Disasters can happen without warning, but with the right preparation, your family can stay safe and reduce the stress that often accompanies these events.
By creating a disaster plan and assembling a preparedness kit tailored to your family’s specific needs, you’ll be better equipped to handle a variety of emergency situations. It’s important to make sure your plan is customized to your local environment.
For instance, where you live may expose you to certain natural disasters like wildfires, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Additionally, your location may influence your evacuation options. If your area is prone to flooding, for example, you’ll need to be aware of roads that may frequently close due to high water.
Common Natural Disasters in Your Area
Extreme weather events are among the most common types of natural disasters. Basic disaster readiness will help you in any emergency, but it’s beneficial to know which specific types of disasters are most likely to impact your family.
Resources for Natural Disasters by Region
You can use an interactive map from the American Red Cross to find out which natural disasters are common in your state or region.
To learn more about specific disaster types and how to prepare for them, visit Ready.gov:
Wildfires: These can spread quickly from natural areas like forests or grasslands to communities.
Floods: The most frequent natural disaster in the U.S., floods can develop gradually or suddenly in the form of flash floods.
Tornadoes: These violent wind funnels can happen anywhere, destroying buildings, flipping vehicles, and creating flying debris.
Severe Storms & Winter Weather: Every part of the country experiences severe weather, which can create hazardous conditions.
Hurricanes: These storms can cause damaging winds, dangerous rip currents, and storm surges, which are the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the U.S.
Tsunamis: Triggered by underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions, these massive waves can cause widespread destruction.
Earthquakes: Though they can occur without warning, some areas are at a higher risk.
Volcanic Eruptions: There are over 160 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S., which can release lava, debris, and ash over large areas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also provides region-specific advice on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. This includes ongoing emergency situations.
Other Types of Disasters
Beyond natural disasters, there are other emergencies that may require your family to evacuate or take shelter. These could include acts of violence, such as a public shooting, or public health crises like pandemics. Industrial accidents, like chemical spills or explosions, are also possibilities.
Many of the same plans for natural disasters can be adapted to help your family stay safe in these situations as well.
As a parent, your top priority is keeping your family safe. While we all aim to provide a secure environment for our children, disasters can sometimes require us to turn to specialized resources to protect our loved ones. Being prepared can make all the difference when those moments arise.