In moments of rush and hodgepodge, it’s tough to act upon the measures that are the difference between life and death. Whatever happens, it is essential to rescue your loved ones and valuable property, if your, let’s say, 2 BHK flat in Thane East is subjected to an earthquake. For the same reason, it is essential to practice safety measures just like a sportsman works hard to inculcate the required actions in the muscle memory when you don’t have the time to ponder over the situation. We bring a few tips that will help you to get out of dangerous situations unharmed.
1. Regard all the possible disasters
The first and most logical step is to consider the disasters you might face in your 2 BHK in Mumbai or Thane. This will help you narrow down on the precautions you might need to take. For example, since Maharashtra receives heavy rains, you must know your way out of floods. One should always be careful of earthquakes, in any case. Always be aware of the warnings and precautions issued by local authorities.
2. Memorise the escape routes and possible shelters
When a natural disaster hits, there’s hardly any time to figure out what to do. In case you must evacuate, it will serve you well to know all the details beforehand. Start by looking for the escape routes like small windows in your bathroom.
Include the kids in the preparedness exercises to familiarise them with the planned route and regrouping places. The regrouping location must be near your home or in the society compound. Also, it is indispensable to decide on a shelter like a relative’s or friend’s house apart from shelters provided by the government where everyone can meet.
3. Reconnecting with friends and family
You might find yourself in a situation where mobile networks won’t work, or worse; you might not even have access to a phone. You must figure out common phone areas or other methods to reconnect with your family. Your family will be worried sick if you’re unable to inform them of your condition as soon as possible. More importantly, you should know the important phone numbers by heart.
4. What to do if you’re not at home
You might be at work or in another city for a meeting when an emergency strikes, and you should know how to act even if you’re driving or are at work. Follow the same procedures such as evacuation routes, communication, and reconnecting with kids and family. It would not be out of line to call up your neighbors (after having discussed emergency with them) in case you can’t reach your family. Your kids might even be in school; talk to the administrators to know the communication and evacuation plan for your kids.
There are several other things you could do like making a safety kit and keeping it accessible apart from having special plans for members with special needs like babies and pets. Most importantly, discuss every detail with your loved ones. Finally, you can think about helping the community when your family and friends are safe.