Organizing for Disaster Preparedness
By Elizabeth Justiz, Owner of Simply You
ORGANIZING FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AFTER THE TRAGEDY OF THE MARSHALL AND MIDDLEFORK FIRES, I WAS THINKING ABOUT ORGANIZING AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Boulder County suffered devastating losses this year with fires. My heart was aching for all those who lost their homes and so much more in the fires. While nothing can prevent these disasters or make things better, getting organized can help secure a tiny bit of peace of mind in these troubling situations. Let’s talk about one way to get prepared for natural disasters or evacuation.
IF YOU NEED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME UNEXPECTEDLY, KNOWING WHERE YOUR MOST LOVED AND VITAL POSSESSIONS ARE IS CRITICAL.
Organizing can come to the rescue here. If you have precious memorabilia stashed in every closet, under the bed, in the basement, and out in the shed, it will be next to impossible to find and grab it all in the event of an emergency. If you have a tote or quick grab container with your most loved items in it, you will be much more likely to get it out.
QUICK TIP: While gathering all these items into one place, be sure to purge these items. Some may have lost their importance over time. Also, reduce duplicates in the process. You can also “back up” items by photographing them. Then, even if the physical item is lost, it will not be 100% gone.
It is also important to keep your vital documents in a safe place. If you live around here, a fire safe or safety deposit box makes sense. Having documents backed up electronically is another great way to prevent a total loss. Depending on your location, you may be facing water damage, fire damage, evacuations, or other circumstances. Do what makes the most sense for your region’s hazards.
Spend a few minutes thinking about what items are most important for you to grab in a disaster or evacuation and begin to gather them together. But remember, no document or possession is more important than you! Things can be replaced but you can’t! Never put yourself in a dangerous situation for a possession.