6 Smart Ways to Prepare For Natural Disasters

In times past, natural disasters were few and far between. Not anymore. These days, natural disasters do not only occur more frequently, they are more devastating in their scope of destruction. There is virtually no country in the world that is immune. We no longer doubt if disasters will occur. We now expect them to and wonder where next? These disasters can manifest in form of earthquakes, tornadoes, wild fires, floods and tsunamis. What they all have in common if and whenever they occur is widespread destruction to lives and properties.

In 2012 alone, many Americans were hit by the Colorado wild fires, tropical storm Debby and a record heat wave. Mother Nature's fury has been visited on many other countries quite a bit all these years. There is hardly any week now that one natural disaster or the other will not occur somewhere in the world. Because we can not stop natural disasters, we can at best prepare very well for them. If scientists are to be believed, we should all brace up for more disasters in the years ahead. Even though an earthquake, fire or a flood may not have destroyed your home yet, you can not be sure whether the very next one will not hit your area. Because of that, it is very important to plan for how you can protect yourself, your family and your properties. Here are some of the smartest ways you can prepare for an event you hope will never happen.

01. Subscribe to electronic channels for weather reports/news/forecasts.

Instead of watching or listening to sports and music most of the time, it is good to subscribe to other channels that forecast weather and climate changes. In the news section, you will always hear or watch what happens elsewhere when natural disasters occur and how the people cope with them. That way, you can equip yourself with relevant information about what to do when such disasters occur in your own area. Some disasters like storms and tornadoes can be predicted through weather forecasts. These forecasts usually give people sufficient time to prepare to batten down or to evacuate. Some of the news bulletins are at times inclusive of tips about what to do and how to cope with an in-coming disaster.

02. Take stock of what you own.

Some disasters like wild fires and floods are capable if destroying very many documents beyond recovery. For that reason, it is prudent to take a detailed documented stock of all your valuable items for safe keeping in fire-proof cabinets or even bank vaults where such banking services can be obtained. If your property is damaged or lost, the more proof of ownership you have, the better at least for insurance claims. Try to stack the receipts for high-value items and other valuables in your home for safe keeping. Pictures, video recordings of your home and other valuable properties can also be made in advance and kept in safe places. These precautions come in handy at the stage of insurance claims when disasters do occur.

03. Take out comprehensive insurance cover.

Take out in advance a comprehensive insurance cover on all your valuable properties including your home and cars. Ensure that all known and envisaged natural disasters are covered by insurance. Find out in advance what your homeowners or renters insurance cover? What does your disability insurance cover and for how long. You must find out if your auto insurance includes a rental car should your car be damaged? When you are equipped with all these facts, your claims are easier to process even in times of trauma which many natural disasters usually engender. Discuss and settle all these issues with your family members, your employers and insurance agents well in advance.

04. Digitize all your vital documents.

Title deeds, agreements, photographs and other vital documents should be scanned and stored electronically online. No matter the scope of the disaster, copies of such stored documents can always be downloaded for further use.

05. Ensure you have valid credit/debit cards.

Sometimes the most obvious actions are the ones we neglect to take. Since cards are handy and may actually be on you when disasters occur, you will not easily run out of spending money. Even if your place of employment is wiped out and you have no guaranteed source of income for some time after such disasters, your credit/debit cards come in handy. In case of injuries requiring hospitalization and other emergencies, you will need money which your cards can help you to obtain.

06. Maintain good relationship with neighbors.

This is one of the most important but overlooked precautions against natural disasters. At times, disasters do occur when people are not at home to protect their own properties. If you have neighbors who do not like the sight of you, not many will lift a finger to help when your home is being devastated. Sometimes, the real heroes in the fight against natural disasters are obscure neighbors. This is why it is very important to maintain good relationship with all your neighbors. 

That said, it is imperative to mention that everyone should always remain vigilant and prepared because you can never tell when and where the next big one will strike.

7 Smart Ways to Profit from Natural Disasters

The mind-set of any good entrepreneur is always on how to make a quick buck no matter the situation. Natural disasters as characterized by earthquakes, tornadoes, wild fires, flash floods, tsunamis et cetera always have in tow widespread destruction, misery, sorrow and even death. Since natural disasters these days occur with alarming regularity in many parts of the world, good entrepreneurs must think about how they can run a business and make some money even amidst disaster. It is prudent to run an emergency business if and when disasters strike. When many people are busy lamenting, any smart entrepreneur should always think some other ways different from everybody else. In times of disasters, these seven services are very smart ways to become relevant and in high demand. If you so wish, you could render some of these services gratis and at no cost to anyone. That way, you would become a very useful and important citizen as a result more so in times of gloom.

01. Insurance claims agent. With widespread destruction accompanying natural disasters, a good service to render is insurance claims agent. Many people will readily hire your services to help them make claims from their insurance companies.

02. Clean-up services. Disasters come with enormous debris which must be cleared away for normal life to resume. If you are able to quickly set up an emergency clean-up service outfit, you will be in very high demand.

03. Water/food vendor. In times of disasters, the things people need most are usually food, medication, water and shelter. From experience, governments are usually good at providing shelter and medication but not the others. Any private person who can quickly set up a food and water supply service will be in very high demand.

04. Nursing/comforter services. With injuries, deaths, sorrow and desperation very common in times of disaster, a good business to run is a nursing/comforter service.

05. Entertainer. In times of natural disasters, many people usually need things, anything which could take their minds off their losses even if temporarily. That is where entertainers become very useful. If you can lay your hands on a drum, a violin, a guitar, a banjo, a flute, a harmonica or any other musical instrument for that matter and you can play it well, you will be very useful to many people who are alive but in sorrow. 

06. Transporter. With flash floods, you can quickly get a boat to ferry people around flooded streets for as long as the streets remain flooded. With earthquakes and impassable roads, Big Joe’s helicopter emergency service can not be a bad idea either.

07. Coffin/Casket maker. This may sound morbid but it is a service that is in high demand in times of natural disasters. The dead must be buried anyway and at times in very large numbers. That usually engenders a very high demand for coffins/caskets.

The essence of these services is to think like an entrepreneur even in times of natural disasters. When everybody else is lamenting, the smart entrepreneur should be busy rendering a service and making a quick buck. Rendering a service and making money as a result is what  good entrepreneurs know how best to do whether the times are normal or not. These seven business types are usually very relevant and in high demand in times of disaster. Since mankind is yet to find a credible way to avoid natural disasters completely, it is prudent to start thinking about how to live with them. What is certain is that disasters will always occur but no one knows for sure where and when the next big one will hit. Smart entrepreneurs should always stand ready to swing into action as soon as a disaster hits their neighborhood.