Preparing Your Family for Any Life Situation

The recent Los Angeles wildfires have been an unspeakable tragedy. More than 20 people have died. Thousands have lost their homes. Damage is well into the billions of dollars.

Several years ago, wildfires in Colorado swept through an area not far from my own home. My family and I were forced to evacuate. These frightening events are startling reminders that emergencies can strike any of us at any time. We’re never promised an easy life without worry. Any of us may be susceptible to wildfires, hurricanes, or tornadoes. We also all face the risk of job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or the death of a loved one.

Author Kathi Lipp faced similar circumstances years ago when the townhouse two doors down from her family caught fire. Thankfully, their home remained untouched, but the chaos of that night inspired Kathi to create a plan that would prepare her family for those moments when the unexpected happens. We can either live in fear, or we can live in wisdom.

It’s in that spirit that I’ve invited Kathi Lipp to join me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to offer simple, realistic, and tangible steps for preparing your family for difficult circumstances that could arise with little or no warning.

For example, the minimum recommendation for preparation according to FEMA and the Red Cross is the 3-2-3 goal:

Three-day bag: If you must leave your house in an emergency.
- Includes food, water, personal hygiene supplies, first aid kit, source of light, mode of communication, shelter and warmth, tools, maps, etc.
- Each member of your household, including pets, will need their own three-day bag.
Two-weeks’ supply: If you must stay in your home with no access to services.
- Includes water, food, manual can opener, battery powered or hand crank radio, flashlights or other sources of light, prescription medications, pet food and water, first-aid kit, sanitation and personal hygiene items, extra sets of car keys and house keys.
Three-month emergency fund: If you have a major financial crisis with no income.
- Items to consider: housing, food, utilities, transportation, debt.

We also discussed other emergency ideas, such as:

Extra money on hand. Having 100 one-dollar bills on hand gives you options. In an emergency, cash is always your best option.
5-minute plans for various scenarios and situations. Pre-deciding takes most of the emotion and anxiety out of decisions needing to be made in the moment of an emergency.
Create an emergency binder. Collect all your important information in one place, such as emergency contact numbers, recipes and meal plan, evacuation checklists, disaster plans, maps, medical and legal documents, bank and insurance information, extra set of keys, any other notes or plans.
Get creative in the kitchen. Research and try new recipes with emergency preparedness in mind. Think of what you have, not what you need. Practice these meals on non-crisis days.
Prep your team. Assign tasks to each family member so they know what to do when the emergency strikes. Remember, you are better together, you understand each other’s goals, and you’re motivated to think beyond yourselves. Practice with kids, and teach them new skills that might be beneficial – building a fire, basic first aid, cooking on a grill, etc.
De-clutter your home.
Be someone else’s solution! When you are prepared, you are better positioned to help others. Know your neighbors, and get involved in your community.