What Will You Need If a Natural Disaster Hits Home? Here’s a List

These items could help you stay safe and in communication with the outside world.

The things that could be very useful in case a natural disaster hits home.

(Photo: The Quint/Arnica Kala)

If a natural disaster hits home, these things could see you through the crucial days before the situation improves, or you are evacuated to a safer spot.

1. Purifying Tablets or Portable Filters

If you are afraid of running out of water over an imponderable number of days marooned at home, experts suggest water-purifying tablets or a portable water filter straw that you can use, as long as you have access to flowing water. Purifiers like these transport much more easily than packaged water in case you need to evacuate your home, and will see you through until you have a supply of safe drinking water. A multi-use straw with an in-built filter and soluble tablets that purify a litre of water are among your options.

Multi-use water purifying straws are meant to keep most bacteria out, and are easier to transport that large quantities of packaged water.

2. Sustainable Light Source

It has turned dark – your stressful day without electricity just got worse – it becomes a stressful night. At night, you will need to see indoors and outdoors. Phone torches use up precious battery, and also need to be held by hand.

If you’re indoors, a gallon of water in a clear plastic bottle placed next to a light source like a candle or battery-operated torch will spread more light through a room. For the outdoors or if you need more focused light, use a head light. It can be secured on your forehead and free up your hands to do whatever work or preparation needs to be done.

Alternatively you can secure a small battery operated torch to your forehead.

3. Landline

Embrace your landline, not because it is a vintage contraption, but because it can be your line of contact when there is no electricity. Ditch the cordless landline, as that still needs current. Use the old-fashioned phone that plugs directly into the telephone line in your wall. If you don’t have one, then a mouth whistle attracts attention to your location when you can’t make a phone call.

A cordless landline, unlike this one still needs electricity and won’t be of any use without power.

4. Solar Chargers

Solar cell phone chargers will keep your life line, your cell phone, alive and well with or without electricity.

It is possible to have a charged cell phone even if there is no electricity or working inverter.

5. Non-Perishables

Non-perishable dry foods like breakfast cereal work well for children who may not like snack bars; so do powdered milk, puffed rice, salty biscuits and baby food, if needed.

Dry food with a long shelf life is filling and safe.

6. Waterproof Bags

A waterproof container or pouch to keep identity cards, cash, essential documents and essential medication will save your essentials from being damaged.

A waterproof case for important documents.