Thanks to modern weather surveillance, it has become easier to spot weather emergencies before they reach populated areas. Even so, emergencies can still appear without much warning, and in case of such an event, you will need to be prepared to keep yourself and your family safe. An easy way to make sure you have everything you need is to prepare a survival kit beforehand and keep it in place that will be easy to find. Make sure it is well-stocked and everyone knows how to use it.
Basic medical supplies for a survival kit would include basic first aid supplies such as cleansing wipes to clean hands and wounds, some kind of antibiotic ointment, adhesive bandages of various sizes, and gauze pads and cloth bandages for larger wounds. Having a fever reducer such as Tylenol or ibuprofen would also be useful, as well as any medications you or your family members are taking. You should also have some water bottles, non-perishable food, a flashlight, extra batteries, clothing for winter, and sleeping bags for each person in your group.
Additional supplies that you should try to keep on hand are a battery-powered radio to listen for alerts, a shirt or dust mask in case the air is dusty, a whistle to signal for help, a mess kit, a tent, a compass, matches kept in some waterproof container, a signal flare, and any personal hygiene items you may need.
If you need to travel in an urban environment and need some form of self-defense, you should carry pepper spray or a stun gun with you. When dealing with either of these, however, it is important to know how to use it properly, remain calm, and not panic. If you panic, you run the risk of accidentally injuring yourself or someone else.