September is National Emergency Preparedness month in the United States. This is the perfect opportunity to take three major steps in getting you and your family ready for any natural disasters: research, make a kit and make a plan. This entry will discuss the first of these steps, research.

The most important first step in preparing for emergencies is to research the weather potentials for your area. As we have seen natural disasters are not always limited to traditional areas but it is very important to be most prepared for those threats that are most likely to occur to you. Many of the things you need to prepare for natural disasters will also work for man-made occurrences as well. Having a basic understanding of what you need to survive can help tremendously.

Your local branch of the American Red Cross and FEMA are a great source of information about potential dangers in your area. Figuring out what your community’s disaster plan can help you plan your personal plan accordingly. Once you have a basic understanding of the situations that could happen around you, then you are ready to move onto the next step!