Natural disasters are happening one after the other as climate change intensifies. Floods are worse due to the more intense and persistent rainfall. Wildfires are more frequent because of altered precipitation patterns and lengthened fire seasons. Hurricanes are more potent due to warmer ocean temperatures and heavier rains.

All of these highlight the need to prepare for disasters — now more than ever. Choosing sustainable solutions can save your family while supporting the planet’s health. Even if you have a disaster-resilient home, preparation for prolonged isolation and lack of easy access to food and water can be lifesaving.

Why Sustainable Disaster Preparation Matters

In 2023, just 51% of Americans believed they were prepared for when disaster strikes, according to a FEMA report. Around 48% assembled or updated their emergency disaster supplies. Traditional emergency kits rely on single-use plastics and fossil fuel-powered equipment. 

While effective in the immediate aftermath of disasters, these options contribute to more environmental harm and long-term waste problems. Going green ensures your preparedness and also minimizes your carbon footprint.

Create a Sustainable Emergency Kit

An emergency go-bag is a portable kit stocked with essentials needed to survive a few days away in shelters and safe zones. Eco-responsible and practical items include the following:

• Non-perishable food: Choose organic canned goods and freeze-dried meals in compostable containers to ensure minimal food packaging waste. Buy bulk staple foods like rice, lentils and oats and store them in reusable glass jars or stainless steel canisters. Take care when purchasing biodegradable products, which might not always match the durability or sterility of traditional options.
• Water purification: Bottled water is a good short-term option, but you also produce waste with every drink. To reduce plastic waste, opt for a portable water filtration system, purification tablets or a gravity-fed water filter. These effectively remove bacteria and parasites in the water while still being lightweight enough to carry.
• First aid supplies: Use biodegradable bandages instead of single-use plastic ones. Stock up on organic cotton gauze and refillable glass or aluminum containers for antiseptics.
• Multipurpose tools: While disposable batteries can keep your devices usable, they will soon be used up and end as additional waste. A more sustainable option is to go for solar-rechargeable batteries. These can power flashlights and radios without producing unnecessary trash.
• Hygiene products: Most wet wipes are not biodegradable and take hundreds of years to degrade if disposed of incorrectly. Opt for compostable wet wipes made of cellulose that decompose faster than traditional wipes. Use soap instead of detergents for both body hygiene and dishwashing, as soap molecules are more biodegradable.
• Storage solutions: Store emergency water supplies efficiently in food-grade buckets, collapsible water tanks, or water bladders. And there is a bonus: the containers can be reused after the emergency.
• Digital documentation: Store important documents, such as insurance, medical records, and identification, in cloud storage or encrypted USB drives to reduce paper usage. Digital backups keep them safe without risking physical damage to the copies.

Secure Your Home

Strengthening your home against natural disasters protects your family and reduces the environmental impact of rebuilding.

Flood Protection

Properly placed sandbags minimize water damage in the home, but they’re not always effective as the water eventually seeps through. Additionally, once they are used, the wet bags can grow mold and will need to be thrown out — which means buying more once they’re contaminated with flood water. 

A more sustainable and cost-effective option is to install temporary water-filled cofferdam flood barriers to divert water from the home. These water-filled barriers can handle up to 75% of their height in external mud and water depths.

Wind and Earthquake Resistance

Items in the house can wobble and fall in strong winds and earthquakes. Take time before an emergency to secure heavy furniture and appliances with wall straps to prevent injuries during seismic events. You should also reinforce doors and windows with storm shutters or plywood to prevent them from getting off their hinges.

Fire Preparedness

In 2022, there were 374,300 reported residential building fires. Cooking was named as the leading cause of most blazes. Always keep a well-maintained fire extinguisher in the kitchen and install non-toxic, biodegradable fire retardants around your home.

Storm-Proofing

Familiarize yourself with the specific dangers in your home and yard. Trim hazardous trees that may uproot and land on buildings. Remove dead or overhanging branches to reduce fire hazards and storm damage. Secure loose objects like deck furniture that strong winds can pick up. If you own a trampoline, turn it upside down to reduce the surface area exposed to the elements. You should also reinforce your roofing to ensure you can be safe indoors during a storm.

Maintain Alarm Systems

Regularly check that your fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and emergency exit doors are functioning correctly before and after emergencies occur.

Establish a Communication Plan

Clear communication can be lifesaving in times of disaster. Your family should have a preplanned strategy for staying connected: 

• Emergency contacts: Store important phone numbers in your phone and on a physical written list—keep a copy in your go bag and car to ensure you can remain in contact even if you lose one copy of the list.
• Meeting points: Designate meetup locations away from your home in case family members get separated during an emergyency. Choose the adjacent sidewalk near your home or a grocery store parking lot outside the affected area. 
• Practice sending messages: Text messages often work when calls do not, so practice sending updates during drills. Arrange for younger family members to be designated contacts to help the elderly members if they ever get separated from the group.
• Backup power sources: Keep a hand-crank or solar-powered phone charger available to maintain communication.

Stay Informed

Knowledge is a crucial part of disaster preparedness. Stay up to date with potential risks in your area:

• Weather alerts: Sign up for emergency notifications through local weather services and government agencies.
• Insurance coverage: Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure adequate coverage for disasters like floods, earthquakes and wildfires.
• Emergency drills: Regularly practice evacuation procedures and review safety protocols with your household, especially as seasonal hazards like typhoons and wildfires come around.

Responsible Resilience Is Key To Disaster Preparedness

Green disaster preparedness ensures you and your family remain safe while reducing environmental harm. Climate change is already worsening each natural disaster year by year, with U.S. disaster costs having risen by almost 400% compared to the 1980s.

Trying to reduce your waste as you face the new climate hazards with proactive and responsible preparation can help you protect your home and the planet at the same time. Maybe if you give it a break, Mother Nature will return the favor.

About the Author

Jane Marsh is the Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co, a source of sustainable living ideas.