Hurricane Preparedness Tips from Master Lock - Review & #Giveaway

***Complimentary product received in exchange for an honest review***

From hurricanes to tornados or fires, every state in the United States is vulnerable to some type of emergency weather situation. Just in time for National Preparedness Month this September, Master Lock is educating consumers on the importance of preparing for emergency situations, such as severe weather, that can strike at any time.

"We often think that emergencies won't happen to us," said Mario Armstrong, The Digital Lifestyle Expert™ and Master Lock representative. "In reality, emergencies catch families off guard all the time, which can make our digital lives very vulnerable. Technology is making it easier than ever to stay informed of emergencies and safeguard what's most important in these situations -- our loved ones, our digital memories and the items that can help us with a speedy recovery."
Master Lock offers five top tips 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.

FEMA also supports Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) that sends free texts messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of a severe weather event, AMBER emergency or dangerous local situation. To learn more about these alerts and how to activate them, visit www.ready.gov/alerts.

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:
According to FEMA, a tornado watch means that a tornado is possible, but a tornado warning means that one has been sighted and to take shelter immediately.

However for flooding -- the leading cause of weather-related death -- a watch means that flooding is possible, a flood warning means that a flood is occurring or will occur soon, while a flashflood warning notes 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, such as the Master Lock Vault. By uploading important documents into this free, 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. Almost half of Americans do not have an evacuation plan and/or shelter, food and water readily available should they experience a severe weather emergency*. 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.

My Thoughts


Last October, my little corner of the world was hit hard by Super Storm Sandy. Personally, I was very lucky. My home was untouched and our business had only minimal damage. Many others didn't fair as well. Entire towns were devastated by flood waters and many homes were lost. The tips above offer great advice for how to prepare to this type of disaster. As a former insurance agent, I'll give you one more tip when it comes to hurricanes. Rising water is NEVER covered on a homeowners policy. If you live in a coastal region, even if you're not in a flood zone,  make sure you have both homeowners AND flood insurance. Rates for flood insurance in preferred areas are very reasonable, but there is a one month waiting period. So don't wait until the last minute. Get a policy NOW.

Now that I've got that out of the way, another thing that is a must have if you live in a flood area is a lock box. Any important papers that aren't easily replaced, like birth certificates, car titles, social security cards, etc, should always be stored in this type of box. I even like to throw in some of my favorite photos, just in case the worst happens, so I know I won't lose all my cherished memories. When it comes to lock boxes, Master Lock has always been the best. I have an old one I had since high school, and I won't tell you how long ago that was, but its still shiny and looks brand new.

The new Jumbo Security Chest from Master Lock is just as sturdy, and I'm certain it will last for just as long. Despite the heavy steel construction, the box is light weight and easy to carry around or move from one spot to another. If you need to grab it in an emergency, it's not going to way you down. Inside its very roomy with plenty of space for all your important papers. It even comes with a few envelopes so you can document what papers you're storing.  The chest comes with four keys that turn easily in the lock. Its both fire and water resistant so all your important information is protected under any conditions.

If you follow the simple steps listed above and make sure you have a good security chest, you'll be set for any emergency, not just hurricanes. Its always good to be prepared. Always have a plan and never wait until the last minute.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a Master Lock Jumbo Security Chest. To enter just fill out the rafflecopter form below Open to the US only. Giveaway will end 9/29/13. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Master Lock for offering this fantastic prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. Please note New Age Mama is not responsible for the delivery of this prize and cannot be held accountable if, for any reason, it is not received. Furthermore, New Age Mama is in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***