Homemade-ish
Running a Modern Home with Traditional Values
By Lutisha Wilson
This week we are going to talk about storm preparedness as it is now tornado/ severe storm season here in the Midwest and coming up on hurricane season on the South Coast.
SAFETY! Make sure that you have a plan, you’ve practiced your plan, and that your plan works.
So where to start? With your good ol’ uncle BOB. My who? You ask… Your bug out bag. Every single member of your family including your animals should have one. They should be stocked for 72 hours so that you can execute your emergency plan. What should you have in this bag? Here’s a list:
Water 1 liter per day
Food MRE’s are best (they take the least amount of space) But anything that is high protein
Flashlight and head lamp - batteries
Lighter/ waterproof matches
Whistle
Knife
Handgun with ammunition and holster
Multitool
Duct tape
Compass
Cell phone charger
3 changes of clothes with 6 changes of socks
Beanie
Jacket
Boots
Waterproof tarp
Garbage bags – contractor size
Work gloves leather are better but whatever you can afford
Sleeping bag
Basic first aid kit
Prescription medications!
Dental hygiene
Soap and washcloth
Feminine supplies
Nitrile gloves
Sunscreen/ bug spray
Roll of TP
Copy of ID
Copy of birth certificate
Copy of passport
Copy of insurance information
Cash
Seems like a lot, right? Well. It is. It’s three days of your life without the comforts of your home crammed into a bag. But you know what? You will make it through the crisis relatively healthy due to your preparedness. You want to keep these bags accessible and not shoved in some cubby or closet where you have to dig them out.
Severe storms. Hunker down its going to be a good one! Get your candles out and know where your lighters are. Fill up that bathtub! HUH? Why are you filling up your bathtub Lutisha? Well… We are on a well so if our power goes out our pump goes out so we can’t flush our toilets. So, we will use the water in the tub to manually flush our toilet. Turn your fridge down to the lowest it will go, and by now you should have a jug of frozen water in your freezer. Another trick is to put a cup in your freezer with water freeze it and then before the storm put a coin on top of the ice. If after the storm the coin is inside of the ice you know that the food in the freezer has most likely defrosted. Make sure you’re dressed fully, yes shoes too. With your BOB ready in the event that you will need to evacuate. After the storm clean up the debris and look for any damage that needs your immediate attention.
Tornados. Fun to look at not so fun to be in. General rule of thumb would be to get in the basement away from windows and doors. That is best case, worst case would be to get into the center of your house preferably a room with no windows and put something over top of you to protect you from falling objects or flying glass. Make sure in either situation that you have your BOB on your body so you can just walk out and start the process of filing your claim.
Admittedly I have never had the displeasure of having to go through a hurricane – I hear from my Florida friends that unlike the uncertainty of the tornado you have some time to prepare for the hurricane. However, there are some very good resources out there for you to up your knowledge.
10 steps to prepare for hurricane season
How to prepare for hurricane season
Stay prepared stay alive.
“A man should know how many logs
And strips of bark from the birch
To stock in autumn, that he may have enough
Wood for his winter fires.”
-Havamal Stanza 60
