Preparing Your Family for Any Life Situation

Several years ago, wildfires swept through an area not far from the Daly home. We were forced to evacuate.

Emergencies can strike any of us at any time. We’re never promised an easy life without worries. Where you live might be susceptible to wildfires, hurricanes, or tornadoes. And we all face the risk of job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or the death of a loved one. How we react to these situations is what’s important. We can either live in fear, or we can live in wisdom.

Years ago, the townhouse two doors down from Kathi Lipp and her family caught fire. Thankfully, their home remained untouched, but the fire was too close for her comfort. The chaos of that night inspired Kathi to create a plan that would prepare her family for those moments when the unexpected happens.

It’s in that spirit of wisdom that we’ve invited Kathi Lipp to be our guest on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Preparing Your Family for Any Life Situation.” She’s offering simple, realistic, and tangible steps that will prepare your family for difficult circumstances that might arise.

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.

Hear our full conversation on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.

Kathi’s book Ready for Anything: Preparing Your Heart and Home for Any Crisis Big Or Small is available for a gift of any amount. Visit our website or give us a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459). If you can’t afford it, we’ll find a way to get it to you.

I also want to remind you about Focus on the Family’s See Life 2021. Focus is combining the convenience of an online experience with the power of an in-person live event. This engaging pro-life initiative premiered across Focus on the Family’s websites and social media channels on Friday, July 16^th. Each Friday since then, another episode of See Life 2021 has debuted, offering powerful testimonies from women and men whose lives have been impacted by abortion and practical information about the pro-life movement for families. Tomorrow, Saturday, August 28^th, See Life 2021 will culminate with a LIVE celebration of life at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas-Fort Worth. We’d love to see you there! For details, visit FocusontheFamily.com/seelife.