Emergency ABC - Four Ways to Protect Your Family against Crime during an Emergency or Disaster

Four Ways to Protect Your Family against Crime during an Emergency or Disaster

People who have lost their homes as a result of a disaster are extremely vulnerable to theft. A large amount of thefts occur after an emergency or disaster. This is because there is a chance that the family will not be home. Furthermore, not enough police may be available, because of the large number of people who have lost their homes. In addition, phone lines and cell phone towers may be down. This makes it difficult for families who just lost their homes to protect their belongings.

However, it is not entirely impossible. The following techniques can be used to deter criminals from looting your destroyed home:

Have small valuables locked in a Safe. Find the most durable and most secure safe possible. Inside you can store family heirlooms, wedding rings, gold and silver jewelry, and diamonds. You

can also store rare coins in this. This will help deter theft in case of a disaster. Also, any emergency supplies items such as clothes, food, and medicine can be stored in these. Safes come in a variety of sizes. Contact a local dealer to find one that is right for you. You can also build your own safe. Find a safe and hidden spot in your home, such as inside of a closet. Pour a cement floor into your closet and place your safe inside. Now no one will be able to walk away with your safe.

Join the neighborhood watch team. Take advantage of your local neighborhood watch program. This is one of the most effective forms of crime prevention. The more people involved in watching your home (in turn for you watching theirs), the better chance crime can be prevented. Also if you don't have a working cell phone or telephone line, you will not have to worry. One of your neighbor's phones may still work. This increases the chances of crime prevention during a disaster:

Also, one of the members of the neighborhood watch can document all suspicious activity to use as evidence later. The power of the neighborhood watch is that it provides witness protection. It helps you get your belongings back faster if they are stolen. This is made possible when neighborhood watch members participate. Again, with this system, more crimes can be stopped during a disaster.

Furthermore, if a neighborhood watch is in place, you will have extra protection if your not able to stay home or you are out for the day.

Ways to protect your home in a rural area. You can post "No trespassing" signs, but often they are not affective. For further protection you need to have a weapon to protect your home. Suggested types of guns to use for self defense are a small rifle or pistol. Adults and responsible adolescents with gun licenses can use these to defend the property of our home from intruders. A gun can also help defend you in prevention of more violent crimes, such as murder, rape, or other kinds of assaults. These are found to be less common crimes after a disaster, however, these are possible ways in which a disaster victim can be affected. Violence sometimes occurs to force the victims to comply during theft.

When using a gun for self-protection, be sure to use it carefully and wisely. You would not want any innocent person to get injured or killed. Also, remember it is okay to use a gun for self-defense, but be sure that you have properly assessed the situation. If you do happen to shoot someone, be prepared to prove in court that it was definitely self defense.

Send the rest of your family elsewhere. The best way to protect your family from crime is to have them transferred to a safe place. This would be a pre-planned emergency destination. This place could be a friend, relative, or co-worker's house. It could also be a public shelter open to dealing with disaster victims. It is best to have a route and destination planned ahead of time for quick evacuation.

This list is not necessarily all inclusive, but it is a great start. Please refer to local law enforcement offices, and emergency centers for more disaster crime prevention information. May you and your family be safe, and may you recover as many of your belongings as possible.

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