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When the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful, it’s hard to envision the harsh realities that winter storms can bring.  But, as much as we want to deny it, that kind of weather is just around the corner.  Storms which can bring power outages and road closures! Now is the time to prepare for those situations so you can ensure your loved ones are safe and secure until normalcy is returned. 

Here are a few tips to help you prepare your home for these types of situations:

Assess and take inventory of your home survival kit now to see what needs to be replenished. Bottled water should be changed out yearly and check expiration dates on non-perishable food items. 

A typical kit should have enough supplies to last each person for at least 72 hours.   This kit should be stored in a sturdy, easy to carry bag in case you need to evacuate your home in a hurry. 

It is essential that your kit have enough bottled water for each family member – not just for consumption but also for personal hygiene. Tap water can easily become contaminated during a disaster. It is recommended to allow 4 L per person per day (2 L for drinking and 2 L for washing).  

Food items should be non-perishable, light weight and enough for 72 hrs per person.  If you have canned items in your food supply, ensure you have a manual can opener as well. Your kit should also include enough supplies for any infants or pets in your family. 

A battery or crank operated radio is critical to stay informed on how situations are changing or developing. Make sure you have extra batteries as well.  Also keep an envelope with some cash in your kit as ATM’s and banks will not be accessible during times of disaster.

For additional resourceful information and important tips on preparing your home and vehicle for emergency situations, please visit the link below to the Red Cross’s page.

Remember, the most important thing to help keep your loved ones safe during times of disaster is to ensure that everyone knows ahead of time what your family’s emergency plan is.  Discuss it often and rehearse where your meeting place is with all your loved ones, especially children!  Knowing what to do will help keep everyone calm in a stressful time when panic can quickly take over.

Disaster can strike at any time in any place, so don’t wait to get prepared! And if you need any emergency services to stabilize your home, just call us!  After all, “When Disaster Strikes, We Strike Back”!