7 Things to Do Today to Be Ready for an Emergency Tomorrow
People everywhere are worried about the latest emergencies. There’s always something to be nervous about – the coronavirus in 2020, the avian flu, swine flu, YTK, tornados, hurricanes or snowstorms, we owe it to ourselves and our families to be ready for any unforeseen emergency. Whether you are concerned about getting sick or just aware of how quickly the supply chain can break down, there are 7 things you can do today to help you be ready for emergencies that may come tomorrow.
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7 Things to Do Today to Be Ready for an Emergency Tomorrow
We have experienced two major ice storms and watched first hand how quickly the bad weather disrupted the lives of our community members. You don’t have to live in fear, but if you take a few simple steps today, you can be confident that you are ready for whatever life throws at you.
Check your Food
Do you have enough food to carry you through 2 weeks without going to the grocery? Think about what your family eats and then buy enough to carry you through if an emergency happens. Think about simple foods that don’t require elaborate cooking times in case you are on limited power or electricity.
Items to Purchase:
- Peanut butter
- Tuna Fish/Canned Salmon
- Vienna Sausages
- Granola Bars
- Rice
- Beans
- Pasta/Spaghetti Sauce
- Canned Vegetables/Fruits
- Ready to Eat Soup
Check Water
One of the easiest things to store back for emergencies is water. The Department of Homeland Security recommends that you store at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days, for drinking and sanitation. Since gallons of water cost less than $1.00 each at most grocery stores, just buy up a few each time you go and then store them in a cool location in your house so you are ready if you need it.
Prepare a Sick Day Kit
What are the things your family needs when someone gets sick? Do you run out and buy fever reducer medicines, Powerade, chicken noodle soup, and crackers? Why not buy them now while everyone is well so you don’t have to go to the store when you are sick? Think about how much ‘social distance’ you can put between yourself and the world when you are sick.
Sick Day Kit Items:
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Powerade/Pedialyte
- Sprite/7Up
- Crackers
- Fever Reducer
- Hot Water Bottle
- Lysol
- Hand Sanitizer
- Kleenex/Tissue
Have a Good Light Source
The first thing people need when the lights go out in a storm is a flashlight. Have you checked your flashlight lately? Do you know where it is? Do you have extra batteries? Each floor of the house should have an easily accessible light source in case the power goes out.
- Check your flashlights
- Have backup batteries
We also have this handy Luminiser oil lantern that uses the heat from the oil canister to create a light source. Each of the oil units gives 8 hours of light in a portable lantern that lights up an entire area. The three settings allow you to switch between a powerful flashlight, a comfortable reading light or just the light from the flame.
The Luminiser powers its internal LED lights by collecting thermal energy from a small oil lamp.
Refill Your Medicines
Do you or your family members take regular medications? Are you filling them up month to month? Check with your doctor and see if they can extend your prescription and give you a 90 day supply at a time. You don’t want to miss your important medications if you or the refill truck can’t get to the pharmacy.
Be Ready to Feed Your Pets
Do you know where your pet food comes from? Have you thought about how you will feed your pets if there is a supply chain disruption or you can’t get to the store? Pick up a couple of extra bags of pet food so you will be ready to feed your 4 legged friends even in an emergency.
Personal Toiletries
We live in a world where we have personal items that are crucial to our comfort. Think about the toiletries that your family needs and make sure you have a 30 day supply put back in case you can’t get to the store.
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Soap/Deodorant/Toothpaste
- Feminine Care Products
Don’t be caught unprepared, do these 7 things today to help you be ready for emergencies tomorrow. Avoid the crowds and the hype – just get ready now so you don’t have to rush around when everyone goes nuts.
Have you thought about how much toilet paper your family needs? A few years ago I did an experiment so I would know exactly how much we need to carry us through 30 days.
