Be prepared for any disaster with preparations in place for your family in case of a natural disaster.

 Be prepared for any disaster with preparations in place for your family in case of a natural disaster.

With this week marking the start of the 2011 hurricane season, as well as the many reported tornadoes over the past several month, there is no better time to take steps to ensure your family remains safe in case of a natural disaster. There is no guarantee of outside help, so homeowners should take control of their own ability to respond to floods, hurricanes, wildfires and other emergencies.

According to a 2008 FEMA survey, more than half of all U.S. households have some sort of disaster preparation in place. If yours isn't one of them, here are some steps you should take:

• Gather important papers, including the deed to your house, proof of insurance, medical records, passports, social security cards and a list of personal contacts, and make several copies of each. Keep one set at home in a portable case and another offsite in a safe place.

• Make sure you know where to find the main electrical and water shutoffs, and have the correct tools handy to turn them. This could save you valuable time in case of an emergency and may spare your home from significant damage.

• Prepare a basic emergency preparedness kit that you can use inside your home or grab quickly in case of an evacuation. Some of the items to include are water, non-perishable food items and a can opener, flashlights and batteries, and a first-aid kit.

• Select a time each year, perhaps on New Year's Day or the start of hurricane season, to make sure you have the most up-to-date paperwork and to check for expired food items.