Snowstorm and rain cause massive traffic jams and power outages 1:03
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From earthquakes in California to hurricanes in the Atlantic, natural disasters can create life-threatening situations.
These disasters vary a bit in the ways you prepare.
For example, you don't necessarily need to move fragile items to the floor in a hurricane like you would in an earthquake.
Here are some basics to prepare for any natural disaster.
Tune in to local radio, NOAA radio, or local TV stations
Forever.
These will feature the latest information on the path of the storm, fire, or whatever is heading your way.
It's a good idea to find these channels ahead of time, so you're not struggling at the last minute to tune in.
Motorists stranded for hours in a winter storm that left more than 400,000 without power
Stock your home with non-perishable food, water, and medicine
You should prepare supplies for at least a week.
Fill plastic bottles with water and stock up on canned foods, the kind you can open without an electric can opener.
You will also want bread, butters, etc.
And don't forget about prescription drugs.
LOOK: What to do during an earthquake?
Fill your car with gasoline
If you have to evacuate quickly, the last thing you need to do is fight the long lines at the gas station or burn out before reaching your destination.
Store important documents like passports, social security cards, etc., in a waterproof container
Losing these critical documents could make matters worse, but they are easy to forget in an emergency.
If you are evacuating, be sure to take them to your new destination.
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Have a first aid kit ready
This includes aspirin, bandages in various sizes, antibiotic creams, gauze pads, hand sanitizer, latex gloves, an emergency blanket, insect repellent, thermometers, tweezers, etc.
You can never be too prepared.
Stay away from stagnant waters and floods
After Hurricane Katrina, studies showed that affected areas had an increase in West Nile virus due to mosquitoes growing in standing water.
But floodwaters can also transmit disease, be contaminated with sewage, or hide dangerous objects.
Don't use tap water
In floods or hurricanes, tap water can become contaminated and unsafe.
In severe thunderstorms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people avoid being near pipes to avoid being struck by lightning.
MORE: How to Prepare for a Hurricane? Some recommendations that could save your life
Charge your phone
And keep it in low battery mode.
Phones are good for keeping maps close at hand.
Download to save on data or battery life, and save important pages.
Prepare your house
Depending on the natural catastrophe you are facing, this can mean anything from covering and covering windows (for hurricanes and tornadoes) to cleaning the roof and gutters (for wildfires).
For earthquakes, you need to screw and hold things like water heaters and gas appliances, and make sure you can turn off the gas valves.
Don't forget about the animals
Pets, farm animals, and wild animals can be displaced during natural disasters.
Make sure your animals have tags so that if they are separated they can be found later.