock in (if they dare). What better way to crack a pumpkin ale than with a DoohicKey SkullKey? It's the DoohicKey of choice for those who just can't get enough ghoulish vibes.

Have you used a Nite Ize product to help you decorate? Let us know in the comments, and tag #LifesAdventureKit in your photos for a chance to win a Nite Ize Adventure Kit. Happy haunting!

• Radiant 300 Rechargeable Headlamp as her primary lighting system
• TagLit Magnetic LED Marker for added night-time visibility
• SlapLit LED Drink Wrap for aid station drinks
• S-Biner to help secure her hydration pack hose in the optimal position
• GearTie as an improvised spoon to eat her pre-race granola breakfast

Regardless of location, everyone should have at least a basic home emergency kit. Power outages are the most likely reason you may need back-up supplies, but your kit should be customized for the types of disasters most common in your area. With major disasters, public alerts or emergency personnel will tell you whether to evacuate or shelter in place – always heed these warnings, they truly are in your best interest.

My kit is built for four people for 72 hours, and it’s kept in our basement near the camping equipment which can be used to supplement it. When disasters occur, emergency services are overwhelmed with calls. The best way you can help them is by not becoming another emergency. Have the supplies needed for you and your family to get by for at least three days.

1. Water

I like this style of water pouch as it is packaged for a long shelf life and makes it easy to determine and regulate how much each person should get – two 4.4 oz packs a day. then I have the 25 gallon Aqua-tainer filled for washing and cooking. If you have a heads up that you’re likely in for a power outage, it’s a good idea to also fill up a bathtub with water. Then you have additional water to flush toilets and use for hand washing.

2. Food

Ideally you have a stocked pantry when the power goes out, but it doesn’t always work out that way. For emergencies lasting longer than our pantry’s contents, I keep canisters of Mountain House freeze dried meals and a camping stove + plate and utensil sets in our kit. Mountain House has assortment packs for specific numbers of people for 72+ hours, but since we have food allergies in our group, I just picked a few individual ones that work for our needs and don’t sound like they will taste too bad with just boiling water added.

3. Crank Radio/Charger

I like this one from Eton, it’s the same one I keep in my Car Emergency Kit and it can be charged via the solar panel or the hand crank. The radio will keep you informed on the status of the disaster in your area, and it can also be used to charge your phone and flashlights.

4. Lantern, Flashlight, Headlamp + Batteries

Nothing makes a power outage feel scarier than just sitting in the dark. Keep your lights and lanterns charged or with spare batteries nearby and keep at least one of them in a spot that you can easily find in the dark. I have the Radiant 400 Lantern which will run for almost 800 hours in low mode (and no, that’s not a typo!). I have the Radiant 300 Rechargeable Headlamp for hands-free use for whoever is cooking (or dealing cards), and then two 3-in-1 Flashlights so the kids can have their own and feel more empowered as well.

5. Warm Sleeping Gear

We have our camping sleeping bags in the basement, but I have added SOL Escape Bivvies to our kit. They can be used on their own or layered with your sleeping bag to increase its warmth rating.

6. First Aid Kit & Manual

Hopefully you won’t need this but if you’re injured during a disaster situation, emergency response teams can be delayed or unable to reach you, and you’ll be glad to have a comprehensive kit with instructions on hand.

7. Hygiene Items

Bath Wipes make a great addition to your kit so you don’t have to use much or any of your water stores for basic self-cleaning. Also handy – a 5-gallon bucket with a toilet seat, lid, and TP. Ideally you’re not stuck in your basement, but if you might be and if you don’t have a bathroom down there, you’re going to need a bathroom solution – enter, the bathroom bucket.

8. Entertainment

A deck of cards or a travel game set can do wonders to keep everyone calm and distracted.

9. The Extras

A knife or knife multitool for utility, duct tape to seal windows and fix anything that breaks, and a GearLine and extra Gear Ties to keep you organized in an unfamiliar situation.

10. A Sturdy, Well-Labeled Container 

I have our kit in a large wheeled bin with a handle. Most importantly, I have bright yellow labels on it and have communicated to our family members where it is, just in case I’m not home if it is needed.

I hope you found this information useful and that you will move “building my kit” to the top of your to-do list. If you have suggestions for items to add to this list, please note them in the comment section below.

