Disasters will strike. Will you be ready?

California has counted well over 300 disaster declarations since the federal government began using the designation in 1953. That’s more than any other state. Quakes, fires and floods top the list. Researchers say climate change is becoming an increasing part of the picture, with warmer temperatures inducing longer heat waves, prolonged periods of drought, extreme winds that increase fire danger and force blackouts, and storms packed with additional moisture.

With a pandemic sure to complicate how we respond, preparation is more important now than ever.

Emergency experts say that while few people have a strategy, planning can make a big difference in how you and your loved ones weather the unexpected.

You can’t know when the next big disaster will hit, but this guide will help you prepare.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Cal Fire crews stage above Lake Berryessa while fighting the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in August.