How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

How to Prepare for a Natural Disaster

Cresskill, Take Cover!
As some of you may have heard, Florida is currently experiencing their usual hurricane season. Schools have been canceled and grocery store shelves have been emptied. Considering Florida is states and states away from New Jersey, we may not think this is very relevant. This is not the case. A couple years back, we were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. School was out for about a week and Halloween trick or treating was canceled. A hurricane like Sandy could hit us any day at this time of year and we MUST be prepared.
A list of food and supplies one should have prepared in the house include:

  • A case or two of bottled water
  • Canned food
  • Plastic utensils
  • Easy snacks (chip bags, cookie packets, etc)
  • Flashlights
  • A first aid kit (band-aids, alcohol wipes, etc)
  • A pre-charged portable charger

Next, it is important to discuss where to take shelter during a hurricane. It is safest to be in a room on the lowest level of your house with no windows or glass doors nearby.
Snow storms and floods are also common, especially in a north eastern state like New Jersey. In the case of a snow storm, it is safest to just stay inside. The food and supplies you will need are the same seven stated previously, but you may also want to bundle yourself up with coats and blankets. If you are driving when a snowstorm hits, DO NOT try to beat it home. Stop at the closest hotel. If you are in the middle of nowhere, park your car and turn the heat on for a couple minutes every hour.
Now for floods. Take shelter on the highest floor you can, preferably with no windows or glass doors nearby. The list of food and supplies needed are once again, the same seven. So as you see, if you have those seven things in your house today, you and your family will be prepared for not one but three natural disasters. That about wraps up my guide so don’t forget to stock up, and stay safe Cresskill!