A few years back I wrote a post here about preparing your car kit for winter. As National Preparedness Month is in full swing, I find myself looking back at what I wrote and recognizing the need for an update. As one of my good friends in Indiana brought up, not everyone is preparing for winter driving through snowy mountains into spotty-reception areas, and my original kit might be a little overkill when that’s the case. I assured her that it is beneficial for everyone to have at least a small emergency car kit, and that is the inspiration for this new post where I’ll provide suggested items for your kit – both “full throttle” and “light” versions.

So here you go, first up, your full throttle car emergency kit for those who frequently drive in remote places, inclement weather, and through spotty cell reception.

The Full Throttle Car Emergency Kit - What to pack:

1. A Sturdy Container

Once you have all your items, you’ll have a better idea of what size this should be, but make sure it’s something you can close like a rubber bin or sturdy nylon bag that zips shut. You can also use a good backpack in case you need to carry it, however it’s important to note that if you are stranded on the side of the road, it is NOT recommended that you leave your car. Your car is the best protection from the elements and where rescuers are most likely to find you - so, hunker down for the long haul. If you are in an accident on an icy road, you also should NOT leave your car, if an icy patch made your car spin out, it’s very likely that other cars will do the same. If possible, move your car out of that trajectory.

2. Lights – Headlamp, Flashlight + Lantern

Most references tell you a flashlight - I may go a little overkill, but I have three lights – each of which is rechargeable through my car’s USB port. A headlamp in case I need to be hands-free for looking under the hood or under the car. An INOVA T8R handheld light which has an SOS mode with 782 Lumens behind it, and lastly a rechargeable lantern which conveniently clips under the hood of my car.

3. Visibility Vest

In the case that I do need to get out of my car on a roadway, you better believe other motorists are going to see me.

4. Chargers

If you have cell reception, your phone will be your lifeline, but it won’t do you any good if it has a dead battery. There are classic chargers to plug into your car or innovative external batteries, and battery-integrated phone cases that can be life-savers in a pinch. I also keep this eton weather radio which is solar powered (and has a hand crank option) and from which you can also charge your phone and your flashlights.

5. Shovel and/or Kitty Litter

If you are stuck somewhere safely away from traffic, a shovel to dig yourself out and kitty litter or sand for traction can help you get moving again. If you don’t have either of these things, you can try wedging your floor mats under your tires to help them gain traction.

6. Blankets or Bivvies 

Wool blankets are a classic staple for a reason: they are really warm. I keep a heavy wool blankets in my car – it’s never been used in an emergency but has come in handy for many a road-trip naps and as extra layers on camping trips. The one downfall of wool is that if it gets wet, it’s miserable. That’s why I also keep two Escape emergency bivvies in my kit as well (so my husband and I don’t have to have that awkward conversation about who gets the bivvy to survive the night). These bivvies reflect 75% of body heat back to you, but are also breathable so you don’t get sweaty which is a pitfall of traditional mylar. In general, I recommend staying away from mylar blankets and bivvies as they shred very easily and are flammable - it’s worth spending a couple bucks more to get a durable upgrade. Along the lines of warmth, I always make sure that I have a hat, gloves, hand warmers, and extra socks in my kit - even in the summer months here in Colorado it can drop below freezing up high at night, these don’t take up much space and are probably at the top of the list for most used items in my kit.

7. Other Warming Items

I keep fire starting supplies in my kit (fire cubes and a sparker in case I need to start a fire outside the vehicle). One family in Nevada survived two days in sub-zero temperatures, building a fire inside their spare tire to help keep warm. Some people suggest using emergency candles as well for warmth and light inside the vehicle, though I’m noticing them mentioned less and less on recommended lists, probably due to safety concerns. If using one, you should crack your window to avoid possible asphyxiation, and ideally burn the candle inside a coffee can or something similar because many parts of your car (and your kit) are flammable.

8. First Aid Kit

This is essential, don’t bother with kits that are just chock-full of Band Aids, take your time researching kits and find one that meets your needs – and be sure to customize it further if you or any of your family members have special medications or needs. As someone who does a lot of camping and fishing in the backwoods, I carry an Adventure Medical Kits Sportsman Kit which has comprehensive medical supplies in case of an emergency including QuikClot, and most importantly, the kit includes a book on how to use all the supplies in it.

9. Water

For drinking, for wound cleaning, for staying alive - I keep a gallon of human-water in an unopened jug. If you have a dog who’s usually your copilot, be sure to keep an extra jug for them too. I keep a RadDog Bowl clipped to my kit which is great pop-up bowl for the pup.

