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The effects of natural disasters on the environment, people, infrastructure, and life, in general, are devastating. It is very important to understand and prepare for them before they happen.
If you don’t have a good and trained emergency plan, it’s going to be muc more difficult to survive. Natural disasters often lead to the destruction of buildings and disruption of business processes, which leads to job losses and everything after that.
In addition to the damage to infrastructure, the death toll also rises and countless people may lose their lives.
However, you can lessen the impact of natural disasters and keep your family safe during uncertain times. If you plan, you can go through the crisis, survive it, and prevent the worst from happening.
Let’s talk about the top 10 critical natural disasters and the best ways to prepare for them.
Here are the 10 critical natural disasters to prepare for.
Depending on where you live, this list of natural disasters to prepare for might be different. There are areas that are more prone to be hit by a hurricane, and there are areas that are more prone to landslides. Similarly, the danger of a wildfire is hardly a thing in more desert areas, while tsunamis are linited to coastal areas. And there could be something we’ve missed and is limited to your area. Think about it.
Nevertheless, it pays of to be aware of all of them.
Earthquakes can happen anywhere and at any time without real warning. They can cause ground rupture, fires, landslides, and avalanches, leading to the damage of buildings and loss of life. Even if they don’t happen in your immediate vicinity, chances are that you might feel the consequences of them.
If you are not prepared for an earthquake or you don’t know what to do when it happens, your chances of survival might be low. On the other hand, if you respond the right way and know what to do, you have a much better chance of surviving.
One of the first steps is to identify the safest places in your home you can escape to. At all costs, stay away from shelves or any piece of furniture that’s not sturdy and well tied to walls. Drop down to your knees and hold on to something sturdy enough that will support you.
Stay on your knees and cover your head with your arms. If it’s safe to crawl and seek shelter underneath a sturdy desk or any other immovable furniture, go ahead and do so. Hold on to the desk and move with it if it moves during an earthquake.
Very important: stay away from windows as they are likely to break if the shaking is hard enough.
If you are in a wheelchair, keep your wheels locked and remain seated until the shaking passes. Also, bend forward and cover your head and neck with your arms.
Practice these routines (drop, cover, and hold on) with your family until everyone knows what to do and is comfortable with it. This ensures everyone knows how to respond when an earthquake actually comes.
If the shaking starts when you are inside your home, stay inside and avoid going outside or running panically. It might be very dangerous to move around until the shaking stops. You can be hit by debris, falling objects, or even fall and injure yourself.
Prepare an earthquake emergency safety kit in case you have to leave your home after the shaking has passed. If your home is damaged beyond certain point, it might very well be urgent to get out and find another shelter. So, one of the important things you need to do is to prepare yourself a quality bug-out bag.
Your emergency kit should include – at least – shoes and other basic supplies like food, water, a first-aid kit, a battery-operated radio, extra batteries, personal medication, and a flashlight. Also, don’t forget about a shelter you can use while outdoors, and inform yourself about backpacking tips and tricks that might be of use to you.
Floods are one of the most common and destructive natural disasters to prepare for.
They are caused by heavy rainfall, overflowing rivers, the melting of snow, and broken dams. They can even happen in areas that are not really prone to them at first sight, simply because the creeks or rivers can get an unexpected amounts of water upstream.
The immediate impacts include the destruction of vegetation, loss of human life, loss of livestock, and property damage.
The most effective ways to prepare for floods are to know your risk, have a disaster plan, build an emergency kit, and respond the right way.
There are resources that can help you determine how big the danger is – go to fema.gov/flood-maps to check if your home is in a flood zone.
Remember that floods are unpredictable. So, whether you are in a low-risk or high-risk area, you still need to be prepared.
Like for any critical event, have an emergency kit and store basic supplies. Place important documents in waterproof containers. Stay up-to-date with local news and emergency plans of the community. Know whether you are supposed to move to higher ground or leave.
Check the news for weather updates, listen to the instructions, and always be prepared to evacuate. If there are flash floods, move to higher ground and do not wait for instructions.
When you leave your home, avoid driving or moving in flooded areas. Avoid downed power lines and standing water. Stay away from your home until it’s announced on reputable news channels that you can return.
Tsunamis arepossibly the nastyest natural disasters to prepare for, and are basically huge waves of water, caused usually by large volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or underwater landslides. They can travel up to 30 miles per hour and cause severe flooding, erosion, floating debris, electrocution, explosions and loss of lives.
The best thing you can do for yourself to prepare for a tsunami is to stay informed and listen to local alerts so it doesn’t catch you unaware. When you listen to warnings and updates, you can easily avoid affected areas and seek shelter in safer locations, usually in the higher ground away from the coast.
You must understand the difference between a Tsunami warning and a Tsunami watch.
A Tsunami Warning is issued in advance to prevent death and damage. It often means a Tsunami is close to your area and you should be on alert and follow the instructions given by the authorities, quickly and without hesitation.
A Tsunami Watch means a Tsunami could be as little as an hour away but it’s not yet completely verified.
