Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?
Are You Prepared for a Natural Disaster?
by Nicole DellaSantina, MPH, FAACT Vice President of Public Health
As we start the new year, let’s give ourselves, our families, and our communities a gift they can use all year long: the gift of preparedness.
Unfortunately, access to safe foods and medications can change without notice. Whether it’s a winter power outage, summer vacation detour, school/workplace challenge, or supply chain disruption, planning ahead can protect your family during unexpected events.
Here are five ways to prepare now and help others feel safe and supported throughout the year.
- Safety at Home
Creating or refreshing your Go-Bag (for quick evacuations) and Stay-Bag (for sheltering in place) is an act of care for your family and others. Once your plan is in place, share your checklists with relatives, friends, or other food allergy families who might not know where to start.
Be sure to include:
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- Allergy-safe, non-perishable foods
- Extra epinephrine and medications
- Emergency contacts and allergy action plans
- Flashlights, batteries, chargers, and comfort items
You can even gift a starter kit, including safe snacks and emergency essentials, to loved ones for birthdays or other special occasions. These acts of generosity remind others that safety is a gift—one that can be shared.
- Peace of Mind
We all face situations that can heighten our emotions and fatigue. Setting realistic expectations, maintaining routines, and protecting downtime are important parts of preparedness. Emotional and behavioral health matter, and taking care of your mind and energy helps you show up for yourself and others.
Visit FAACT’s Behavioral Health Resource Center to get tips on self-care for every member of the family.
- Food Access
Safe foods aren’t equally accessible. Specialty foods can be expensive, and allergy-friendly options are often missing from community food drives and emergency shelters. As you plan your charitable giving for the year, consider making a financial donation to your local food pantry or community organization. Monetary gifts go further because they allow teams to purchase the allergy-safe and culturally appropriate foods their clients need most.
You can take it a step further by asking how your donation could help expand their allergy-friendly offerings or whether they partner with college or community pantries that serve students with food allergies. When your community is informed and better equipped, everyone benefits.
- Community Connections
Preparedness works best when it’s shared. When food allergy families connect with schools, neighbors, and local organizations, everyone becomes stronger.
Here are a few ways to start building those connections:
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- Talk with your child’s school about emergency food supplies and offer to share allergy-safe suggestions.
- Reach out to a local food pantry to ask if they accept allergy-friendly donations, or you can help them start.
- Share your Go-Bag or Stay-Bag ideas in local parent or allergy groups. Your plan might inspire another family to prepare.
- Exchange contact info with neighbors and explain your family’s allergy needs so you can support each other in an emergency.
Small steps like these build awareness, confidence, and community care, making it easier for everyone to stay safe.
- Knowledge
Staying informed is one of the best ways to stay ready. FAACT’s Roundtable Podcast offers great discussions for families looking to strengthen their safety plans and learn from experts and peers.
Episode 218 – Emergency Preparedness: Learn about emergency preparedness and how to create the perfect Go- and Stay-Bags.
Episode 241 – Tools for Managing Stressful Food Allergy Moments: Get tips on how to navigate hard or stressful food allergy situations.
Preparedness doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Taking a few small steps—such as packing safe snacks, connecting with a local pantry, or updating your disaster and emergency preparedness plan—can make a big difference. When we plan ahead, advocate locally, and raise awareness together, we build safer, stronger communities for everyone.
