Hurricane Wilma, the most powerful hurricane in our nations history, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita’s left behind catastrophic damage. Families were displaced, homes destroyed, and now comes the task of trying to put the puzzle together. This task remains difficult. For those who aren’t in the effected areas, you have no idea how hard the day the day struggles are. You long for life to return to normal, but everyday brings new reminds of the devastation caused by these disasters. And it doesn’t need to be the hurricanes. This year our country has witnessed floods, tornados, and no one can forget the ice storm that affected the north last year.

Diana Ennen, co-author of Home Office Recovery Plan: The Disaster Preparedness Guide for Your Home Business was hit by 8 hurricanes since last August. Hurricane Wilma left catastrophic damage in her city and her home suffered tremendous damage. Without power for two weeks and facing the stress of trying to run a family and business, she advises, "Being prepared for a hurricane or any natural disaster takes away the stress and anxiety. When timing is critical, I want to focus on the safety of my family, not on taking an inventory of my business, or deciding where I need to go. I also need to know that my family members will know how to find me after the disaster.”

Dr. Paulo J. Reyes, a First Responder in California and author of the fiction thriller Sledgehammer http://www.pauloreyes.com has firsthand disaster recovery experience and participated in various disaster relief efforts in California including the Air Mexicana crash in 1986, the last major earthquake in L.A. in 1994, and the influenza epidemic 1997-1998. He advised, "Loss of lives can be greatly reduced if everyone has a complete plan of action prior to the event. Not only with the reduction of heart attacks and stress related illnesses, but people tend to get to safety quicker if they have already planned ahead and know what they are going to do.”

Here are some steps you can take to prepare:

Step One -- If you do not already have flood and windstorm insurance, you should consider getting it. Keep in mind that windstorm insurance policies are not sold when a storm threatens, so you need to think far enough ahead. You can find out about the National Flood Insurance Program through your local insurance agent or emergency management office. Homeowners polices do not cover damage from the flooding that accompanies a hurricane.

Step Two - Identify a safe place for everyone to meet. This pre-determined place should be discussed with family members prior to an emergency. Depending on the type of emergency you are planning, you might want to consider establishing a second location in case the first is inaccessible.

Step Three - In addition to a safe place, each person should have a list of phone numbers for your immediate neighbors and family members not living with you. We suggest using 3X5 index cards and laminating them.

Step Four -- For businesses – You should have client contact phone numbers and email addresses in a safe place so that you can notify them immediately of the situation. Also, prepare a disaster recovery plan and have someone you trust keep a copy of it. This should include vital information including medical information, family and friend’s names, your complete contact information, where valuable information such as wills and trusts and legal documents are kept, serial numbers for equipment and names of equipment and household and business supplies, and a disaster escape route in the event you need to evacuate. Make sure you have back-up all data. Get a generator if possible. If you are without power, that can greatly affect the livelihood of your business.

To prepare your home and business, stop by our site for a sample chapter of the Home Office Recovery Plan, http://www.homeofficerecoveryplan.com. You can also get tips and suggestions on how you can survive a disaster. Dr. Paulo Reyes book is available at his site at http://www.pauloreyes.com.

About The Author

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business & the Home Office Recovery Plan. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.Publicity-VA.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact