What to Have on Hand in Case of Emergency...Household Supplies

In light of the recent hurricanes and black out, last week I suggested what kinds of Food Items you should have on hand in case you should ever encounter some sort of unforeseen situation that may cut your power or water. Today, I'll be suggesting some household things to have on hand.

In case of natural disaster, you may not have power or water, and your access to stores may be limited as well. (In addition to the supply of said stores.) To avoid any panic, here are some things to store in case of an emergency.

• Flashlights and Battery Operated Lanterns
• This is obvious. But, get a crank flashlight as well, since it never needs batteries. Don't rely on one single flashlight, make sure you have extras.
• Extra Batteries
• Again, obvious, but make sure you have enough batteries, in several sizes, to ensure whatever you need will be working.
• Battery Powered Radio
• You will want to listen to the news for any official updates
• First Aid Kit
• You can purchase pre-made first aid kits at Target or Walmart
• Gas Grill or Camping Stove
• If you have a charcoal or propane grill, you should be able to cook, or at least heat up food. If you don't have a grill, or your grill is hooked up to the natural gas of the house, you may want to invest in a camping stove so you will have a way to cook. If you have a propane grill, make sure your propane is always close to full.
• Can Opener for Food
• That would be the ultimate "oops"; having a supply of canned foods, but no way to open them.
• Matches or Stick Lighter
• These come in handy in plenty of situations
• Generator
• This would be a long-term investment, but the ability to power your refrigerator during a blackout could save you hundreds of dollars in food.
• Wet Wipes
• Just because you don't have any water, doesn't mean your kids will not need to get cleaned up!
• Extra Blankets or Battery Powered Fans
• Depending on what season you're in, you will either need to remain warm or cool, without the use of a heater or air conditioner
•  Items of Comfort for Children
• Emergencies can be a very scary time for a child. Make sure you provide for their emotional needs by remaining calm, and assuring them. Make sure they have a favorite book or stuffed animal to keep them from panicking. 
• Extra Supply of Diapers, Wipes, Formula, or Baby Food
• I'm not quite sure what I would do if I was on my last diaper when an earthquake hit...and I don't want to find out!
• Games, Deck of Cards, Books, Etc.
• Not a necessity, but you will be bored if you have to go without power for anything length of time.
•  An Emergency Plan
• Determine how you would contact loved ones in case of an emergency. Determine meeting places or places of shelter in case a family member is not home at the time. Make sure your entire family knows this plan.

Hopefully, you will never have to use these items, but in the case of an earthquake, tornado, black out, or any other emergency, you will be prepared.  

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What To Have On Hand For Emergencies--Food

The last several weeks have been filled with news about power outages. Between the power outages caused by Hurricane Irene on the East Coast, and the widespread power outage affecting several million homes in Southern California, Arizona, and Mexico, I got to thinking about how prepared we are for emergencies. In this series, I'm going to cover supplies and products that will make your life easier in case an emergency were to affect you and your family.

Q. Why should I prepare for an emergency or natural disaster?
A: Because it's called an emergency for one reason...you can't predict it. Planning helps to alleviate stress and create calmness if an emergency does occur.

Q: In case of emergency, I'll just go to the grocery store. Why should I store food?
A: Not necessarily. During the power outage in Southern California, gas stations were closed, and grocery stores had to turn away customers because they didn't have power to perform transactions. During Hurricane Irene, store shelves were cleared of food and water days before the storm was expected to hit. In addition, keeping up a stockpiling by purchasing during sales, you avoid having to pay full price in the future.

Q: How should I store food? I don't want to invest in food and end up throwing it away!
A: This kind of follows the rules of Stockpiling. You should have on hand a supply of non-perishables, which your family will use, and use them as you normally would. Just make sure to always replenish your stock, and use the oldest product first. This way, you will always have products on hand, but won't have to worry about wasting them.

Q: How is an emergency kit different than a survival kit?
A: I'm talking about emergency stockpiles right now, not survival stockpiles. Emergency kits should be sufficient to last your family a week or two after a natural disaster, when you know things like power, water, and natural gas will be restored soon. Survival kits are for worst case scenario, when your family may have to survive months or years without those luxuries.

Q: What kinds of food should I have on hand in case of natural disaster or power outage?
A: Assuming you do not have a generator keeping your refrigerator cold (though that may be a long-term investment you should consider if you live in regions that often have natural disasters), you will want to have items that are non-perishable, or don't have to be refrigerated. Remember that in case of a power outage, you need to keep the refrigerator door closed, to avoid food spoilage.

• Some foods to have on hand include: 
• Canned Tuna and individual mayonnaise packets (you won't be able to store an open jar of mayo safely.) 
• Granola Bars and other non-perishable snack foods, such as crackers
• Peanut Butter (doesn't need to be refrigerated, while other nut butters do.)
• Canned or Jarred Fruit
• Dried Fruit
• Nuts or Trail Mix
• Bottled Water
• Juice Boxes
• If you have a gas grill or camping stove, you should also include:
• Dried Rice and Pasta (boil water on the grill or stove)
• Canned Soups
• Canned Beans
• Other Supplies:
• Paper plates (During emergencies, water is often under a "boiling order", which would make washing dishes very difficult.)
• Plastic Utensils and Paper Napkins or Paper Towels
• Plastic Cups

Next time, we'll discuss the household supplies you'll want to keep on hand in case of emergency.