Every year, natural disasters occur in every part of the world. Hurricanes ravage the coasts of oceans, earthquakes disrupt cities, tornadoes take out numerous homes, and then there are always tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods and more. While countries provide disaster relief for their citizens, you can keep yourself and your family safe until help arrives. In the event of a natural disaster, the most important thing is to keep yourself and your loved ones out of harms way, warm and fed. Depending on your location, a severe natural disaster can delay help for days or even weeks. Recent catastrophes such as Hurricane Irene, the tsunami in Japan, and the devastating earthquake in Haiti are reminders that the worst can happen in the blink of an eye. We can not prevent these natural disasters, but we can take the initiative to protect ourselves and our friends and family when they occur. Businesses can also implement these methods to keep themselves and their employees safe. If you are ready to learn what to do before, during and after a natural disaster, keep reading to keep these essential tips in mind.

Before
✓ Understand all of the risks involved with the occurrence of a natural disaster.
✓ Learn to recognize the signs that a natural disaster may occur.
✓ If your homeowner's policy doesn't include insurance for natural disasters it would be wise to purchase this insurance, especially if you live in an area prone to flooding, hurricanes, etc
✓ Sit down with your family and come up with a plan of what you will do in the event of a natural disaster.
✓ Put together a disaster supplies kit (more information below)
✓ Help neighbors, friends and other family develop their own natural disaster plans.

During
✓ Once a natural disaster is occurring, immediately put your plan into action. Make sure everyone understands what is going on.
✓ Once you and your family are secure, help others that may need assistance.
✓ Follow the guidance of officials if they offer you any advice or directions in what to do.

After
✓ Access the damage done to your property and begin any needed repairs or reinforcement.
✓ Make a list of ways you could prevent further damage to your home.
✓ Resupply any used supplies from your disaster supplies kit.

Your Natural Disaster Supplies Kit
This kit is going to include all of the information you'll need to survive during the occurrence of a natural disaster. Among other supplies you'll need water and food, enough to last for a minimum of three days. Remember that you can never be too prepared. In the event of a natural disaster it could take days or even weeks for electricity, gas, water and telephone lines to be back up. The following is a check-list of supplies that your Natural Disaster Preparedness kit will need to include. You can purchase all of these supplies from the companies featured below.

Clean, fresh water (one gallon per person per day)
Non-perishable food (minimum supply for three days)
Battery powered radio and NOAA weather radio
Extra batteries
Flashlights
First aid kit
Emergency whistle
Dust masks (one per person)
Garbage bags and plastic twist ties (for personal sanitation)
Moist toilettes (personal sanitation)
Tools such as pliers or wrenches
Can opener (if you will be eating canned foods)
Local maps for your area
If you have a cell phone, and inverter or solar-powered charger.
Self-warming blankets (a must if it is winter)
Camp stoves (optional)
Fuel for camp stoves
Fuel-powered heaters (another must for winter disasters)
Oil lanterns (an excellent, cheap way to light up multiple rooms quite well)
Emergency candles


If there is anything else that you think would be important to have, purchase those products as well. Spend one whole day at home, without any power. You'll quickly learn what you wish you had. There are other ways to prepare your family and home for natural disasters. Reinforce your home to prevent damage. Purchase a generator for power outages. Many survival stores also sell showers systems that you can use for bathing. Remember that no matter what you buy, always restock immediately and conserve your sources. Don't waste fuel for lanterns in rooms no one is in for example.

EFoodsDirect.com

eFoodsDirect is a business that supplies foods that are perfect for including in a natural disaster kits. They are one of the leading suppliers of dehydrated food supplies or what they call "Quick Fix" meals (you just add water) and Reserve Packs. Their entrees include various entrees that include soups, grains, high-protein meat substitutes, fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy and legumes. Most importantly, eFoodsDirect meals have a shelf life of 25 years! Not many companies can beat that. If you are worried about the food in your kit tasting awful and bland, you won't be disappointed with eFoodsDirect at all. They even sell additional products such as "Grab-n-Go" kits, mask, and more.

