Hurricane Sandy and Storm Preparedness

Are you prepared?

Hurricane Sandy looks to be a crazy storm. Images of people waiting in lines at grocery stores are already peppering the news and I have to ask myself, shouldn’t you always be prepared for the emergencies that will definitely happen. There will always be: snow storms, electrical outages, tornados, fire, hail storms. You get the picture and I’m not trying to be a downer. I live in Colorado, when I was little it was not unusual to have snow storms that would trap everyone inside their homes for 2-3 days. You had to have food in your home, just in case. It was also common to have emergency packs in your car: beef jerky, blankets, batteries, water, lamps, and whatever else you might need in your car if you got stranded. Isn’t this the same as having an emergency savings? Being prepared for those bad moments that will seem to always happen when you least expect them? Do you have a plan? Do you have food in the home, a strategy to deal with an emergency situation? My goal is to always get home as quickly as possible. I work about 35 miles from my home. During the winter snowstorms hit quickly, the last two times I second guessed myself, I ended up on I-36 for 8 hours eating twizzlers for dinner while looking at abandoned cars and a countryside that look like the Zombie Apocalypse had just happened. 

1.) At least 2 weeks of food in your home? Water, shelf stable milk or soy milk

2.) Canned foods that you would be able to eat without cooking?

3.) Dried fruit or nuts

4.) A battery operated radio

5.) Secondary source of electricity/heat?

6.) Enough gas in your car?

7.) Do you keep your phone charged?

8.) Do you have a point person that you would contact “just in case” 

9.) Do you keep good tires on your car?

10.) Do you leave your area early when advised? You should! 

11.) Are you able to help others who aren’t able to help themselves-Elderly,people without cars, etc? And do you?

12.) Do you have some cash on hand? Just in case there are problems with ATMs, etc? You need to check into a hotel? Get some food?

13.) Do you keep your important documents in an easy to find place and in an easy to transport case?

14.) Are you able to stay calm during moments like these? If not, have you worked on a strategy to help you stay calm? 

Check out FEMA to get up to date information on preparing for Hurricane Sandy. Stay safe!