Surviving Disaster

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Alexis and Clara submitted their Emergency Kit lists for this assignment. Clara was less than thrilled to do so.
Alexis and Clara submitted their emergency kit lists for this assignment. Clara was less than thrilled to do so.

On a recent stormy night – I don’t know which one because there have been so many! — my daughters concocted an emergency kit, should the worst happen. Into the master bedroom closet, they dragged a series of misfit items in laundry baskets. Among the provisions: blankets, water, games and puzzles, and family photos.

To be sure, the ladies had some very good ideas, but their kits may or may not have ensured survival in a disaster. A proper emergency kit according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should provide enough supply to provide a single person with a reasonable chance of survival for 72 hours.

FEMA recommends your kit contain the following:

  • Water – 1 gallon per person per day for hydration and sanitation. I found these individual packets on Amazon for a fairly reasonable price. Porting water in packets allows for ease in travel and distribution and keeps the supply sanitary. Water in large containers could become easily compromised in an unstable or unsanitary situation.
  • Three-Day Supply of Non-Perishable Food – You may look at your stocked pantry and think: “Pssh, I’ve got this covered! There’s plenty of food here!” Look again. How much of that food requires heat or water or other ingredients to be edible or even remotely nutritious? And, let’s face it, a lot of us eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein, so even at their fullest, our pantries don’t contain nearly enough non-perishable food to feed a family for 72 hours. So, invest – buy canned salmon and tuna, beans, vegetables, and fruit as well as nuts, and cooked rice and anything else that delivers plenty of nutrition in ready-to-eat form. Consider including a container of multi-vitamins as well. Bonus: If you update your kit on a regular basis, and there are items that you won’t use and are within their expiration dates, you can donate them to the local food bank.
  • Hand-Crank Radio or Battery-Powered NOAA Weather Radio — Don’t think you can get by with your phone. Bring extra cords and chargers, but realize that your phone will likely be on your person when disaster strikes and therefore subject to breakage and water damage. If your budget allows, consider a go-phone for your kit.
  • Flashlights and Extra Batteries
  • Whistle – I cannot imagine having a whistle lying around the house because I’m certain that my girls would use it for torment, but this important addition to your kit will allow you to signal for help should you become incapacitated.
  • Dust Masks, Plastic Sheeting, Duct Tape
  • Garbage Bags and Ties
  • Moist Towelettes
  • Wrench and Pliers  – These will help you shut off utilities.
  • Can Opener
  • Local Maps

In addition to FEMA’s ideas, consider the following:

  • A Pack of Men’s T-Shirts and Underwear These offer endless possibilities: rags, blankets, covering, tourniquets, bandages, slings, etc. The MacGyver in me could go on and on . . . .

Pet Emergency Kit

  • Microchip – A quick scan of any social media site shows you just how many frightened pets make a run for it in the storm. We have fabulous technology out there that allows your pet to wear identifying information right under the skin and increases your chances of reuniting with a rogue pet.
  • Canned Food
  • Extra Collars and Leashes

Babies and Toddlers Kit

If you have littles, you are already packing an emergency kit just to run to the grocery store. (I hear you, Mamas . . . it won’t always be this way, I promise.) Your disaster kit should include:

  • Clothing and Blankets – Several changes.
  • Diapers and Wipes
  • Canned Formula and Bottles – Regardless of what baby is currently drinking, you will want to have a ready supply of nutrition in a stable container.
  • Baby Food – Enough for 72 Hours.

Special Needs Kit

I have a hearing aid and glasses . . . and I am extremely dependent on both. My emergency kit contains an older pair of my glasses and an older hearing aid and batteries. If you have people in the family who have needs similar to mine, be sure to plan accordingly. This includes the aforementioned items as well as extra medications, canes, braces, etc.

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Of course, you should prepare your kit well in advance of disaster striking and store it in a secure, yet easily accessible place such as an interior closet or wherever you might take shelter in a storm. To contain your supplies, consider a container from the local Army Navy Surplus. After all, these are made to withstand the harshest conditions. I keep my supplies in an old artillery kit, but there’s a wide variety of packs and bags that would work as well.

The hope is that you will never have to use your emergency kit, but what you can use is peace of mind in knowing that it’s there at the ready, just in case.

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Alison
Ali wasn’t born in Texas, but got here as fast as she could. A native Chicagoan, Ali arrived on the scene in Fort Worth in 2008 kicking and screaming, but settled right into her cowboy boots and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Ali is proud to be Mama to sweet Alexis (2003) and little diva Clara (2005) who make every day an adventure with their wisecracking ways and endless antics. Between dance parties with her little ladies and her career as an instructional designer for a major retailer, you’ll often find Ali running along the Trinity River, at the ballpark cheering on the Texas Rangers, or in her kitchen whipping up new creations and snarky observations for her blog, Kitchenpants!

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