When you receive a Tsunami Warning, listen to emergency alerts, move to higher ground, and stay absolutely alert.
Natural warnings to pay attention to are loud ocean roars, ground shaking, an earthquake, unusual ocean behavior, and the sudden rise of water exposing the seafloor.
If you see any of these signs, quickly move to higher ground and listen to official warnings and instructions.
A always, practice evacuation plans with your family to avoid the worst from happening and ensure you are all safe. Make sure everyone knows what to do when a Tsunami occurs. This is a great way to reduce fear and survive.
Have escape plans from your home, workplace, school, and other places you may be at when a Tsunami occurs. Have an emergency kit close by and a hand-cranked radio to ensure you stay up-to-date with the news. If you have pets, build an emergency kit for them as well.
Avoid damaged roads, buildings, and bridges as they can expose you to injury. Do not move in floodwater as it may contain dangerous debris. Which can cause more injuries. Keep important documents safe. For example, academic certificates, personal identification, wills, and title deeds.
Memorize emergency and important phone numbers so you can use them easily to contact the authorities or your family members. If disaster comes when you are in the water, hold on to a raft, tree trunk, or anything that floats. And before all, don’t panic. The stress of panicking is a great danger, because people react wrong in such conditions. You mind needs to be clear and reasonable.
Like with floods, you must avoid electrocution and do not touch electrical equipment. There will likely be some downed power lines, which you must avoid, as they may be electrically charged.
Hurricanes are strong winds that are formed when masses of warm air from the ocean rise and collide with masses of cooler air over the terain. They are caused by thunderstorm activity, pre-existing water disturbance, and warm water. They usually cause some very strong winds, rip currents, heavy rainfall, and flooding.
Always have emergency food, water, and medical supplies ready in case you have to leave your home.
Include other important supplies like flashlights, backup batteries, and important documents, all nicely packed in a bug-out bag of your choice.
Know your hurricane risk, have an emergency plan ready, and always folow evacuation instructions issued by the authorities.
Find shelter in designated areas and protect yourself from flooding and high winds. Never hide in the basement, as you may be trapped by rising water. Go to the highest level of the building if you are waiting to be rescued.
Avoid walking or driving through moving water as they can move you or your car alltogether. Avoid downed power lines and flood water. The water may contain waste, debris, wildlife, or chemicals, which can all harm your health in dangerous ways.
Make sure your car is fuel-ready to avoid getting stuck when you should evacuate your home, and do not go back to your house unless the authorities say it’s safe to do so.
Wear protective clothing when you are cleaning your home. Turn the electricity off at the main breaker to avoid being electrocuted. Do not touch electrical equipment to prevent electric shock, because you never know how hard the instalation is damaged.
Explosions usually occur as a consequence of one of the other natural disasters to prepare for, such as eqthquakes or landslides. They occur when gas, fuel or other explosive materials are exposed to fire, static electricity, or sparks, because of the breaks in the installation. They can cause severe injuries, poisoning, excessive heat, electromagnetic pulse (EMP), and powerful blast waves.
The 3 common types of explosions you need to be prepared for are chemical explosions, mechanical explosions, and nuclear explosions.
Find a secure shelter underground and have an emergency kit ready. Always stay away from windows to avoid falling glass or radiation. If you are outside, hide behind anything that can shield you, lie down to protect yourself from the heat or debris, and do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Avoid potential fallout by getting inside the nearest building after the shock passes. Make sure you find shelter within 10 minutes after the shock passes and remain inside when it arrives.
Store important supplies in your emergency kit. Including packaged foods, bottled water, a hand-cranked radio, medication, flashlights, and additional batteries. Stay up-to-date with official news and listen to information about shelters, safe routes, and evacuation procedures.
If you are outside during a fallout and find shelter only when it passes, take off your contaminated clothing, wash with soap and water, and clean your affected pets.
Among all the natural disasters to prepare for, this group of events is among those that cause the worst feelings to me. Just imagine being caught under tons of debris, not knowing whether there is anyone that knows where you are…
Landslides are the mass movement of rocks, soil, and other debris across the surface of the earth. They are caused by human activity, geology, and morphology. They can also accompany earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and droughts as well.
Landslides can lead to the destruction of infrastructure, loss of natural resources, loss of human life, power outages, and communication disruptions.
Again, have an evacuation plan, build yourself an emergency kit, and always pay attention to emergency alerts from local authorities.
Know and implement preventative measures for your home, such as installing flexible pipe fittings to resist breakage. Consult a professional to help you keep your property adequately protected.
You can identify and understand some warning signs to respond on time and ensure survival. Some of the signs to look out for are rushing water, cracking trees, unusual sounds coming from underground, widening cracks on the ground, tilting poles and fences, cracking of floors, jamming doors or windows, broken water lines, and a faint rumbling sound that increases in volume with time.
Mudslides, on the other hand, are caused by water. They occur when water accumulates rapidly in the ground, resulting in a surge of water-saturated debris and rock. People, property and animals can be swept away by the mud or get trapped in it. A severe mudslide can lead to a massive loss of lives.
