Insight Into Natural Disasters – The Event and the Issues!

A natural disaster is typically a weather phenomenon that causes massive destruction within a small amount of time. We don’t usually see them coming. However, luckily for us, technology has gotten so advanced that we can, to an extent, predict them.

Although the event itself is both terrifying and stress-inducing, we don’t usually focus on the after-effects or the process of actually living through it. Thus, we are going to provide you with a bit more detail in this regard!

For example, you have just received a warning that a hurricane is inbound within the next three hours. Apart from the normal individual’s panic response, what do you do? You don’t have time to be scatter-brained—you need to be proactive!

Typically, depending on the type of natural disaster, specific key issues can arise. Your power may trip, your geyser may burst after an earthquake, you may be trapped in your house for an entire week, the list goes on and on!

Luckily, there is a way to avoid all of the after-effects that come with the announcement of a natural disaster. How you do this is by creating your own emergency kit and ensuring you have household emergency protocols in place.

Insight Into Natural Disasters—The Event and the Issues!

Natural disasters will require you to think outside of the box, adapting your immediate surroundings into a place of safety for you and your family. Not only is the focus placed on safety, but ultimately on your survival!

With there being different magnitudes of natural disasters that can occur, preparing for one will never be a “one size fits all” approach. If you are used to tornadoes in your area, plan for them! But, don’t forget the possibility of torrential rain and its disastrous effects.

A natural disaster may require you to grab-and-go! When the alarms go off alerting you of an oncoming hurricane/tsunami, your priority is getting to a bunker or higher ground. Making sure you are prepared for this journey will make your lives that much easier.

Your research will determine which materials you need to gather for your emergency kit. Take a look at the weather once a week. Observe whether there are any major differences. Investigate the ‘why’, so you can be prepared for the ‘when.’

Research regarding a natural disaster goes further than just the disaster itself. You need to research immediate services available to you. Having a travel plan and house-based emergency protocol in place will most likely secure your survival.

The Effects of a Natural Disaster

Power outages are common with natural disasters. Whether it is the wind that overturned your neighborhood’s power supply, or torrential rain that has caused a landslide and damage to the central electrical powerhouse, you need to be prepared!

The effects of power outages are multi-faceted. You most likely won’t be able to heat up your food, take a warm shower, or contact loved ones due to the lack of Wi-Fi. If this occurs for long periods of time (and you are trapped), starvation may even occur.

Flooding is another primary cause of suffering when a natural disaster takes place. Not only does flooding predispose mountainous areas to landslides, but its disaster-causing potential stems further than a little puddle that you can jump in for fun.

With the failure of local drainage systems, floods have the ability to cause demise in those that cannot swim, direct structural damage to motor vehicles, as well as damage to infrastructure such as housing, supermarkets, and hospitals.

Both of the above instances may result in you and your family being barricaded in your house/apartment. With no way to seek medical attention, food, drinkable water, and toiletries, you will most likely be confined to the contents of your emergency kit.

Should you find yourself isolated in a bunker for a longer period of time, you may be alone or with other strangers. This experience is most likely to have a large negative impact on your mental health.

We can’t express the importance of positive self-affirmation and thoughts when living through a natural disaster. Preparing your mind and thinking about positive outcomes will lessen the anxiety and depression you may experience.