Safety and Security for National Preparedness Month by {Master Lock}

~~Disclosure: Mycouportiera was compensated for this post. I received Master Lock products to facilitate this review and giveaway. The thoughts listed below are base on Katherines personal experience with the product. ~~

When watching the news, often times, hear about devastating hurricanes, tornados or fires. It’s seems, as though, they are happening all the time through out the United States. We are all vulnerable to some type of emergency weather situation. However, we often think, “This won’t happen to ME”. But emergencies catch us off guard all the time and can’t be predicted. Therefore, it’s important to be prepared by safeguarding important information such as our digital memories, important records or any items that will help you and your loved one’s, quickly bounce back from a disasters.

Master Lock, the Experts in Security, is educating consumers on the importance of preparing for emergencies, such as severe weather, that can strike at any time.

Here are 5 five top tips from Master Lock to help families navigate emergency situations:

1. Stay Informed. Don’t let a situation catch you off guard. Be in the know on the latest emergencies by signing up for automated alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA offers a text message program that sends regular safety tips and alerts and allows users to search for open shelters and open disaster recovery centers. For general monthly safety tips, text “PREPARE” to 43362 (FEMA) to sign up. To receive bi-monthly tips specific to a disaster type, text its keyword, such as “HURRICANE” or “TORNADO,” to 43362 (FEMA). For more keywords, visit www.fema.gov/text-messages.

2. Know the Facts. At the time of an emergency, terms used by the news or weather anchor to describe the conditions can be confusing. Understand what the most common terms mean:

Tornado watch:  Means that a tornado is possible
Tornado Warning: Means that one has been sighted and to take shelter immediately.
Flood Watch: Means that flooding is possible
Flood Warning: Means that a flood is occurring or will occur soon

Flashflood Warning: Means that a flashflood is currently happening and to get to high ground immediately.

3. Safeguard Your Stuff. Possessions can be replaced, but critical documents are vital to efficient disaster recovery. Ensure your critical documents, such as identification cards, passports, and insurance policies are always accessible by storing digital copies in a safe place online.

Master Lock offer a free service for your to secure your digital file online, Master Lock Vault Let’s you uploading important documents to a secure digital safe deposit box, all items are protected from fire, flood and theft, and can be accessed from any internet connection or mobile device when they are needed most. Currently, only 15 percent of Americans have digital copies saved and stored online*, leaving them at risk in case of a home emergency.

4. Make a Plan. By preparing for a disaster in advance, families will be able to communicate and cope with the situation at hand more easily.

Before an emergency happens, sit down with family members and decide how to get in contact with each other, map out evacuation routes for the area, determine a neighborhood, out-of-neighborhood and out-of-town meeting place and practice what to do in the event of an emergency. To allow home access to family members and neighbors if needed, securely store keys outside with a Master Lock 5400D or 5422D Lock Box.

5. Gather an Emergency Kit. Build an emergency disaster kit so that it’s ready when needed most.

A basic supply kit should include at least one gallon of water per person for at least three days, a three-day supply of non-perishable food for each person, manual can opener, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, extra batteries, first aid kit, local maps and cell phone with a charger (or solar charger), according to FEMA.

REVIEW

When I was little, I woke up to the outside of my home on fire. It was the most terrifying experience of my childhood. However, one thing, my father did after that event stuck in my mind. After all the dust settled he purchased a fire resistant Security Chest. Although, we where blessed not to lose any of our valuable. My Dad wasn’t going to take any chance on losing important documents, like our car titles, birth certificates, social security cards, marriage license, and other important files. After, I married Justin, the first thing we purchased was, of course a Security Chest.

• I was giving the opportunity to review  Master Lock’s 7149D Security Chest. I really like this box for the following reason:
• It’s much heavier then the current one I have, because it made out a steel construction stands up to daily use, because of the weight of the box, I am not worried about it floating away in flood.
• It large enough to fit a stander size file folder, my current box is a bit on the small side, I have to fold up my marriage license and important files. When I move from my old Security Chest to new Master Lock Security Chest, I will have more space to add other files and I won’t have to crumble the edges of my important documents.
• Its has a fire retardant insulation, which is so important for me being that, I live in California and I can lock it as well, of course.

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