No matter where you live, you are not immune from disasters.
But one thing remains the same with all natural disasters: You need an emergency kit.
And its possible to build an emergency kit on a budget.
Getty Images
Hopefully you keep sufficient batteries, bottled water and canned food in your home in case of emergencies.
If not, its time to stock up.
But preparing for a natural disaster doesnt have to be expensive.
If you live in an apartment, fallen trees or limbs wont be your responsibility to clean up.
But if youre a homeowner, you could have major yard work on your hands after a storm.
Think about what tools and supplies you may need or what you could borrow.
7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People
Do you avoid people too?
Enough small talk.Here are some waysto earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff.
Check with neighbors to see what equipment they have, then pool together for the cleanup.
You may already have a lot of the tools chainsaws, clippers, shovels, etc.
you need for post-disaster cleanup.
Its also smart to store items youd need if you were trapped after a severe storm.
A whistle lets you signal to rescuers that youre there.
While its unlikely youll find yourself in this situation, its still best to be prepared.
Figure out whatyouremergency kit needs and prioritize those items.
Dont Miss:6 Companies That Send People Money When Theyre Asked Nicely
2.
Prep for Free
Some of your preparation wont cost you a dime.
Its all about gathering stuff you already have, like cell phone chargers, maps and emergency cash.
Instead of buying it by the flat, considerbottling your own water.
Use bleach-purified, leftover two-liter bottles and municipal water treated with water purification tablets.
Just dont use milk or juice cartons, which can harbor bacteria.
Date your bottles and replace them every six months.
If youll need water for hygienic purposes, clean your bathtub, then fill it with cold water.
Filling the tub is only a tactic for those who will be staying in their homes rather than evacuating.
The CDC recommendsstoring at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.
These are all items you might keep an eye on for sales when doing your regular grocery shopping.
Stock up using BOGO or money-off deals or look for these items at discount grocery stores.
Youll also need to consider any special food requirements in your household.
If you have a baby, stock up on jars of puree and cans of formula.
Its nice to have something fresh to eat, and those fruits tend to keep for a while.
you’re free to save further bybuying in bulk, so long as you do so smartly.
Finally, consider battery-free emergency additions, likewind-up flashlightsandweather radios.
Cans of tuna on BOGO?
Put your get-ones into your stash.
Canned vegetables on clearance?
Buy a bunch to keep on hand for an emergency.
Oh, and dont forget theFix-a-Flat tire repair aerosolthat can temporarily patch a flat tire.
you might find this product at your local grocery store, Walmart or Target.
In case you do need a last-minute item, include disaster prep in your savings budget.
Gather Important Documents
An important part of any emergency kit that you might not consider involves personal documents.
check that you keep copies of anything you might need if youre evacuated from your home during an emergency.
see to it you have asecure passwordfor wherever you store your important documents.
What about needing to call an official government organization to help with emergency management?
Information gathered by contributor Jamie Cattanach was used in this post.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code
