September is National Preparedness Month and for the first week we wanted to focus on your emergency plan. Sometimes, the weather forecast on the news warns you of an impending emergency. However, you can't always depend on advance notice. An emergency preparedness checklist will help you prepare for an emergency— no matter when it occurs— and can help you sleep more soundly at night. It will organize your efforts and provide you with everything you need in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.

Food and Water

Any emergency preparedness plan should include the basic essentials: food and water. An emergency food storage kit offers the most convenient and space-saving option. Store it in an accessible place in your home or car so you can reach it at a moment's notice.

Since natural disasters often eliminate electric and natural gas power, you don't want to rely on foods and beverages that require heating. Additionally, you want to choose supplies that have a long shelf life so you don't have to replenish them every couple of years.

Consider stocking your emergency kit with a water filter. Access to clean drinking water is essential for staying safe and healthy, especially if the emergency lasts for several days.

Communication

You might not have cell phone service in an emergency or access to television reports. An old-fashioned radio comes in handy. Keep it with your other supplies so you can reach it in a hurry. That way, you'll know what's going on outside your home and you'll hear any warnings from the authorities.

It's also smart to keep a spare battery for your cell phone charged. If you have cell service, you'll want to contact family and friends to check on their welfare.

Planning

Create a plan that your family members can follow in an emergency. The Red Cross recommends assigning each family member a series of tasks to perform so that you accomplish them quickly. Older children and teenagers can help the adults.

Consider meeting with your family at least once a year to review the plan and make changes as necessary. For instance, as your kids grow up, you can involve them in your preparations.

Potential Hazards

Normal household objects and systems can become dangerous in an emergency. Figure out how to shut off your utilities, such as natural gas and water, to prevent fires and flooding. If you have a natural gas line, you should know where the shutoff valve is. Its location may vary a bit, but it's often outside or in a basement. Make sure everyone know where to find the breaker box in the house, and consider designating a room in your home for shelter. It shouldn't have large objects that could fall on your family members or injure them in any other way.

Documents

You'll want access to essential papers during an emergency, such as medical records and insurance paperwork. Store these items in a waterproof and fire-proof safe, and make sure you can access them quickly. The Department of Homeland Security recommends using phone apps in addition to the hard copies to store financial documents so you have multiple ways to access them.

Nobody wants to imagine an emergency striking his or her home, but disasters happen. Following this emergency preparedness checklist can keep you safe and allow you to react quickly and prudently should something go wrong. If you don't have an emergency food kit, stock up now by calling My Food Storage at (888) 407-0833.

Emergency Checklists:
https://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/make-a-plan.html
https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness

Disaster can strike anytime and without warning. You need to be ready all the time. The first 72 hours after any disaster is dangerous as fuel and water may be scarce or power and communication lines may be severely damaged or the usual conveniences of modern living may not working. It is also during this time that public and safety rescue search teams may not be able to reach you. For your safety and also that of your family, you need to have a 72-hour survival kit. The first three days of any disaster is critical, which is why you need to be self-reliant to save yourself and your family. But keep in mind that a 72-hour emergency kit is not only useful during natural or man-made disasters but also during personal family crisis such as illness in the family, disability, or unemployment by the head of the family. A well-packed 72-hour survival kit can be a blessing while you wait for the next step to take.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come up with guidelines that you can follow to help you and your family prepare. The CDC suggests that you pack an emergency supply kit to keep you safer and healthier during and after a disaster. A 72-hour emergency kit can be easily prepared but preparing your 72-hour survival kit is particularly crucial to your survival; there is a likelihood that you might fail to pack the essentials or you might miss an important item that is essential for your survival. You would also have to ensure that the food items that you pack in your kit could not only provide you and your family but also last your entire family for days, even weeks. The food items you pack must have a long shelf life and nutritiously filling to help you and your family cope with any disaster.

To safeguard your family’s future, do not take any chances. At My Food Storage, we got you covered. We have everything you need. As a trusted provider of emergency supply kits, we have everything to make sure you prepare for the unexpected. We offer food supplies to last you through any situation. All our food and survival kits are offered at a reasonable price.

My Food Storage is here to make your life easier during calamities. Emergencies and Disasters are stressful enough without you having to worry where to get food and emergency supplies. With My Food Storage, we can help make sure you are as prepared as you possibly could be for any potential emergency or disasters. Keep in mind that disaster can happen anytime and anywhere.

It is always best to plan ahead of time. Being prepared can make a big difference. Getting the essential 72-hour emergency kit now is better that having to pay price for not thinking about the future. By planning, you safeguard your family’s health and safety. Preparation makes all the difference during emergencies. It helps you keep calm knowing you are prepared. For more information on My Food Storage Emergency Food Kits and Survival Kits visit our Emergency Food Kits page at https://myfoodstorage.com/collections/emergency-food-kits and learn more on how you can prepare.