Are You Financially Prepared For An Emergency Situation?
Natural disasters can happen at any given moment. While having necessary supplies in case of an emergency situation is critical for survival, financial preparedness continues to be on the back burner for many people.
We must remember that even though a natural disaster’s focus is safety and survival, the recovery process can be extremely costly. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 serve as examples of just how costly natural disasters can be.
See the Top 5 Most Expensive Natural Disasters in History: http://ow.ly/Mo6u300ORtJ
Putting an extra debit card away in your preparedness kit may not be enough. Check out 3 tips to get you financially prepared for a disaster:
- Start a Separate Savings Account in your Bank
Already have a savings account? Avoid being tempted to spend money from your emergency fund. Make sure to keep your spending, savings, and emergency savings separate so you don’t end up borrowing money from the funds that could help you during a natural disaster.
- Put Cash Away in your Preparedness Kit
Power lines may be down during a natural disaster, or you may not have access to an ATM machine near your home. Put cash cash away in a discreet container, and be careful not to add too many smaller bills for the sake of space.
- Add a Pre-paid Debit Card to your Preparedness Kit
A great way to add diversity into your emergency fund is by adding a pre-paid debit card to your preparedness kit. This can be helpful in the event that a natural disaster results in banks to take security measures that may freeze accounts.
Get financially prepared and stay safe! We can help: FirstMyFamily.com
National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2016
National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 15 through May 21, 2016. History has taught us that it is not enough to be aware of the many natural disasters that may threaten our families, we must prepare accordingly. With often speeds of over 160 miles an hour and more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day, hurricanes are definitely among the deadliest of natural disasters. Is your family prepared for a potential hurricane threat? Even if you live nowhere near a hurricane zone, you never know what the future holds, which is precisely why preparedness is so important.
Peace of mind. Is that possible during or after a natural disaster? It may not be, but being prepared with a plan that includes specific steps for family members to take can definitely help provide direction during a time of uncertainty.
Download a family emergency plan today at: http://bitly.com/FamEmergencyPlan
A proper, functional preparedness kit could be the difference between life and death during a natural disaster. Injuries, lack of food, and of course weather are all situations that need to be anticipated, and therefore supplied in every preparedness kit. In the event that help is on the way to you and your family, tools for prolonged survival and are key.
Download a supply checklist today at: http://bit.ly/PrepSupplyChecklist
Whether you’re a preparedness pro or a curious beginner, we’re here to help throughout your entire preparedness journey. Begin building your family's emergency preparedness kit today: FirstMyFamily.com
The 2016 Ecuador Earthquake: The Importance of Preparedness
On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador leaving at least 659 people deceased and 27,732 people injured. Events like these remind us how serious and unexpected natural disasters can be, making proper emergency preparedness a top priority for families both large and small.
The fact of the matter is, despite where we live in the world, we are not immune to the many types of natural disasters that exist. The only true way to increase survival for you and your family is to take the steps necessary to be prepared for certain post-disaster circumstances.
Post-disaster circumstances:
Injury
Have a First Aid Kit included in all of your preparedness kits and make sure it includes enough supplies for each of your household members. Always include extra medication and update your kits often keeping in mind expiration dates.
Lack of food source
Your prep kit should include enough food and water to last each of your family members at least three days. Keep in mind nutritional needs for each person, and food allergies.
Lack of Electricity
We tend to rely on electricity quite a bit, but in the event of a natural disaster, electricity may be not up and running. Customize your prep kit to include extra batteries, glow sticks, and/or solar powered devices.
Remember- natural disasters cannot be avoided, but they can be prepared against. Let us help you begin your preparedness journey with a 4-person prep kit found here, stay safe!
Survival Lessons from Season 6 of The Walking Dead
Season 6 of the Walking Dead was a rollercoaster of emotions for all zombie-loving fans from across the nation. During these long months we witnessed some of our favorite characters face and overcome unimaginable survival odds leaving us to ask: “What would we do in this situation?”
It’s likely that you’ve uttered the same sentence with a friend, family member or loved one while watching the show, after all, the show’s characters are ordinary citizens of the world prior to the zombie outbreak.
As emergency and disaster preparedness pro’s and TWD fanatics, we took some survival notes on Season 6 of The Walking Dead to help you strengthen your skills in emergency prep, and increase your odds of survival. Take a look and stay safe:
Learn Key Skills
Learning skills in carpentry, masonry, gardening, and farming can prove to be extremely useful when building a survival shelter and living in remote areas for extended periods.
Learning CPR & First Aid can mean the difference between life and death; these skills can be used to help yourself and others during and after a disaster.
Learning to make your own ammunition may be put on the back-burner for some, but you may want to consider learning the skill now. After all, ammunition during a survival situation is key for protection.
