I’ve made it a point to have a disaster plan, a disaster buddy, a bug-out destination, and the things I would need to survive without electricity, running water, open grocery stores or pharmacies for a week or longer:
- A battery operated NWS Emergency Radio to find out what was going on, and to get vital instructions from emergency officials
- A decent first-aid kit, so that you can treat injuries
- Enough non-perishable food and water on hand to feed and hydrate your family (including pets) for the duration
- A way to provide light when the grid is down.
- A way to cook safely without electricity
- A way to purify or filter water
- A way to handle basic sanitation and waste disposal.
- A way to stay cool (fans) or warm when the power is out.
- A small supply of cash to use in case credit/debit machines are not working
- An emergency plan, including meeting places, emergency out-of-state contact numbers, a disaster buddy, and in case you must evacuate, a bug-out bag
- Spare supply of essential prescription medicines that you or your family may need
- A way to entertain yourself, or your kids, during a prolonged blackout
I do this not only for my physical health and comfort, but for my mental health as well. I sleep better at night knowing I’m prepared for the worst, and if it happens, I’ll be less stressed and less challenged than had I not prepared.
I’m not as young, or as physically able, as I used to be. I realize that conditions I might have tolerated when I was 30 are a lot harder to deal with, now that I’m nearing 70.
You don’t have to live in Hurricane country to be battered by a natural disaster. Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, tsunami’s, blizzards, volcanic eruptions, and even solar storms can strike with little or no warning.
Preparedness is cheap insurance. A good place to get started is READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/




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