Is your family prepared if a natural disaster should hit your area? Any type of community crisis or a major problem that affects your home could cause significant problems. The professionals that would usually help may be impacted as well or may be busy helping other families ahead of yours. Here are several tools you need to protect your family and home when disaster strikes.

Power Supply

Homes that are at risk for losing power during a storm or a blackout should be equipped with generators for emergency use. A generator is easy to operate and can be safely stored out of the way until it is needed. Solar generator models with a backup battery are a great way to protect your house and your family when the power goes out. Creating on average between 10,000 and 20,000 watts, a small home generator can cover a portion of your home whereas a larger one can be used for the entire structure.

Light

Keep batteries on hand for flashlights and fuel on hand for lanterns as your fill-in light sources. Store the batteries as recommended by the manufacturer to preserve their use as long as possible. Check your flashlights every few months to make sure they still work, and replace worn-out ones as needed. Keep your lantern fuel locked up until needed to protect children and pets. You may want to install solar lights along the porch, patio, and garage for night-time outdoor light if needed.

Medical Kit

Fill a pill container for seven days with all the tablets you need for each day. Keep it handy in an accessible cupboard for emergencies. Replace the pills if they expire before being used, and replace them with fresh ones. Stock your medical kit with first aid items like bandages and over-the-counter pain relievers as well as topical antibiotic cream. A thermometer and a blood pressure cuff would be a good idea as well. Don’t forget to stash a week’s supply of your pet’s medicines, too.

Communication

Smart phones may not work during a local or regional disaster if the cell tower is damaged or inoperable. But keep your phone charged and the charger cord within reach in the event you are able to make calls. Do the same for your computer or iPad to ensure they can be used to contact others if an emergency occurs.

You can also look into investing in a satellite phone or radio. If cell towers or the internet are down, you may need other ways to communicate with people in your family and with authorities. Walkie talkies can be useful if your group might have to split up.

While it is stressful to think about disasters that could upend your life, planning ahead will help to mitigate the problems that could arise. Prepare now so you and your family will be ready later if necessary.