- Helpful resources on CPR & First Aid from The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr
- Helpful resources on ammunition from Off The Grid News: http://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/what-will-i-need-to-make-my-own-ammo/
Food & Water
Drinkable water is often hard to find and can be quite heavy to carry. Consider investing in a Lifestraw water filter so you’re able to filter filthy water into clean, safe drinking water (Lifestraw water filters take out more that 99% of bacteria).
Stockpile high-calorie, long-lasting foods and seeds for planting, we can think of more than a few moments during Season 6 where they were concerned about the food they stockpiled.
- Stockpiling tips from Skilled Survival: http://www.skilledsurvival.com/stockpiling-food-might-be-your-best-investment/
Customize Your Prep Kits
Every Emergency Prep kit should be customized to accommodate every member of your household. Special medications and supplies should be included in your kits (don’t forget: all of our FMF kits have enough room for extra survival supplies). Make sure to always include more than enough emergency medication that you know is critical to you and your entire family.
Emergency situations and natural disasters happen without warning, prepare accordingly to increase survival for you and your loved ones. From our family to yours, stay safe!
Emergency Response At Your Fingertips: 3 Must-Get Apps
These days there’s an app for just about everything, even for emergency preparedness. But with thousands of high-tech iPhone and Android applications to choose from, how do can you know which ones can actually be useful for you and your family during an emergency situation?
Our team did some research, browsed through some of the top-rated apps on the market and came up with 3 apps we believe every family should consider downloading as an additional step in emergency/disaster planning.
Check them out below and happy prepping!
- FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) app takes the number one spot. This comprehensive app includes:
- Alerts from the National Weather Service
- Disaster Reporter
- Custom emergency safety information
- Maps of disaster resources
- Safety tips
- Access to apply for federal disaster assistance.
- Information in Spanish
Download here: https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app
- Pocket First Aid & CPR.
Runner-up is the app from the American Heart Association. A few things this unique app offers:
- Detailed videos with life-saving information on how to respond in first aid situations like choking, CPR, seizures, cuts and wounds, and more.
- Device storage so a user can access information without cell phone reception
- ‘My Info’ tab to store family members’ medical information
Download here: http://appcomm.org/pocket-first-aid-cpr/
- Shelter Finder by American Red Cross
Last but certainly not least, this application maps shelter locations across the United States. In the event of a natural disaster, a user can choose a location and zoom into a local area to view nearby shelters and details like who’s managing the shelter, how many people are there, and of course, the specific shelter address and location. Another great feature is that if you’re looking to make a contribution, they make it possible to donate and help the American Red Cross give aid to those in need.
Download here: http://appcomm.org/shelter-finder-app-by-american-red-cross/
Stay safe, but most of all, stay prepared!
When It Comes To Prep, Don't Rely On Luck!
In the event of an emergency situation, we can’t all be lucky. In the words of Roman philosopher Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
So take it from Seneca and take the time to prepare now, so that if and when a natural disaster or emergency situation strikes, you can create the best luck possible.
3 Things you can do now to prepare for an emergency situation:
- VIP Database
Who are your VIP’s? Your list of very important people may extend past your immediate family members. Aside from having all of your family’s most recent personal and medical information written down, consider also including the contact information of a trusted neighbor, a trusted co-worker and a key person from your local police/fire department.
- Prep Kit
It’s not enough just to have purchased an emergency preparedness kit. Is it up to date? Is it customized to accommodate each family member’s specific needs? Make sure the items within your home and car prep kits are up to date, and are still working properly, and don’t forget to include items for pets.
- Plan and Rehearse
Time is a precious thing, especially during a natural disaster or emergency situation. Have a game plan on what to do during and after an emergency situation, and rehearse it every few months. Remember, having a plan can be key to keeping the entire family from panicking.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from First My Family, stay safe!
Top Survival Tips for Winter Storms!
It’s that time of the year again where storm after storm keeps hitting the U.S. with what seems to be endless snow on the East Coast and flooding from the drought on the West Coast. During #WinterStorm Juno, New York State Governor Cuomo even issued a state of emergency and ordered everyone to stay off of the streets and to stay indoors. I don’t think the snowboarders took him seriously but I think we should. Severe weather, closed roads and dangerous conditions are a serious risk and not only to those on the streets but also to the emergency workers who do an amazing job trying to help people during an emergency. My wife is a nurse and believe me, she rocks at helping people and it is a very hard job.
With winter storms still coming and lots and lots of more rain on the way, here are some great #Winter Survival Tips to keep you and your family safe.
- Charge Your Cell Phone. Before a winter storm knocks out your power, make sure your cell phone is fully charged. Power can go out and using text to keep people informed of how you are doing or if you need help is a great way to communicate and saves power.
- Stock Flashlights throughout the house. Check to make sure you have the right batteries for your devices. Try not to use candles in an emergency as they pose a serious fire risk if left unattended.
