With all the bad things that have been happening in the world lately, it's gotten me thinking about disaster preparedness. Now, there's no way that any amount of preparation can make things okay in situations like the Las Vegas terrorist shooting or the overwhelming devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, but some preparation can help you be safer and more comfortable.

So, here are some things you can do:

• Before you do anything else, contribute what you can to the folks struggling to survive the recent disasters. Give a little bit to each disaster, give more to one, whatever you want. But please give what you can.
• Make it a practice to keep some basic supplies in case you can't get to the store or in case the stores can't be restocked. These supplies might include the following: non-perishable foods, particularly those that do not require cooking; flashlights and extra batteries; candles, blankets, a first aid kit, a battery-operated radio, and water.
• Get into good habits that keep you prepared for anything. Keep your phone charged and have a spare battery or other extra charge available just in case. Try to have a small amount of cash in the house in case you can't access an ATM or a bank. If you are on any medications, renew your prescriptions as soon as they are eligible so that do not run the risk of running out and not being able to refill.
• Though unlikely, there's always a chance that you might have to evacuate. If things get to that state, you aren't going to have time to make careful plans. So do some thinking ahead of time. What would you need to take with you? What essential possessions, documents, and memories would you want to have with you? Where could you go? If you became separated from your family, is there a meeting place where you could reunite or a person who could be the connection point? How would you care for your pets? These plans aren't set in stone, but you should have an idea, just in case.
• If you aren't in a particular disaster zone, how can you help? Do you save money so that you can donate to good causes? Can you welcome evacuees into your home? Can you foster pets temporarily? Can you volunteer to help providing first aid or help in rebuilding?

Hopefully, you'll never need to use any of these plans, but a little preparation can go a long way to easing the stress of difficult times and to keeping you safe.