One of the advantages of putting some time into being ready for a disaster has to do with the psychological impacts of an emergency. There's a reason that when something happens, every emergency relief worker within earshot will be telling you not to panic. Panic, quite simply, puts your life in danger. The two best ways to combat panic are to make certain that you have some supplies put aside to provide you with food, water and other basics and that you have some method of getting information.

First, a survival kit will provide you with the necessities so that you're not going to be terribly uncomfortable in the event of a disaster. In addition to the survival kit, make certain that you have some blankets, water and, preferably, at least three-day's worth food that you can cook without electricity. Provided you have all of this, there's really no reason to panic. If you have at least two or three day's worth of food and water, your survival kit to handle any emergencies and comfortable bedding, you can actually survive quite comfortably.

The second part of not panicking, information, is far more vital than people tend to think. Unfortunately, for disaster situations people tend to use their computers as all-in-one entertainment devices these days. This means that a battery-powered radio isn't as likely to be lying around the house. You should have one of these devices specifically for emergencies. Being able to tune in to emergency broadcasts and to find out what's really going on is tremendously comforting. Even if finding out what's going on means that you're going to be given an evacuation order, at least you won't have to depend upon unreliable sources to get your information. You'll also be able to get updates as to how the crisis is being handled, which is important for your morale.