I remember being on vacation at the Grand Canyon with my wife and as we stopped at the different observation points along the South Rim, we ended up with a very unique view of the weather. At the southern most observation area we could see directly down the length of the canyon and watch as a thunder storm worked its way towards us from inside the canyon. As we drove through the storm we realized how lucky we were that we happen to still be driving to our hotel that day. Every non-traveling day of our vacation we would be out hiking, and since we were on vacation, our idea of checking the weather was looking out the window. Had we driven the day before, there is a good chance we would have been on the Bright Angel Trail heading down into the canyon, and caught in the storm.

Granted, being drenched by an unexpected thunder storm is hardly a disaster survival experience, but it does underscore the necessity of knowing what weather conditions you’re going into, and should be prepared for. Since many natural dissters are weather related (hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, extreme heat and flash floods), if your travelling, vacationing or even live in an area that is prone to such severe weather, it is definitely in your best interest to be aware of not only the current weather conditions, but also of any approaching systems.

Where’s the best place to check the weather, the National Weather Service of course. Part of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the NWS not only provides regional and local forecasts, but also state and county warnings and severe weather updates.

So do yourself a favor and check the weather of whatever region you’re in.

Eastern Region – ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, PA, MD (& DC), OH, VA, WV, NC, SC

Southern Region – TN, AR, OK, GA, FL, AL, MI, LA, TX

Central Region – MI, WI, MN, ND, SD, WY, NE, IA, IL, IN, KY, MO, KN, CO

Western Region – MT, ID, WA, OR, CA, NV, WY, UT, CO, AZ, NM

Pacific Region – HI, Guam, Am Samoa, and other Pacific Islands

Alaska – Kind of obvious

After all, better safe than sorry.

The first thing you need to consider is if there are any disaster situations that may be specific to where you live. Do you live in a flood plain, an earthquake zone, or a region that is prone to hurricanes or tornados? Each of these events will require you to customize your basic emergency survival kit.

Your basic emergency survival kit should contain the following items:

• Water – At least 1 gallon per person, per day, for at least 3 days. This will be for both drinking and sanitation
• Food – At least a 3 day supply per person of non-perishable food
• A can opener, if your emergency supply contains canned food
• A battery powered radio or weather radio with extra batteries
• A flashlight or lantern with extra batteries (or fuel)
• A first aid kit
• A whistle to signal for help
• A dust mask, to filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting (like a painters tarp) and duct tape to create a shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for sanitation
• A suitably sized wrench and /or pliers to shut off utilities
• Local maps

It is important to remember that this is not an all inclusive survival kit, but more of a basic emergency preparedness kit. You will also need to account for unique family needs such as prescription medication, eye glasses (or contact lenses), infant formula and diapers, and pet food, just to name a few.

To insure you have the ability to evacuate at a moments notice, your emergency disaster survival kit should be stored in a portable container, and its contents should be reviewed yearly as your family’s needs change.

Your emergency disaster survival plan should not be based on luck. It is important to be prepared, and a little advanced planning can go a long way to improving your chances for survival.