How Badly Would A Disaster Affect You?

But even if you would no way, no how, never trust your family on a bicycle for regular trips, it's a good idea to have a working bicycle; or at least a really great pair of walking shoes and some sturdy rubber boots for good measure - in case of emergency. You can figure out how and where you might need to go in an emergency by checking with your local disaster readiness group (another guarantee: that somewhere near you is a group of people who has thought this through). Equip yourself with whatever gas-free mode of transportation is appropriate. You never know, you might decide you want to start trying this alternative transportation once a week… or twice…

Fourth: Emergency fund

Yep. This is probably obvious. You know you should have an emergency fund. I'm working hard to develop one of my own! It's certain that a hurricane hitting your town would count as an emergency, and it could be that your regular work is interrupted - or, if you're like so many people, your paycheck comes from another state altogether, and it could get disrupted in a storm far away from home. Keep some amount of this fund (at least a few hundred dollars) in cash, where you can access it easily.

Fifth: Insurance audit

Another one you could have thought up on your own. But, it's a good idea to do an audit of your homeowner's or renter's and automobile insurance policies regularly. Lots of localities make it hard to get flood insurance, but it can't hurt to ask, and be as covered as you can in the event of a disaster. Think: you'll have to replace everything on your ground floor and basement if it floods. Everything. Even with low-interest government loans offered after disasters, that could get spendy.

Sixth: Stuff audit

I heard an interview with someone on NPR after Sandy, a man who had recently moved his wife's stockpile of stuff from a storage container to their basement to save money. Among this stuff, a collection of ornaments. These ornaments were, obviously, a complete loss.

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