Ramblings

Preparing for a Storm

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This morning the weather forecast calls for possible tropical storm conditions tomorrow. So it seems like a good time to review emergency planning. One of the missions of the Citizen Corp is to improve citizen readiness. The Red Cross has a list here.

  • Water, 1 gallon per person. So for a family of four, this means you would need 28 gallons for a week’s supply. We keep a 3 day supply in cleaned out milk jugs. Remember to cycle the water regularly.
  • Non-perishable food, 3 days for travel and 2 weeks for home. Remember that the power would probably be out so it must be long-term shelf-stable and edible without heating. Page 6 of this has suggestions for foods.
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Battery or hand crank radio, preferably with weather and emergency stations. They have hand crank radios that can charge USB devices now
  • First aid kit, the Red Cross also sells a variety
  • Medications, 7 day supply
  • Multipurpose tool
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items.
  • Copies of personal documents
  • Cell phone with chargers and batteries
  • Family and emergency contact information. Its suggested in case of an emergency, your family have a meeting place designated.
  • Extra cash
  • Blankets
  • Maps

And then some items more dependent on your family,

  • Baby supplies and activities for children
  • Pet supplies (we have to keep heat pads for our lizard)
  • Two-way radios
  • Extra set of keys
  • Manual can opener

To this list from the Red Cross, ARES (the Amateur Radio Emergency Service) adds the following suggestions for items to add to a travel kit (ARES is more deployment-focused though),

  • Several days of clothes in a bag, ready to go. A good place to keep a couple of sets of old cloths if you have to leave in a hurry.
  • At least a half tank of gas in your car
  • Umbrella and rain clothes
  • Folding chair
  • Cooler
  • Towel
  • Sunscreen, bug repellent
  • Boots
  • Matches
  • Garbage bags
  • Pen and paper
  • Pocket knife
  • Electrical tape
  • Rope and bungie cords
  • Tool kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Whistle
  • Compass
  • Sleeping bag and tent
  • Mess kit

Delaware County’s Citizen Corp also has a booklet with more extensive suggestions that also has regional-specific information, for instance, it is expected in a crises, the local high schools will serve as the primary shelter locations.

Stay safe.

Categories: Ramblings