Alberta Storm: What A Summer Snowstorm Can Teach Us About Emergency Preparation

September 18th, 2014  |  Home Insurance

The recent summer snowstorm in Alberta caught a lot of people off guard. People were ill prepared to deal with the sudden change in temperature and weather conditions. It also called in question our level of emergency preparation. While many preach about the need to be prepared for extreme weather conditions, especially during the winter months, how many of us are actually prepared?

Consider these questions:

• Does your household have an emergency preparation plan?
• Do you have an emergency kit for your home? What about for your vehicle?
• Do you have a backup generator?
• What about a backup food supply?
• Do you have an emergency fund? How long will it last you in an emergency situation?
• Do you know where to go or who to contact? Where are those contact numbers located?
• Do your kids know what to do? Do they have a role in your emergency plan?

While having the proper home, auto, and travel insurance in place is a great first step, we also need to be prepared to handle emergency situations the correct way. This starts with educating ourselves about having the right approach. 

8 Tips for Emergency Preparedness

1. Visualize potential emergency situations –Develop a plan for how to deal with all types of emergency situations. This will help you to reach better and create a plan for dealing with these situations. 
2. Teach your children about how to deal with emergencies –Make sure they know how to call 911. Make all emergency phone numbers easily accessible. 
3. Know who to call –Check with your municipality and familiarize yourself with your cities emergency plans. Know where you can go for help and seek shelter. 
4. Have a disaster meeting spot –Have a meeting spot in your home and outside of your home. 
5. Review your emergency plan with your family regularly –Also take this time as an opportunity to adjust your plans, especially if you move. 
6. Practice – Practice your emergency plans such as home evacuations and fire drills annually. The more prepared you are the better. 
7. Consider getting your neighbors involved – A community can work together to overcome emergencies quicker – There is power in numbers.
8. Update and replenish your emergency kits yearly –This includes your first aid kits, safety devices, and emergency food and water supply. Ideally, you should have enough supplies for at least three days for your family.

When you are prepared and ready for anything and everything, you will have the ability to react quicker, make the right decisions in the heat of the moment, and be able to recover quicker. 

Do you have an emergency preparedness plan? If you do, what is included in your plan? What tips can you offer to others for preparing for emergencies?