Editorial: It always pays to be prepared

The Massive storm and huge swells have knocked parts of these houses and a pool halfway into the ocean at Coloroy beach on Sydneys northern beaches. Photo / Damian Shaw, Daily Mail Australia

The rain is making headlines around the world.

Last week we saw pictures of the overflowing Seine River in Paris. Torrential rain shut the metro and the Louvre Museum so some of the world's most famous paintings could be moved to safety. Across the border in Germany there were also cars floating down streets in Simbach.

In America it has been pouring in Texas with people having to be rescued from their flooded homes off the Brazos River. At least 16 people have died in the flooding that has seen rivers rise to levels not seen in a 100 years.

And, closer to home, wild weather has been hitting the east coast of Australia with about 500 homes needing to be evacuated in New South Wales.

On top of this huge seas have been lashing Sydney's northern beaches.

It seems to be raining everywhere apart from Hawke's Bay where we could do with a drop.

Between February and April we have had less than average rainfall and less than 50 per cent of the usual May rainfall.

The wild weather abroad got me thinking about emergency kits.

Despite our current dry spell, you never know when an earthquake may hit or a storm heads our way.

Since the Christchurch earthquakes I keep spare clothes, water and a torch in my car but would it be enough? Probably not.

The Government's Get Ready, Get Thru website has it all covered from creating a household emergency plan to survival items and having a getaway kit.

Why not take a look as it pays to be prepared.

Just because the wild weather is not on our doorstep doesn't mean we can't plan for it.