How To Prepare For Life’s Unexpected Emergencies

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Whether you like the idea or not, the fact is that life certainly has a way of throwing some surprises at us – some good, some… not so good. You might find a burst pipe in the middle of the night, perhaps you’ll lose your job, maybe your roof starts to leak during a storm, or you might be diagnosed with some kind of illness – and those are just a few examples of the not so good surprises that can come at you in life. The truth is, emergencies are pretty much inevitable, but being prepared can make all the difference. 

But just how can you prepare for the inevitable but still unpredictable? It sounds impossible, but whether it’s financial, home-related, your health, or anything else, it can be done. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more about how to prepare for life’s unexpected emergencies. 

Photo by Matthias Zomer

Build An Emergency Fund

Money might not solve every problem, but having a financial cushion can make emergencies a lot easier to handle. Imagine if something were to go wrong and you couldn’t get it fixed right away (or at all) because you didn’t have the money to do it; it’s a very real problem that lots of people face every single day. 

When it comes to your emergency fund, a good rule of thumb is to save three to six months’ worth of expenses in a separate, easy-to-access account (ideally one with a good interest rate, if possible – you might as well get a little more for your money). And start small if you have to; just a little each week can make a difference when it comes down to it. Remember, it’s not about saving overnight, but instead it’s about being consistent so that when life throws an expensive surprise your way, you’re ready to tackle it. 

And if an emergency does end up draining your savings, make a plan to rebuild it as soon as possible because you just never know when you’re going to need it again. 

Know Who To Call Before You Need Them 

In a crisis, the last thing you’re going to want to have to do is frantically look for the right person to help you – the time it takes you to do that and decide who to contact could be what makes the problem go from bad to worse, and in an emergency, time is very often of the essence. So having a list of trusted professionals before disaster strikes can save time, money, and a lot of stress – it’s definitely worth it. 

You’ll need a few different people to call, such as a plumber for leaks and burst pipes, a locksmith in case you lose your keys, a mechanic for unexpected car troubles, a trusted electrician for sudden power issues, and an emergency roofing service for damage from storms and other weather, for example. Keep these contacts in your phone, but also write them down and keep that paper safe somewhere because if you can’t access your phone or it’s involved in the emergency somehow, those numbers aren’t going to be much good to you. 

Home Emergency Kit 

You don’t have to be some kind of survivalist to have a good emergency kit in your home – even a basic one is going to be better than nothing, and when a power outage, bad storm, or medical emergency happens, you’ll be glad you went to the trouble of putting an emergency kit together. 

So what should this kind of kit include? Well, it’s going to depend on your home and your circumstances, as well as what you personally need, but some of the general elements include a torch, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water (at least three days’ worth), non-perishable food (tins, dried snacks, and energy bars are great), a tin opener, a battery powered or solar-powered phone charger, a basin toolkit, and your important documents like insurance information, medication records, and emergency contacts). Store everything in an easy-to-reach place so you won’t have any trouble finding it, and replace the items every few months just to ensure you’re completely up-to-date. 

Have A Plan For Extreme Weather

No matter what you think about global warming, it’s an undeniable fact that we’re seeing more extreme weather like storms, floods, and heatwaves than ever before, and being caught off guard when something like that hits can be really dangerous. That’s why having a disaster plan can help you stay safe and calm in an emergency, which isn’t just going to benefit you, but it’s going to help your family and anyone around you as well.

There are different things you’ll need to do depending on the weather you’re experiencing and what you need to protect. In a storm and for heavy rain, for example, you’ll need to secure your outdoor furniture so it doesn’t blow away or get damaged, plus you’ll need to clear your gutters, and be aware that your roof could bear the brunt of things – check it after the storm has passed and get any issues fixed quickly. 

For floods, you should know where your main shut-off valve is for your water, and move valuables and electronics off the floor if you can. And what if it’s extreme heat you’re dealing with? Then you should have plenty of water and cooling options around, like fans or cooling towels, for example. Then there’s snow and ice… keep grit, shovels, and blankets on hand and insulate your pipes so they don’t freeze. 

Sometimes the only thing you’ll be able to do is evacuate your home altogether and deal with whatever happens to it when you get back. Having a ‘grab and go’ bag packed with essentials like cash, medication, a change of clothes, and important documents is a good idea so you can literally pick it up and leave. 

Protect Your Home 

A little preventative maintenance can save you a fortune when it comes to unexpected repairs – you might stop some problems from happening altogether, and even if the problems you’re facing seem small (and therefore seem as though they could be ignored) right now, if you don’t do something about them, they could lead to huge problems down the line. 

A few of the things you can do include checking your roof for missing shingles and leaks (whether the weather is bad or not, it’s wise to do this at least annually, if not twice a year anyway). You should also test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every few months, and inspect your pipes for small leaks. Then there’s the outside – trim any trees near your home because if a branch falls, it could cause some serious damage (not to mention injure someone), and, as we’ve said before, keep your drains and gutters clear to prevent water buildup and flooding. This all might seem like a lot of hard work, but a little home TLC now can prevent disasters and emergencies later, so it’s definitely the right route to take. 

Keep Digital Files Backed Up

Not all emergencies are physical ones – imagine how you’d feel if you lost years of photos, important documents, or work files all because your laptop crashed or your phone got stolen or damaged beyond repair. Then what would you do? 

If everything was backed up, it wouldn’t matter (or at least, it wouldn’t matter quite so much), and the job only takes a few minutes to set up. You can automate it, so that your photos, files, and so on get backed up once a week or whenever works best for you (less than once a week probably isn’t ideal, however), and then you don’t even have to think about it. But despite how easy it is to do, it could be the best thing you do if your tech was to fail (and remember, eventually it will – that’s just how tech works). 

Have An Emergency Communication Plan

In an emergency, communication is key, but what happens if the phone lines go down, your battery dies, or you just can’t get in touch with your loved ones when you need to? That’s why you need to have an emergency communication plan in place ahead of time, and make sure everyone knows about it and what it includes. 

To start your plan, you’ll need to agree on a meeting place for everyone just in case you need to be evacuated – if you get split up or lost or you weren’t together to begin with, you’ll know where to find each other. It’s also wise to write down important phone numbers because the ones you need will likely be on your phone, and if your phone isn’t working, you’ll be stuck. A little planning now means you’ll be less panicked if the time comes when you need to put the plan in place, and that’s really helpful. 

Get Insured

Finally, we need to talk about insurance. Insurance tends to be one of those things that can feel like a waste of money, but when you need it, you’ll be glad you paid for the policy because it could make everything so much better. 

You’ll need to have your home, car, personal belongings, and your health covered to be on the safe side, and when you’re choosing your policy, you should look out for things like what it really covers, whether or not extra help is included, and whether you’re covered for emergencies. Check it all out now so you’re not stranded when the time comes to use it. 

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