Are You Ready for a Storm?

9/25/2015 (Permalink)

You wouldn’t wait until December 24 to start preparing for Christmas, so why wait until a storm is predicted to begin preparing for that event. As someone who works well under the pressure of a deadline, I understand how attractive procrastination can be. But when it comes to the safety of my family and taking care of my property, I cannot put off until tomorrow what should be dealt with today. When you plan before a crisis, you have the benefit of clarity of thought and therefore your action plan will be complete and hopefully your emergency kit will contain a few unexpected pleasures.

According to the website, ready.gov, there are several plans to put into place now so that you can rest somewhat easy when television stations across the state preempt favorite television shows to talk about an approaching storm.

1. Have a plan in place for receiving emergency alerts and make sure all family members know where to meet in case the family is separated before or during an event. Cell phone coverage will most likely be limited so know where the closest emergency shelter is and consider making that your meeting place. Make a paper list of contact numbers and make sure all members of the family have a copy of the list. Just as an aside, don’t you miss the days when we could memorize our children’s and parents’ telephone numbers?

2.  Emergency Kit. While most people know that it is important to put together an emergency kit, the majority of people do not know what items to put into the kit. After all, one person’s necessity is another person’s, “what the heck is that doing in here?” According to ready.gov, the kit should contain one gallon of water per person for at least three days, a flashlight with batteries, medications, a first aid kit, a whistle to signal for help, pliers or a wrench to turn off water or utilities, a manual can opener, and non-perishable canned goods. The kit can also contain games that the family can play or small toys and activities, depending on the age of your children. Consider including some hygiene products, such as hand sanitizer, wet cloths, and deodorant. Since you are preparing this kit well in advance of a storm, consider putting in some nice to have items, such as chocolate or other treats. Yes, you should change those items out with a fresh supply every few months.

3.  Alternative Energy Solutions. If you have a backup power generator, make sure that it has been installed by a licensed electrician and has been tested. If the generator is gas powered, be sure that it is located a safe distance from the home. If you are using a fireplace or wood stove as a heat source during power loss, make sure that you have enough wood to keep warm for at least three days and that the home is properly ventilated. Check on neighbors—especially elderly neighbors—to make sure they are warm and safe. While a gas grill can be a great alternate cooking source, NEVER bring it inside the home or into garage.

4. If the power does go out, chances are gas stations will not have power either and therefore, pumps will not work. Make sure that your vehicle’s gas tank is full and that there is gas for the generator and snow blower.

September is hurricane preparedness month so take a few days to consider the items you use on a daily basis, the things your children love and that bring them comfort and make sure that as many of those items as possible are in your emergency kit. When a hurricane or severe snow storm does hit, it can be very inconvenient and uncomfortable. Being prepared for the storm can take away some of that discomfort and even make surviving a few days without power a fun memory.