Storm preparedness..... what do you do?

[Claudia1]

I know it's late in the season but I was wondering what some of you do to prepare for a storm.

I purchased 2 rechargable emergency lights that plug into the wall and then come on when the electricity goes out. I have one in the bedroom area and another in the main part of the house, incase we get a surprise storm.

I also have a box of supplies that I keep in the basement, in case we have to spend any time down there. I have diapers & toddler stuff, blankets, radio & batteries, flashlight, and food. (and I also have sodas & snack food for comfort!)

If a storm comes, all I have to do is grab the family & my cell phone and go downstairs.

What do you do?

 

[Talking Hands]

It is the start of our storm (hurricanes season) tomorrow. We inspect our shutters, lay in canned goods, flashlights, batteries. sterno or charcoal grills. We have both a Coleman 2 burner stove and a Coleman oven. Several tents if we need them for after a storm. Water we fill up just prior to a storm including some in the freezer to keep that cold as long as possible. Radios, of course.
And travellers checks in case we need to leave as well as credit cards.

 

[ducklite]

We're in NJ, so we can get hurricane's.

We keep flashlights and spare patteries, as well as having a radio which runs on batteries. We keep about 20 gallons of bottled water. We have various canned goods and a non-electric can opener.

For our FL house we'll do much the same thing, but we'll also have a generator.

Anne

 

[Ragmop]

Nothing.

That's why I watch the weather channel during hurricane season-so I know when to run and get water, candles and batteries.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Tornados here, Claudia, like you. Well, I always have my cell phone, regardless where I am. At home, we have a NOAA alert radio, always on (been pretty busy this past week ). A gas generator, ready to go, in the garage, a battery powered backup sump pump for the regular pump system, several emergency lights plugged in throughout the house (sort of like nightlight otherwise), a number of flashlights in various rooms, several fire extinguishers, a number of battery powered radios here and there. In the car, a portable NOAA weather alert radio, a fairly large first aid kit, blanket.

In the event of bad weather, like the past few days, the Weather Channel is on quite often and my Weaterbug gets looked at farirly often here on the PC. If a warning, down to the lower level, family room.

 

[Kitty 34]

We always have a ton of batteries ready for flashlights. I stay glued to the Weather Channel and if cable goes out I have my little Weather Alert transistor radio.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I dont do anything, just go with the flow

 

[powellrj]

I do most of what everyone does, but lately I have done one more thing that everyone teases me about. I grab a box that I made-up with birth certificates, shot records, insurance information and a little cash just in case anything were to happen.

 

[froglady]

I have all of the above, except the tent. Sounds like a good item to add to my stash. I don't have shutters, but have pre-drilled, sized (and marked) plywood for covering all of my windows/french doors. My important papers are in an airtight safe; it weighs a ton, so will probably still be standing even if the house is demolished.

I also have a sun shower, and just bought a coffeemaker that fits on a camp stove. I also have a medical kit, and three sets of lightweight foul weather gear. Lots of rolls of heavy guage plastic sheeting for emergency roof and furniture protection, and many rolls of duct tape complete the kit. These are all kept in a rolling plastic footlocker, and on shelves in our spare room.

I also have a large fan that can be run off the generator, and multiple battery powered TVs, radios, etc.

When hurricane warnings are issued, I just run out to buy fresh fruit, bread, veggies, and CHOCOLATE!!!!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Originally posted by powellrj
I do most of what everyone does, but lately I have done one more thing that everyone teases me about. I grab a box that I made-up with birth certificates, shot records, insurance information and a little cash just in case anything were to happen.

Why in the world would anyone tease you? I think it's a great idea!

For all types of storm preparedness, check out:
http://www.redcross.org/

I've been negligent about being prepared for storms, because we don't usually have anything too horrible here in Rhode Island, but you just never know, so it's one of my "to do" goals.