We all know the impact of the coronavirus and take precautions against the infection. Can you spare a few more minutes to evaluate your readiness for other types of catastrophes? Do you have a disaster kit and emergency plan ready?

I have been working in hospitals for over a decade. We have routine fire drills to keep all staff ready. Do you have a plan for a house fire at home? Is your smoke detector working?   

Last week, a writer friend suffered a house fire, which spread so quickly she had only minutes to get out. Here are her own words about her escape: I had 2 minutes to get my mom and me out, and I had to crawl through smoke and heat and sparks, knowing I was losing air and brainpower, and very much at risk of passing out and burning alive. 

She was at her mom’s house, and their smoke alarm battery was dead. In her own words, she urges everyone: Go right now, today, and check your smoke alarms and practice your exit routes. Fix anything between you and a quick escape.

What about an earthquake, tornado, and flood? Make or buy a disaster kit, get your radio ready, flashlights, your medications, eyeglasses, figure out the meeting place in case your family is separated.

Keep a copy of all your important medical and financial information to make it easier to get help.

Once a year, check your disaster kit and update your emergency plan, so everyone in the family is on the same page.

After you’ve taken these steps to get ready, sit back and relax. Don’t worry about the things you can’t control.

Live prepared and live to the fullest.

Spend your money and time on the things meaningful to you and let other things go.

We aren’t perfect, so we only aim for what is good enough.

And one day, we’ll look back and say, hey, our life really is pretty good.