Well here in “safe” Upstate NY we’ve suffered through an earthquake (very minor) a hurricane and major flooding all within the space of 3 weeks. Elsewhere in the US folks have been suffering through droughts, forest fires and blackouts.
Kinda gets you thinking about disasters and their effects on your lives, doesn’t it? What would have happened if we had a power outage lasting days or even weeks? What if the water was unsafe (as it was post flood down in Binghamton) and a boil water notice was in effect? What would you do if your family had to evacuate-as many of my neighbors one block over had to. . .
What can I do so that I am not that person who is standing in the grocery store looking at the picked over shelves and wondering how I’m going to keep the family warm if the power goes out in a blizzard?
Photo by Jacked01
I’ve been thinking about these things a LOT lately, so I thought I’d do a couple of posts to talk about being prepared for disaster.
Today let’s start out by seeing what FEMA recommends–after all, they are the government’s answer to disaster!
Although each situation is individual, there are some ideas and guidelines out there to get you thinking. FEMA recommends that families have a disaster supply kit at home, in their car and at work (since you never know where you will be when disaster strikes). This kit should contain essential food, water, and supplies for at least three days.
The basic list is:
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Three-day supply of non-perishable food.
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Three-day supply of water – one gallon of water per person, per day.
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Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
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Flashlight and extra batteries.
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First aid kit and manual.
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Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
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Matches and waterproof container.
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Whistle.
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Extra clothing.
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Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
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Photocopies of credit and identification cards.
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Cash and coins.
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Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries.
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Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.
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Other items to meet your unique family needs
There are plenty of other ideas out there about what items to have in a “72 hour bag” or “bug out bag” (both are good key phrases to google if you want more ideas). I especially liked this post over at “How Does She” that goes into great detail about her family’s 72 hour kits . . . and show’s great pictures!
Now the 72 hour kit is all well and good if you have to evacuate–but what if you have a disaster that leaves you stuck at home without power and water? Sure, your kit will help with that some for the 3 days, but there are other things to consider. Next week I’ll talk a bit about basic ideas to weather a disaster at home-as well as where it is worthwhile to spend money and where it is not, what mindsets and habits will help. . .
And just out of curiosity-how many of you actually HAVE a disaster kit? I realized after this round of flooding that I need to create my own!
I actually do have things in place. My bag contains three days of food, water. One change of outer clothes, two changes underclothes. Sweatshirt. Personal hygiene items, like toilet paper, baby wipes, soap, toothbrush and paste. Hard candy to quench thirst. Nicorette…lol, so I don’t kill anyone. GOOD WALKING SHOES. Copies of my personal papers and a flash drive with pics of our property and family photos sealed in waterproof bag. Trashbags, which work for hygiene or for raincover. First aid kit, matches, multitool, flashlight, sewing kit. I keep a sleeping bag at work which I could tie on, and I keep spare outer clothing, coats and hats, in my car. Canned heat is also in the car.
At home we have bottled water, and a hand pump. Oil lamps, solar lights, flashlights, hand crank radio, percolator, etc.
We have a plan not only for ourselves, but friends and family. Since it my husband and myself, we agree that our goal is to get home first then deal with the emergency as needed. Each of us has a couple of routes that we have shared with each other.
Wow Sparkytogo, you sound very prepared! Good for you! I am pretty prepared here at my little village homestead. . . but I realized when they started evacing folks along the river that my Go Bag was sadly lacking.
Diabetic supplies are a must in emergency preparedness. Insulin and the supplies to use it should be available. My hubby take two separate kinds at regular intervals throughout the day. In addition he takes a enzyme based blood sugar stabilizer that requires refrigeration like insulin. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrine, diabtic issues resulted in multiple deaths and severe illness. I think it is great that Jenn is encouraging everyone to think about these things. It is necessary for anyone to prepare at least for a couple of days. I am prepared along with my group home that is a ten minute walk away.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/29/1/158.long
I can only imagine. I think that if I had a diabetic in the house I’d look into springing for something like a solar refrigerator (even though they are expensive) or see if one of those little powered coolers could somehow be hooked up to a deep cycle marine battery that was charged by a small solar panel. Just say’in
Jenn good idea! Never thought about a solar refrigerator befor! I am intrigued and will beconducting some research!
I also live in upstate NY. Not the first time we had to evacuate (flood of 2006) and 3 days is what my disaster kit includes. Good luck to all that have been affected by this disaster, may we all help one another and check our egos at the door. Stand united!
am writing some of my own posts on my own blog about surviving ‘indoors’ One of the things I am proud of myself for remembering is supplies to keep children occupied (card games, board games, craft supplies, age appropriate books and magazines, etc) because I don’t have children. But I can imagine how crazy a child could go stuck inside for 3 days!