The best way to prepare for a mudslide is to avoid building your home close to steep slopes, along natural erosion valleys, and close to mountain edges. Safety tips include staying up-to-date with the news, watching out for signs, and leaving only when it’s safe to do so.
Tornadoes are extremely high winds caused by severe thunderstorms in warm, moist, and unstable air ahead of cold fronts. They can easily destroy buildings, roads, bridges, and the whole environment. They can tear down trees, flip trains, and cause major injuries and death.
It is mandatory that you watch out for Tornado Warnings and Watches, especially if you live in an area that’s been known to be a “tornado land”. Tornado Warnings are issued by weather forecasting agencies to alert the public when a tornado has been reported or indicated by a weather radar. The warning is given when the formation of a tornado is likely to occur or has already happened.
A Tornado Watch, on the other hand, means weather conditions are favorable for the development of extreme weather conditions like tornadoes.
Have an emergency plan ready and an emergency kit to prepare in advance. Follow weather updates, stay tuned to local TV stations or radio, and know the best places to seek shelter indoors and outdoors.
Some of the indications that a tornado is coming are the dark-colored sky, green-colored sky, a loud roar, a large, low-lying, dark cloud, debris falling from the sky, and large hail. Find shelter in your basement or any room that doesn’t have windows. Get under a sturdy table or desk and cover your body with a blanket or sleeping bag to protect yourself from debris.
If you have a mobile home or are in a car when the tornado develops, find shelter in the nearest building. Consider your family, people with special needs, and pets when creating your Tornado emergency plan. Make sure you have bottled water, non-perishable food, medication, a battery-operated radio, and extra batteries ready in your emergency supply kit
Wildfires are among the natural disasters to prepare for and are, like tsunamis, more specific for certain areas. This is because many areas do not have what’s needed for a wildfire to form. They can either occur naturally or be caused by human activity. For example, arson, lightning, unattended campfires, or discarded cigarettes. Wildfires lead to air pollution, trauma, burns, respiratory disorders, immunological disorders, loss of property, and direct or premature death.
They can also easily disrupt communications, transportation, water supply, and power services, by damaging the infrastructre needed for these services.
If you are not prepared, it can be difficult for you to survive or live with the long-term effects. You must understand how wildfires start, learn the best ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, and prepare in advance as much as possible.
Have a room that can be closed off from outside air. Keep your doors and windows closed. Have an outdoor water source you can connect a hose to and reach any area of your home to put out fires, if possible. Have safety devices and fire safety equipment ready to remain prepared for an emergency. Install fire detectors, have fire extinguishers ready, and invest in fire escape ladders and carbon monoxide alarms.
If the fire is severe, leave your home. It may be to large to deal with, don’t try to put out the fire because it can cause serious injuries and even death.
Teach your children fire drills and practice them over and over until they familiarize themselves with them. This ensures everyone knows where to go and how to respond to wildfires.
Winter storms and ice storms can disrupt emergency services and disturb communications. They can leave you stranded, topple trees, cause power outages, and loss of lives. They can also lead to heart attacks, frostbite, and hypothermia. Assuming you live in an area where winter storms are possible, they’re definitely one of the natural disasters to prepare for.
It’s important to be able to identify warning signs and respond the right way and in the right time.
Some of the signs include extremely cold temperatures, strong winds, blizzards, freezing rain, and ice pellets.
You must make sure your home is properly insulated, improve your home heating sources if needed, and protect your pipes from freezing. Store enough heating fuel as the main sources may easily be cut off. For example, you can store firewood or coal if you have a fireplace. Just be extra cautious of fire hazards when storing your fuel sources.
Invest in snow removal equipment before the storm starts. Keep your car’s gas tank full in case you have to leave your home.
Talk to your family about winter storms and safety precautions. Have an evacuation plan and make sure everyone understands it.
Last of the 10 natural disasters to prepare for are droughts. Drought causes include temporary or longer excess water demands, global warming, climate change, soil degradation, altered water patterns, famine, and deforestation. Droughts are leading to lack of food, water shortages, migration of wildlife, and an increase in diseases among population.
The best ways to prepare for droughts are to conserve water, have rain collection systems in your home, prepare your livestock, and rotate crops. Fix all plumbing leaks and use energy-efficient and water-efficient appliances. In your garden, plant drought-tolerant trees, grass, and plants, so you can have a sustainable food source if needed.
Survive a drought by conserving water and avoiding waste. For example, don’t use running water to wash your vegetables, use the “light wash” dishwasher feature to use less water, don’t flush the toilet unnecessarily, and take fast showers instead of baths.
Natural disasters to prepare for, as listed in this article, can have a devastating impact on your life, your loved ones, and your community and the environment as a whole. They can completely alter the way you live and work.
It is extremely important to understand them as much as possible, know their causes and effects, and learn the best ways to survive them and reduce their impact.
Never underestimate nature, better be aware of the natural disasters to prepare for.