10. Food

Food isn’t essential for short term survival (you can theoretically go for three weeks without it), however, eating does allow your body to produce more heat, and it can make a huge difference in your mood and attitude which will often determine how well you handle an emergency situation. I go for the classics like jerky, energy bars, and dried fruit, and then swap them out annually (or if you just plain get hungry and eat them then replace as needed). A good rule of thumb is to go for items with a long shelf-life that are high in protein, and that you actually like. If you have an ever-hungry dog like mine, make sure your food bag is securely enclosed in your kit, or they might just rip open your kit and gleefully eat all your jerky when you’re not looking.

11. Car Essentials 

Jumper cables, Fix-A-Flat, ice scraper, a siphon (hopefully you’ll find a friendly motorist who doesn’t mind sharing fuel), flares and/or glowsticks, a tire iron, and jack are some basics that I keep because honestly, those are probably the only tools I would know how to use in a break-down situation.

12. A Knife and Cash

You won’t find this on most lists, but my grandfather taught me that the most useful item you can have on you at any time is a knife, and throughout the years it’s a piece of advice that has served me well. And so, I am passing it on to you. Cash, well cash is just handy depending on the type of emergency too, whether you need to pay for gas or a hotel room.

13. Add-Ons

A few other items have accumulated in my kit over the years: Duct Tape (need I say more?), a hatchet which most often doubles as a hammer, a poncho, CamJam Tie Down Straps and Bungees, Gear Ties because they are just too useful not to have a handful, and lastly, a quality whistle for signaling in an emergency.

Pre-made kits and other helpful tips for safety on the roads:

There are pre-made kit options on the market as well, some are decent some are very cheap and not worth the money. Do your homework, and if you do go with a pre-made kit, remember that you will still need to personalize it to you - if you are frequently on the road with your spouse, kids, and a dog, you need to remember to add supplies for them. If anyone in your family has a serious medical issue, always pack extra medication and supplies - you never know when a quick trip can turn into an overnight on the side of the road. Know the risks in your area, if you live near frozen lakes, keeping a window breaker easily reachable in your console is advisable.

Alright, so if that seems overkill for your lifestyle, here is my recommendation for a condensed version:

The “Light” Car Emergency Kit - What to pack:

1. A backup phone battery or solar-powered charger
2. A blanket or bivvy
3. A small survival kit like this one
4. A headlamp or flashlight
5. Glowsticks
6. Small first aid kit
7. Duct tape, Gear Ties, and Bungees
8. A Multitool/Knife
9. Jumper cables

Other helpful resources:

American Red Cross, What do You Need In a Survival Kit?

The CDC, Be Prepared to Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

Chicago Tribune, Tips to Keep You Going When Your Car Stops

That’s all I’ve got! I hope you found this useful, I hope you won’t need it, but I know you will be glad to have it if you do. Let me know the most useful items you’ve found for you kit in the comments section below.

A Go-Bag (also commonly referred to as a Bug-Out Bag) is a pre-packed bag that will be your lifeline in case of an emergency evacuation situation.  Unfortunately, I found out the hard way exactly why a Go-Bag is an essential item to have packed and ready in your home. It was the middle of December about ten years ago when I found myself standing outside our Bay Area apartment building with 60 other families watching flames chew through the wooden siding and smoke billowing in every direction. With all of our cars trapped in the building’s basement garage below, we had nothing to do but watch. I was wearing hot pink fleece pajama pants, rain boots with no socks, and a too-light jacket for the unseasonable cold winter we were having. Heat from the flames notwithstanding, it was a chilling moment in every sense of the word. Somehow, despite living in earthquake country and working for a company that specialized in medical and survival gear at the time, I had just never gotten around to building a Go-Bag – it was somewhere near the bottom of my to-do list. You can bet, it immediately moved to the top.

So, here are my recommendations for your Emergency Go-Bag. Mine is built for four people (two adults and two kids) for 24 hours. Given the type of disasters that are most likely to occur where we live (grass fires or floods), we should be able to reach a friend’s home or red cross shelter in 24 hours on foot. If you live in earthquake or hurricane territories, I recommend having enough supplies for all family members for 72 hours as those disasters can take out a much larger area of infrastructure at once. A coat closet near the front door or other place that you would pass on your fastest way out of the house is the ideal spot to keep your bag.

Without further ado, here is the list:

1. Water

I like this style of water pouch as it is packaged for a long shelf life and makes it easy to determine and regulate how much each person should get – two 4.4 oz packs a day. I have water carry bags as well as water purification tablets in case we need more than the pouches I’ve packed.

