Every year people are affected by disasters. Lives are lost, property is destroyed and personal effects lost to the unforgiving aftermath of both natural and man-made disasters. The saddest part of such devastation is that most of it could have been averted with the proper preparation. Being prepared does not mean that one won't incur any loss, however, if one prepares properly, it can save lives, homes and personal affects. Proper preparation can also make recovery and dealing with insurance companies and government entities exponentially easier.

When the time comes, you may find yourself needing to evacuate your home. In many cases, you won't have the time to think about all the logistics that go into packing up and getting away from danger. That's why it's important to sit down with your family and discuss everything that needs to be done, should disaster strike.

Catastrophic events like earthquakes, floods, traffic accidents or a burglary can be traumatic enough for an adult. For a child, this experience can be far more devastating. Parents, both during and after the event can do a great deal to make a child understand what is going on and acknowledge the fear associated in the event. Children aren't going to stop worrying just because parents minimize the danger they face, and they should be careful not to neglect the emotional needs of children as they cope with disaster.

Having a home evacuation plan and knowing how to enact it can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, only a small number of families (25 percent) have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure they could escape quickly and safely. Making a family escape plan should involve all members of your family. So take the time to gather your family together to make a step by step emergency escape plan. Include children in the planning as well.

When a disaster occurs, being hearing-impaired can offer unique challenges that you must prepare for.  As someone who has partial or nor hearing, following the advice below can truly make your experience less frustrating and will empower you through the ordeal.

Pets can feel stress every bit as much as a human being can, and this is no different when talking of natural disasters. When dealing with the "before", "during", and "after" of disaster, don't make a mistake of leaving your pets out of the equation! While we advocate building an emergency kit for disasters, families can often neglect to consider the needs of their pets. Your pet is a member of your family and should be considered so when making decisions regarding family safety.