This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
With the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey upon us, I’ve been thinking about major disasters a lot lately, the kind where victims lose everything they own. Many Houston residents have not recovered from that major disaster; I am still meeting neighbors who were displaced and some just moved instead of rebuilding. As I write this, many California residents have been displaced by wildfires and Hawaii residents had been hit by floods. I feel for the victims and pray for their well-being.
Preppers try to be ready for emergencies whether foreseeable or not, but there are always inherent risks to everything. If you store your preps in your home, it is possible to lose them should a tornado strike, or should floodwaters or fire engulf your home. I’m not trying to say it’s pointless to prep, this is all the more reason to carefully consider what steps to take in order to minimize the risk.
I don’t have all the answers but I thought I’d just post some thoughts to get us started in figuring out the best way to prepare for a major disaster.
What are your threats?
List all disasters that are possible in your area. It is pointless to worry about earthquakes if you never have earthquakes in your area, or radiation leaks if you don’t have a nuclear power plant nearby. I have never experienced a tornado in Houston, but some residents have experienced small ones that have touched down in outlying areas. Therefore, we have to consider the possibility. Houston is also prone to hurricanes and flooding so these are some of the threats we have to consider.
Trust your gut
Stay aware of what’s going on so you can plan accordingly. Trust your gut: if you have a bad feeling that something is about to happen, heed those warnings. The worse that can happen is you’ll feel foolish about overreacting later, but if something does happen, you will be glad you trusted your gut.
Insurance
Carry adequate renter’s or homeowners insurance
Read the policy thoroughly so you understand what is covered. Flood insurance is not covered by most standard policies and a separate policy would have to be obtained. Keep a copy of your insurance policies in a safe place, and a backup copy elsewhere.
Documentation
Take photos or video of your belongings for your records and note the date taken in case you have to file a claim. Store it in a safe place and have a backup location.
Spend a day making backups of all your important documents, and store the record in a couple of places just in case.
Have a hard copy of all your emergency contacts instead of storing everything in your cell phone. If you were to lose your cell phone in a disaster, you will be hard pressed to search for your contacts at a time when your mind is reeling.
Learn skills
Learning survival and self sufficiency skills is a great hedge against losing everything. Even if you lose your physical preps, the knowledge you have gained will help you start over.
Make plans and practice
Heed evacuation warnings and head to a safe area as soon as possible. Although sheltering in place is preferable for most preppers, sometimes you have no choice but to bug out. Your life is more important. Keep your bug out bag easily accessible in the event of a dire emergency.
Make an emergency plan so every family member knows what to do.
Conduct drills to practice your emergency plan
Save for a rainy day
Have some savings set aside, in various areas that are accessible to you. I always get flack for suggesting you keep some savings in a bank, but if you keep everything at home and you lose that home, at least the bank will still be standing. If you don’t like large banks, then a local credit union is a good option.
Plan your storage
Consider off-site storage. You might store a few items at a relative’s home in another city, or a storage facility.
See if a hidden cache is doable for you.
Final thoughts
Just as there is no way to be insured for everything, there is no way to prepare for every disaster under the sun. Sometimes, you just need to pray for strength and have faith in God that you will have the courage to endure. But you can try your best to take some concrete steps, set your mind at ease, knowing that you are doing everything you can to protect yourself and your family.
© Apartment Prepper 2018
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Thanks for the heads up that having enough insurance for your property can protect your valuables from a disaster. I want to help my brother with his plan of purchasing a home for his girlfriend. I hope this can convince him to find an insurance expert before landing any purchase.