Panic when disaster strikes is not a good thing, as this would even make the situation you are in worse. If you want to be prepared for any type of calamity that may affect your area, having your own disaster preparedness plan will really help you.
Before something unpleasant happens, make sure you equip yourself with the proper knowledge and tools that you can use once calamities strike. For example, during fires, you need to know that staying on the ground will prevent you from inhaling harmful gases while keeping you away from hot air. Since cold air is denser than warm air it tends to stay at the bottom and therefore it would be a good decision to stay on the ground when the building you are in catches fire.
It would be nice to have a disaster preparedness plan handy to guide you when tragedies strike. If you are the type of person who tends to panic in times of trouble, this type of plan will help you collect your thoughts by giving you direct instructions that you can follow. You can create one yourself today while you are not yet in panic mode.
You should always remember the basic needs that would help you survive any kind of calamity. You should store water in containers that prevent any type of contaminant from entering and mixing with the water. Apart from this, you can also save some water that you would use for washing.
Keep foods in stock, especially those that do not expire easily and last for many years. Avoid storing foods that are high in salt, as these would not be beneficial to you when you are in a situation where you cannot easily find a source of drinking water. Calculate the approximate amount of food you would need to provide for all members of your family.
Clothing would also be essential in times of calamities, especially during cold climates. Keep coats and blankets ready at all times so that you have the means to warm yourself and prevent your core body temperature from dropping to unfavorable levels. Setting aside as many heaters as possible for you and your family will ensure that you have enough protection from the cold.
By creating your own disaster preparedness plan, you can make diagrams of your home or its current location so that you can create routes when you need to move to a different location. You can create sheds that are sturdy enough to hold the things you have prepared and store them until such time as calamity strikes. Asking your neighbors to help you make this plan would also prepare them to deal with any kind of tragedy that might arise, and your community would know what to do in times of crisis.