- Build an Emergency Kit for home. Emergency kits or grab and go survival kits should have a minimum of 72 hours of emergency food, water, first aid and warmth to keep you safe. This is a minimum. Don’t have a kit or don’t know where to start, visit us at First My Family.
- Be Careful with Gas Appliances. If you are trying to heat your home with an emergency generator or stove, make sure it is completely ventilated. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer.
- Communicate to your Family. If you are leaving your home during severe weather or even heading up to the snow for vacation, have a plan and let your family know where you are going and when you will arrive. That way if you don’t arrive as scheduled, they can call for help.
- If traveling by car, build or buy an emergency kit for each car. Each car should enough emergency food; water, first aid and ability to keep you warm for at least 72 hours (for each person). We actually plan for a lot longer and include additional items like: Winter clothing, flares, jumper cables, snow chains, flashlights, mylar space blankets, waterproof matches, can opener, canned food, spam, water filter, cable jumper, cell phone charger that is hand cranked, board games, toiletries and a reflective vest to hang in the window for help.
- If you are stuck in the snow, stay put and wait for help? Hypothermia can happen very quickly and exposure to the snow can kill. If you and your family are stuck in the snow the safest thing you can do is wait for help.
- Stuck in the Snow and Trying to Stay Warm? Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids to help your body regulate the cold, clear your car’s exhaust regularly to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, turn your car on and off to conserve fuel. For additional safety tips, click here for additional tips from FMF and Ready.gov.
- Traveling home from work and stuck for hours and hours on the road. Before leaving work in a storm, bring extra food, water and first aid. During the storms a few weeks ago, people were stuck for 7-8 hours trying to get home. Don’t have these items at work; bring your own emergency kit. Backpacks are great options and should always include walking shoes.
- Keep your tank full? Fill up when your tank is less then half full, just in case you get stuck and if you do get stuck, turn your car on and off to conserve fuel and stay warm.
Helpful Resource Information
- http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
- Al Rokers "How to Survive if You're Stranded in a Blizzard"
- Don't have an emergency kit, get one from us today. Click here.
Winter Prep Checklist
Winter is officially here, are your prep kits up to date? Make sure your kits have what you and your family need to survive the cold winter months should an emergency or disaster take place. We created a checklist to help you as you customize your home and car preparedness kits, take a look and stay safe!
❏ Emergency Water
❏ Emergency Food
❏ LED Flashlight
❏ First aid kit
❏ Multi Use Pocket Knife
❏ Mylar Space Blankets
❏ Emergency Weather Ponchos
❏ Emergency Body Warmers
❏ Glow-sticks for emergency lighting
- The above items and more can be found inside of our 1, 2 and 4-Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Kit
Special needs/Elderly
❏ Medications and special items such as hearing aids (with extra batteries), glasses/contact lenses, canes etc.
Babies and Pets
❏ Baby supplies (formula, baby food, bottles, diapers, medicines etc.)
❏ Pet supplies ( pet food, collar/leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl, medicines etc.)
Outdoors/Weather
❏ Tools/supplies for securing your home in case of heavy winds
❏ Sand for flooding
❏ Warm coats, gloves/mittens, hats, boots, extra blankets and extra warm clothing for all household members
❏ Alternate heating methods (fireplaces or wood/coal-burning stoves)
More
❏ Extra batteries
❏ Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
❏ Sanitation/personal hygiene items
❏ Family and emergency contact information
❏ Copies of personal documents for all household members (medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
❏ Cell phone with chargers
❏ Extra cash
Remember to always add what is necessary for your family's specific needs. Stay warm and stay safe!
Stay Safe This Christmas Day
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from First My Family! Here are some safety tips for the entire family on this very special holiday- stay safe!
1. Holiday Lighting
If you’re like many families in the U.S., you have holiday lighting in and outside your home. Be sure to unplug those lights when you leave your home or go to bed.
2. Outdoors
It’s great to play outdoors on Christmas Day. But whether you live in a snowy place or not, make sure you and your kids are dressed appropriately- sweaters and scarfs are a must if it’s chilly!
3. Toy Safety
Many little ones’ toys may contain tiny and or sharp particles. To avoid choking or other toy-related injuries, keep an eye on children every time they are playing, and take the time to explain to them how to properly (and safely) play.
From our family to yours, stay safe and Happy Holidays!
First My Family’s Holiday GIft Guide
Stumped on what to get your zombie-loving friends and family members?
We put together some our favorite items from across the web to help you with you online holiday shopping, take a look and happy holidays from First My Family!
Our favorite things:
- Walking Dead Monopoly Game by Barnes & Noble
- “Coral” Poster on Etsy.com
3. The Walking Dead Season 5 Pop Figure Bundle by ShopTheWalkingDead
.com
4. 1 & 2- person Official Walking Dead Survival Kits and ZPAK by FirstMyFamily.com
5. The Walking Dead 2016 Calendar by Target
Looking for more ideas? Check out AMC’s & Mashable’s TWD gift guides!