Be Ready for Spring and Summer Weather Situations.
Submitted by skbeal on Thu, 03/20/2008 - 10:08
(4 votes)
In 2005, I discovered that it's not a good idea to wait until disaster is imminent to prepare yourself for these situations. I have some suggestions that will help you be prepared - whether you need to evacuate or whether you will be staying at home.
The first thing everyone should do is purchase a waterproof and fireproof lock able box or safe so that you can place all important papers and documents there. Make sure you are able to lift the box. You will have to take it with you in the event that you need to evacuate your home. Keep all insurance records, medical documents, marriage licenses, social security cards, property deeds, important telephone numbers and other important information there. Make sure that all family identification is easily accessible. Make sure you have phone numbers for your insurance companies (car, home, health) doctors, all family members, friends you would contact in an emergency, employers, bank, and so forth.
Make sure that you have plenty of flash lights, batteries, a generator if possible (and if it's safe to use,) a weather radio (battery powered,) a 12 volt power supply so that you can hook it up to your car and use that to recharge cell phone batteries if necessary.
If you are at home and threatened by severe weather or tornados, make sure you have piles of blankets and pillows that you can use to cover yourself. Have a plan so that all members of your family know where they are to go for safety. An interior room that has no windows or a bathroom (in the tub if necessary) is the safest place you can go if you don't have a basement. Stay away from windows. Keep a stash of emergency food on hand at all times so you don't have to wait to make a mad dash to the store when the warnings are issued. Things you'd want to have on hand are canned foods that don't require refrigeration, single serving beverages, bottled water, (lots of it,) antibacterial hand sanitizer, paper plates and utensils, lots of paper towels, peanut butter (if it doesn't require refrigeration,) crackers, canned fruits, canned meats, bread, etc. I often get single servings even though it's more expensive. In the end, the added expense of a single serving portion will be cheaper than a larger size container if it can be eaten in one sitting and you don't have to worry about packing it up or refrigerating it. A great way to build up your kit is by buying a few extra canned goods or some extra water every time you buy groceries.
Make sure you have enough batteries and that they are all good. Make sure you have many flash lights. You can also purchase lanterns that run on batteries. They generate a decent amount of light. Don't use candles if you can't see. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum by products and get very hot. In a situation where you can't see and could easily knock a lighted candle over, they will be a fire hazard.
Always have plenty of paper towels, napkins, paper plates and plastic utensils on hand. It's not safe to use regular dishes or utensils if there is no electricity because the water can be contaminated.
Here are some foods I always try to keep on hand for situations like this.
- Canned beans
- Canned fruit - possibly in individual servings.
- Canned meats - tuna, chicken, salmon
- Peanut butter (not the all natural stuff because it needs refrigeration)
- Crackers
- Bread
- Apples or other fruit that can withstand not being refrigerated.
- Water - you need to plan to have 1 gallon of water per person per day on hand.
- Individual servings of juice drinks
Look for cans that can be opened without a can opener.
Keep all medicines in plastic bags in a place where they can easily be retrieved if you need to evacuate - or so that they are protected from water or other conditions.
Know that if you need a hurricane readiness kit or an emergency food supply, that people will dash out to the stores the moment the warnings are issued. If you purchase canned goods and other non-perishables, paper supplies and water well in advance, you will be in good shape. Those things will fly off the shelves of stores so fast that you'll be out of luck if you don't plan for these events in advance.
A weather radio is relatively inexpensive and can be a real life saver. The investment in this small device may mean the difference between life or death, or being safe or being severely injured.
Most of all, heed warnings when they are issued. Make sure that you have a safe place to go, or that your evacuation route is all planned far in advance.
Susan,The Assistant Administrator, the Texas Yankee and the Texas Rangerette.
Having worked for a couple
Having worked for a couple of years in our national disaster recovery programs and having survive an earthquake, a hurricane and war, I am very appreciative of your article. Your practical advice is timely and helpful.
Most of us don't like to be reminded of the necessity of preparing for disasters, but your advice can save the lives of our families, friends and our own.
Doing What We Can to Help Each Other
Good Reminders
Susan, These are good reminders to read over once or twice a year. Here in inland Virginia, we aren't particularly prone to tornados, but they aren't unheard of etither. We do on ccasion get the remnants of a tropical storm. We've had several that have dumped upwards of 15 or 20 inches in the Valley in my 30 years here, and thats a lot of water for our small rivers. We do get big time flooding from them.
"He who plants a tree, plants hope" Lucy Larcom
Wes
Articles Team Leader
"He who plants a tree, plants hope" Lucy Larcom