2. Food

If you are only packing a 24-hour kit, food is not technically essential, however eating can help you stay warm and keep you mentally and emotionally stronger. Plus, if you have kids, you know that snacks actually are essential for everyone’s sanity. I like the classics like energy bars and dried fruit, they have to be replaced more regularly than emergency ration bricks, but they are significantly more palatable.

3. Emergency Radio and Charger

I like this little one that Eton makes for the American Red Cross because it doesn’t take up much space in your pack and it has radio functionality plus you can charge your phone or rechargeable headlamp from it, just make sure you have the correct charging cords packed.

4. Lights

At the very least, pack a rechargeable headlamp like the Radiant 300 which can be recharged as you go using the Emergency Radio from item #3 above. I also have the Radiant 2-in-1 Lantern which pulls double duty as a flashlight and lantern, and the 3-in-1 Mini Flashlight so the kids can feel in control with their own light as well.

5. First Aid

I keep the UltraLight Watertight .9 Kit in my bag because it doesn’t add much weight, but it’s packed with high quality, well thought out medical tools, and has enough room for me to throw in a couple items to customize it for our family. I also keep N95 respirator masks in my kit. In the case of major fires or earthquakes, air quality often deteriorates to harmful levels. If your biggest concern is the next Superbug, these can also help you rest easier.

6. Survival Essentials

Again, weight is a consideration so items that are multifunctional in small packages are key. You have to be able to carry all of this on your back. I keep the Pocket Survival Pak Plus which kills a lot of birds with one stone. It has fire starting tools, a whistle and signal mirror, knife, water-purification tablets, duct tape (for gear repair, clothes repair, really anything repair), and much more.    

7. Emergency Blankets + Bivvies 

I have two emergency blankets and two emergency bivvies so everyone can wrap up warmly if we are sleeping out for a night.

8. Emergency Shelter

I recommend a lightweight, heat reflective tarp that can act as an extra blanket or as a shelter. Make sure to get one with grommets (like this) and pack nylon cording so you can easily rig it up.

9. Extra Layers

Your emergency blankets can be wrapped to keep everyone warm on the go, but I recommend packing up an extra set of clothes for everyone. I use a Large RunOff Waterproof bag that acts as a compression sack and keeps all of our extra layers dry in the pack.

10. Cash

There’s no guarantee that you’ll have the ability or wherewithal to grab your wallet on the way out the door, keep cash in your go bag so you can purchase essentials or pay for a night in a hotel/motel if you can.

11. Emotional Support Items

When thinking about survival, your mind probably goes to the food, water, shelter basics, but the truth is your mental state is equally important. Something as simple as a deck of cards can be a great way to calm your mind and bring levity if you’re holed up in a red cross shelter for the night. Disasters can be particularly difficult on children as they have a harder time processing the rapid change and understanding why this is happening. Our kids are still little and they each have cherished “loveys”. We have extras of these for traveling, laundry time, etc, but we also have an extra for each of them packed away in our go-bag along with one of their favorite books. I have no doubt that these items would bring immense comfort to them in an emergency.

12. Hygiene Items  

Bath wipes, a roll of TP, and dog poop bags…not just for the dog. Let’s just leave it at that, and you’ll be covered until you can get settled into a shelter or friend’s home.

13. Rain Protection

In a worse-case scenario, everything you own is now being carried on your back. Don’t let it get soaked in a rainstorm to boot. Throw in ponchos and make sure at least one is big enough to cover you and the pack. I also keep certain items in waterproof RunOff bags inside the pack for extra protection like my cash, batteries, food and clothes.

14. A Sturdy Pack…or Two 

Once you have all your items laid out, you’ll have a better idea of the pack size you’ll need. Ideally you have an old one in the basement that would love to be given a new life as your Go-Bag. Because ours is packed for four people and pretty heavy, I keep a second smaller bag rolled up and clipped to the side of the pack. This way, assuming my husband and I are together, we can get clear of the emergency and then split up gear into the two packs or cut leg holes in the smaller pack to use as a kid carrier. I also have a bunch of S-Biners, Carabiners, and Gear Ties clipped and strapped to the pack so if we have time to grab extra items, I can quickly clip or strap them to the bag on the way out the door.

If you have suggestions of what to pack in a Go-Bag based on your experiences, please leave them in the comment suggestion below.

