One thing that Hurricane Katrina taught us is that it is not enough to plan for the immediate disaster survivors must also have enough reserves of whatever they need to get them through until the situation normalizes, or until they can be rescued and moved to a stable situation.

Even if you are not in a hurricane zone, having reserves of necessary items is a good idea. There is no part of the world that is immune from disaster, be it hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, ice and snowstorms, volcanoes or even man-made problems. Although being able to survive and come out of such disasters intact is sometimes a matter of luck, being prepared to outlast the immediate danger can make the difference between coming out alive or not coming out at all.

Here are some steps you can take ahead of time to prepare you and your family to ride out long-term effects of whatever life throws your way:

• Always maintain a reserve of non-perishable food, toiletries, medications and other necessities. Buying in bulk on a regular basis is the easiest way to do this not only does it provide a cushion during a crisis, but it also keeps you from running out in the normal course of things and is usually a money-saver, to boot. And don't forget your transportation! Here's a trick that I've found works well use the half-tank tick on your gas gauge as a psychological "empty." Never let it get below that level it doesn't cost any more than filling it up the normal way, and you never have to face a trip around town (or a sudden disaster) wondering if you have enough gas to make it.

• Set up a "bug-out" kit (see this article for details) ready-packed with important papers and emergency food/supplies for quick and easy survival support in an emergency situation.

• Set up a liquid savings account or fund just for emergencies, preferably in a bank with many national branches, or online with a financial service like PayPal, in case your local branch goes down for the count. Keep your account information handy, either somewhere physically convenient or in an online storage system such as a web-based email account where you can easily access it from anywhere. Keep enough money in this account to get you through at least a few weeks of no-income emergency living, including food, shelter and medications.

• If possible, keep $20-50 in cash in a safe, but easily reachable, place for immediate use in the case of an emergency I recommend keeping it in your bug-out kit with the rest of your emergency supplies.

• Learn to maintain a physical and emotional reserve, as well. Regular meditation, good health practices, and well-honed anger/frustration management skills will make your life infinitely easier in normal times and allow you to cope more effectively when your life is turned upside down.

Disasters like Hurricane Katrina are heart-wrenching and frightening, even to those not directly affected. It's sometimes hard to see how anyone can survive such a violent uprooting. However, maintaining a stable reserve of necessary items and attitudes can keep you prepared to survive and overcome anything that man or nature throws in your direction.