You never know when your town could be the next target for a natural disaster. Mother nature can be pretty unpredictable. The best thing you can do is make sure you are prepared and that you and your family are protected. Below are some things that you can do to prepare yourself in the event of an emergency.

First, make sure that you have an emergency food supply. These foods include things that have a long shelf life, things that do not require any cooking, refrigeration or added water and foods that are low in salt as salty foods increase thirst. Also, if you have pets, make sure you store some food for them as well. Keep a supply of water ready for everyone in your family as well.

Often times during a natural disaster the power goes out. It is a good idea to keep a supply of flashlights and batteries in a place where all members of the household can easily access them. Another good option is emergency candles because they are made to burn for longer periods of time. Keep in mind that these can be dangerous; especially around small children. Keep a first aid kit handy as well.

It is very important that you have an evacuation plan in place and that you make sure everyone in the family knows the plan. Give everyone a responsibility in the plan. For example, have one person responsible for gathering all the clothing. Have another person responsible for gathering all of the food items, flashlights and batteries. Having a plan in place will ensure that everyone is ready in the event of an emergency and that nothing is forgotten. It will also make the evacuation process much faster and smoother for everyone.

These are a few tips that can keep you and your family safe in the event of an emergency. http://www.ready.gov is a great resource for creating emergency plans for your family.