EmergencyReserve.com

Emergency Reserve is a simple and affordable company to purchase the needed items for your natural disaster supplies kit from. They are another company that specializes in dehydrated food that is both delicious and easy to make. They have a long shelf life and are specially made for natural disaster survival purposes. There food comes in a grab-and-go bucket form. They sell supplies that will last a few days all the way up to supporting a family for several months! There Emergency Food Supply Kits are perfect to get you started. They include everything you'll need for meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner). Emergency Reserve also supply various survival supplies including some really great 5 gall foldable water carriers, flashlights, blankets and first aid kits. Emergency Reserve is an excellent site to search through for nearly everything on your natural disaster supplies list.

TheReadyStore.com

If you are looking for a one stop natural disaster preparedness supply store, then this is going to be your utopia. The Ready Stores offers a huge variety of the finest emergency and survival supplies that are available anywhere. They have some of the best prices compared to other companies as well, so if you are on a strict budget but want high-quality supplies, this is where you should visit first. The Ready Store also has a website blog that offers up to date tips and advice on emergency survival. The supply food and food storage, MRE's (Military Meals Ready to Eat) and Military meals as well. Freeze dried food, with an incredible shelf life of 30 years, are also available in many different entrees. Vital water storage and filters are one of the most important supplies and there is abundance of varieties at this store. The Ready Store is absolutely the number one emergency and natural disaster preparedness supply store.

WiseFoodStorage.com

Wise Food Storage is a company that mainly supplies food storage supplies and long-term food supplies. Grab and go food kits, outdoor food kits, and emergency meals are also available. Wise Food Storage is exactly what their name says. They are a leading supplier of emergency and natural disaster food supplies. They supply both dehydrated foods and dehydrated foods. Unlike other companies, they have meals called Outdoor Food Kits that are especially made for the outdoorsman for regular use or in case of emergency. Many of their meals are made by just adding water! All of their foods have an extremely long shelf life, and are packaged efficiently and safely. On top of that, their meals are so easy to prepare that a child could prepare them. Wise Food Storage meals are compact in packaging and are affordable. If you are looking for delicious food options for your supply kit, Wise Food Storage will start you off on the right foot. They even offer free samples.

How Will You Prepare?
Every year, numerous different natural disasters adversely and sometimes very seriously affect people everywhere. There really is no place you can live that is safe from natural disasters, and many times they happen during the least likely of times. Days of rain can suddenly turn into flooding and mud slides, windstorms can turn into tornadoes and snowfall in winter can suddenly turn into a blizzard. Hurricane Irene recently occurred in the United States. It caused 56 total deaths and lead to $10.1 billion dollars used for reconstruction. In 2010, an intense earthquake in Haiti occurred. It was the third deadliest earthquake recorded, leaving close to 316,000 casualties in its wake. Another recent natural disaster than shook the entire world was the tsunami in Japan March of 2011. A mere 6 minutes of quakes killed almost 16,000 people! Natural disasters are devastating for everyone. Even power outages can create chaotic, stressful situations that lead to panic among people. When you have a plan of action, and the proper supplies, you'll be able to keep you and your loved ones safe, warm, well-fed and clean until help arrives.

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Posted on Tue, October 11, 2011 11:09 AM

Some of my neighbors are all about this kind of stuff. I always thought they were crazy until a natural disaster happened to us. We had days of power outages among other problems. They invited us over and gladly shared the knowledge and supplies. We didn't even have a flashlight accessible in our house!

Posted on Sun, October 16, 2011 11:05 AM

I run a small business, and after all of the tornadoes in Missouri this past spring (especially the one in Joplin), we decided that we should have a company emergency response plan in place. We came to thereadystore.com looking for products to stock in our office, and found some good tips for preparing an emergency plan of action in the event of an emergency. I pray that we will never experience anything that requires that we use the plan and the items we bought from thereadystore.com, but I sleep better at night knowing that I am prepared if something does happen.

Posted on Wed, October 12, 2011 01:35 PM

Here is a great tip in the event of a natural disaster. Go through all of your rooms in your house and make a list of everything you'd want to bring with you in case you evacuate. When you were just notified that you need to leave your house, it is really hard to think on the spot.

Posted on Tue, October 11, 2011 01:00 PM