Just like packing for vacation, we tend to pack for everything that could possibly happen while we are gone and that usually includes over-packing and forgetting essential items. This goes hand in hand with prepping also. Here are 10 common prepping mistakes to avoid while preparing you and your family:

Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms and can appear at the drop of a hat. They appear as rotating funnel clouds and their winds can reach up to 300 miles per hour and can travel for quite some time, damaging everything in their paths. With tornado season upon us, it’s important to know the steps that you and your family should take to be prepared before, during, and after a tornado.

This winter, for most, has been a winter of highs and lows; and we mean that quite literally. The temperature has been all over the place for a majority of the United States and it’s never too late to get yourself and your family prepared for the next wave of cold air.

Disasters can be one of the most stressful situations to be involved in, but training yourself to not only pack your belongings and your family but also packing your patience for the long road ahead can make this dark cloud of disaster seem a little bit brighter. Emergency preparedness doesn’t just include having your supplies and plan together, it also includes having a healthy (and prepared) mental state.

Most of us think that when we pack for three days that we are just going on a trip and will return to the rest of our belongings, but what if you had to pack for three days with things that could save your life and there is no guarantee you will return to the rest of your things? What would you bring?

FEMA and their Ready.gov website now promote personal preparedness. The agency recommended that all homes be ready for emergencies with a supply of no less than two weeks of food & water.

In the U.S. in 2016, we had a number of major disasters, natural disasters, and emergency situations come up as a nation. According to FEMA, we’ve had everything from severe storms & flooding, to hurricanes, to tornadoes, to landslides/mudslides, to winter storms and blizzards. So how can you prepare for these emergencies and keep your family safe?

In life, there are always going to be situations outside of our control. Life’s emergencies often come with no warning and hit harder than originally thought. From minor emergencies to full-on disasters that can bring us to our knees. And when we see or hear about people caught in one of these emergencies and they (and their communities) aren’t prepared for what happened that it startles us into wanting to take some action on our own.

Fukushima tsunami warning lifted after strong quake hits Japan. A tsunami warning was issued for waves up to three metres has been issued after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit northeastern Japan. People were being warned to evacuate low-lying areas and Tokyo Electric Power Co was checking its nuclear plants for any damage.

One night you suddenly see a drone hovering next to a window of your home. Outraged, you shoot it down. Somebody calls the police because they heard a firearm discharged, and ten minutes later you hear a knock on your door.