September is National Preparedness Month here in the U.S., a reminder that we should all have plans and provisions in place in case of a natural disaster or emergency that affects our area. This year’s theme is: Prepared, not scared. I like the sentiment behind this statement because my intention with this month’s series of posts is not to scare you with the what ifs, but for you to be prepared and therefore less scared if you find yourself in one of those “what if” situations. So, over the next few weeks I’ll be giving you my tips and suggestions for building your Go-Bag in case of evacuation, your Home Emergency Kit for times when you need to shelter in place, and your Car Emergency Kit in case you are stranded or have a roadside emergency.

Before I get into the nitty gritty of what to put in your kits  (we’ll get into specifics in the subsequent posts this month), here are a few of the most practical tips I have learned from first responders, insurance officials, and from my own experiences working in the survival industry, living in parts of the country where earthquakes, blizzards, fires, and floods are common, and from having to evacuate my own home due to fire.

1. Make a Plan

If you live alone, just write it down to help you commit it to memory – what to grab and where to go. Then, pick a friend or family member in a nearby town and let them know that their home is your destination in an emergency, so they’ll know to watch out for you. If you live with other family members or roommates, have a dinnertime discussion to determine a meeting point for everyone in case you aren’t home or together when a disaster occurs – FEMA has this helpful worksheet you can fill out as a family and leave on the fridge as a reminder.

2. Telecommunicate Smarter 

In emergencies, phone lines often jam up and getting calls through is difficult. Texting is more reliable, but it can also be easier to place a call to someone out of the affected area, so you should choose an out-of-state relative who everyone in your family knows to call and check-in safe, and who can be a communication point for all of you. (Choose your relative who is most reliable at answering their phone).

3. Tell Each Other Your Most Important Item

There’s a chance you won’t be home when a disaster happens but someone else might be. Have a discussion to communicate everyone’s very most treasured item so if there is time before evacuating, the person at home can grab what is cherished most for their family members.

4. Document everything. Today.

Take photos of every room and the contents of every closet then send them to a friend or make sure they are backed up to a cloud service. I can tell you from experience, trying to remember all of your belongings when making a list for insurance is impossible. If you haven’t done this and you are given time to evacuate in an emergency, have one person be in charge of packing belongings while the other walks through the house and takes a quick video of all the contents and state of your home.

5. Grab the Hampers

This is a very simple but practical tip, if you are given time to evacuate and are unsure what to pack just throw the clothes from everyone’s hampers in a bag. You know those are ones that currently fit and no one cares about slightly smelly clothes in an emergency.

6. Learn Alternate Ways To Use Your Appliances

If you need to shelter at home and have a wood burning fireplace, you’re in business for warmth and cooking. If you have a gas fireplace, you’ll have a heat source, but if the power’s out and it requires a switch you might think you’re out of luck. However, most gas fireplaces have either an igniter bypass to the switch, or a box that you can put batteries in to turn it on. Look into this before an emergency situation so you’ll know how it works. If you have a generator, do not use it in the house or garage. Generators emit high levels of carbon monoxide and have led to many post-disaster injuries and deaths – check out this article by Consumer Reports for generator safety tips. Always have working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your home as well.

7. Strengthen Your Community Ties 

Communities that are organized and well connected are able to respond better and recover more quickly from disasters. Get to know your neighbors and keep phone lists so you can notify each other if something is happening or to contact anyone who may be unaccounted for. Online communities like Facebook Groups and NextDoor are a great resource for branching out within your neighborhood.

8. Mental and Emotional Survival are Important Too 

Experiencing a disaster can be even more devastating to your mental health than to your physical. If you are a parent, your mental state can greatly affect how your children cope and heal as well. Here are some helpful resources if you have been through a disaster situation:

For Adults: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters

For Children/Parents: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohsepr/children-and-families

9. Be Informed

Ready.Gov is a National Public Service campaign designed to “educate and empower the American People to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies, including natural and manmade disasters.” This page in particular has action plans for handling most every type of disaster you can think of – from tornadoes and flooding to nuclear explosions and space weather. So, my recommendation, if you’re an anxious person, don’t go down this rabbit hole. And even if you’re not, only click on the ones you’re genuinely concerned about, or you might become an anxious person.

10. Look for the Helpers

In times of disaster it is easy to focus on what is scary, and often fears of increased crime are greatly exaggerated. The truth is though, more often than not, disasters bring communities together and strangers go to great lengths to help one another. So, when you’re feeling scared, think back on the wise lessons of Mr. Rogers who once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things, my mother would say to me ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” And if you are safe and able to reach out to someone in need, be that helper.

Communities are stronger together. Please help our online community by providing your own tips and suggestions of how to prepare for emergency situations in the comments section below.