Let’s face it, there’ve been a lot of earthquakes lately. That alone is enough to make you nervous. But what compounds that fear is when you look through your supplies and realize you don’t know if you’re prepared for the event of a serious one. Earthquakes can cause serious devastation, leaving areas affected by them without electricity, running water, or access to public services for long periods of time. That means if you don’t have food, water, and other necessities on hand, ready and easily accessible, when the time comes to endure the after effects of an earthquake, you could be unprepared. 

In 2020 alone there have been over 3,000 earthquakes in the United States. Damage to local roads and water lines from these quakes have already put a number of people into difficult situations, leaving them without essential supplies. Had they prepared beforehand, these issues wouldn’t be so serious. Knowing what you need most to be prepared for an earthquake is the first step to having peace of mind in times of natural disasters.

HAVE FOOD ON HAND

Having at least 3 months worth of food on hand is a good way to lessen your worry about natural disasters like earthquakes. A 3 month supply ensures that you have enough for yourself and your family should roads and other public services become unavailable. Finding the right fit for your family's needs when it comes to food is simple as well. MyFoodStorage.com offers a variety of options to choose from, ranging from 72 hour kits for 2 people to 12 months worth of supplies. 

Having the right amount of food supplies for before an earthquake hits your area is a key to being prepared. If you wait until the earthquake arrives, you’ll have to fight against crowds of other people who also waited too long, often finding the stores already stripped clean of the items you were hoping to get. This can also be true of online orders. Get your food storage before the disasters strike! People can become panicked when things suddenly change due to natural disasters, buying more than they need and leaving less for you on the shelves. By preparing before disasters like earthquakes strike, you allow yourself to feel more at ease, avoid unnecessary trouble during a disaster, and create a more solid plan for handling difficult times when they arrive. You deserve to feel safe when things get hard in the world, and companies like My Food Storage make that kind of safety possible for your food needs.

HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER

Most people know that if you go without water for over 3 days, you’re in for a world of hurt. But worse than going without water is going with water that you can’t be sure is clean. Drinking water that isn’t clean can lead to a number of different illnesses, leaving you weakened or in serious danger during an already difficult time of natural disaster. Having access to clean water supplies makes rehydrating food storage items safer and easier, too. But storing water is difficult. It’s heavy, takes up a lot of space, and can also go bad if stored too long in tough conditions. The better way to prepare for having clean water on hand is to have a supply of filtration or purification items, such as a Lifestraw or water treatment solutions. These items allow you to take any water and process it into clean, drinkable water quickly. 

There are other techniques you can use to purify water in a pinch. Boiling it, or adding ½ teaspoon of bleach per 5 gallons of unclean water, can purify large amounts of water. When an earthquake hits your area, water lines are often the first things to get damaged. They are in the ground, often made of plastic, rigid piping that snaps, leaving countless people without tap water. Having materials on hand to purify water, as well as having a store of distilled or filtered water in with your food storage, is a sure fire way to be prepared for any natural disaster, earthquake or otherwise. 

HAVE A MEDICAL KIT

Having your own kit of medical supplies is essential for handling an earthquake. A med kit should have more than just bandaids and antibacterial creams. You want to ensure your kit at least has guaze, sutures (sterilized sewing materials for large wounds), splints, and Personal Protective Gear (PPE).  The American Red Cross advises on having a number of items including, “2 absorbent compress dressings, 25 adhesive bandages, 1 adhesive cloth tape, 5 antibiotic ointment packets, 5 antiseptic wipe packets, 2 packets of aspirin, 1 emergency blanket, 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve), 1 instant cold compress, 2 pair of nonlatex gloves, and an Emergency First Aid guide.”

Having your own medical kit could mean all the difference in an earthquake. Being able to take care of yourself and your family means having the supplies on hand when things get difficult, and medical supplies are extremely important for being fully prepared for not only an earthquake, but any natural disaster. You may not be able to quickly get to a hospital when an earthquake hits. Be sure to educate yourself on the use of the items in your med kit, and to review your emergency first aid guide before using the equipment.

ORGANIZE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

In an earthquake, it’s important to have a safety net of other people who can look out for you and your family. By organizing with your community or neighborhood, you can help create a plan, or become aware of already existing plans, to handle an earthquake together. Many places with HOA’s or community centers may already have such plans in place. If so, reach out to those organizations, and ask what you can do to help. Being involved in your community builds confidence in your surroundings, as well as a sense of safety. 

Earthquakes can cause not only damage to water lines and power lines, but to people’s houses. By organizing as a community, you can feel more at ease knowing that if trouble comes to your own home, you will have others around you who will help you find safety and comfort. Mitch Stripling, the assistant commissioner of Agency Preparedness and Response for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said “Neighbors don’t panic and run (that’s a movie myth). They adapt to the situation, take the injured to hospitals and do anything they can to be helpful. People are hard-wired to come together as a community after disasters... Helping others is one thing that makes us human.” 

Organizing to prepare for earthquakes means preparing for the potential hazards your community will face. Making mental note, and even written notes, of power line placement, potential roadways that could become blocked, or people in the community who are more at risk, allows you to have peace of mind knowing you’ve done your part. It also gives you the knowledge that if something were to happen to you or your family, your community would be there to get you out.

STAY UP TO DATE

By preparing your food, water, medical needs, and organizing with your community beforehand ensures that no matter what happens in your future, you are ready for it. Staying up to date means keeping an eye on expiration dates in your food storage and medical supplies, as well as keeping up on any changes in your community plans. If you already have food storage, good job! But if you don’t, or you’re not sure if you have enough, consider going to MyFoodStorage.com today, and stocking up on the essential items you need for an earthquake.