Did you know September was National Preparedness
Month? Sponsored by FEMA, National Preparedness Month is a campaign the encourages Americans to prepare themselves, and their homes for a variety of emergency situations. Here on the East Coast we're also the middle of hurricane season. Hurricane Joaquin may have stayed out in the ocean, but a Nor'easter drenched the D.C. Metro area this past weekend, and record breaking rainfall continues to devastate South Carolina and parts of North Carolina so I am getting into full-blown
(zing!) emergency & disaster preparedness mode this week.
Living in the D.C. Metro area, we are usually
far enough north and inland that we fortunately don't have to worry too
much about actual hurricanes (although Hurricane Isabel in September 2003 was a
category 1 hurricane when it hit the area and Hurricane Ivan in September
2004 caused tornadoes in Northern VA). But I
digress. We tend to get hurricane "leftovers" in the form of
tropical storms or sudden, severe storms- such as the derecho
that blew through our area in June 2012 which packed winds up to 87 mph. (Yes,
winds as strong as a category 1 hurricane. That storm was intense; we lost
power for 3 days and had several tall pine trees down across our yard.) But since
even a strong thunderstorm can produce damaging winds & hail and cause
flooding, it’s a good idea to always be prepared for an emergency situation at
home and even in your car.
Since most of us spend more time in
our vehicles each week than we would like to admit, I’ll start off with keeping
our cars prepared for emergency situations.
Automobile
Emergency Preparedness
To be
prepared for an emergency situation, whether it's my vehicle breaking down on
the side of the road, getting stuck in a massive traffic jam, or getting caught
in severe weather while driving, there are a handful of items I always have on
hand our cars:
1) Cell
phone and charging cable
- Make sure you have a dedicated car charger for your mobile phone.
2) ResQme
key chain
- I purchased my ResQMe key chain from Costco.com.
They are sold in a set of four - each a different color - so you can put one on
each set of car keys or give extras out to a friend or loved one. Clips are
also included so you can clip it to your sun visor. The key chain has two basic features: a hammer pin
to break glass and a blade for cutting through seatbelts. I fortunately have never had to use mine in an actual
emergency situation; however, while on an adventure in Kasota, MN where I got
to drive tanks and even crush a car with a tank(!), I took the opportunity to
test out my key chain on a junk car window. I can definitively say YE
S it works
quite well, and it does not require much effort or force to break the glass, so
keep these safely out of the hands of children.
- Summer is officially over here in the
US, but as temps vary widely by region, it's worth noting that the ResQMe
keychain can also be used in an emergency situation to rescue a child or pet
from a hot vehicle. If you come across a vehicle with a distressed or
unresponsive child left inside, do whatever it takes to get them out of the
vehicle and call 911 immediately. If you must resort to breaking the glass to
gain access, be sure to go to the opposite side of the vehicle from where the
child is located to minimize their exposure to glass shards. Remember: It is
NEVER okay to leave a child alone in a vehicle - even if it doesn't seem “that
hot" outside. For more information and tips go to: www.safercar.gov
3) Emergency
car kit
- I purchased my Bridgestone Auto Emergency kit in a Costco
warehouse. It contains:
- Jumper cables
- Reflective triangle
- First-aid kit
- Rain poncho
- Headlamp
- Electric air compressor
- Bungee cord
- And utility knife in a nylon carrying case
- Check your local warehouse for item
#486203 to pick one up for each of your vehicles. Costco.com also has an assortment of emergency recovery kits and battery jump starters.
- I also beefed up the little emergency first-aid kit that came with
the auto emergency kit by adding the following items, most of which I purchased
from Costco:
- Aspirin
- Kirkland Signature ibuprofen
- Kirkland Signature “Benadryl”
- Kirkland Signature “Imodium” & Pepto Bismol
- Alka-Seltzer
- Dramamine
- Neosporin
- Feminine hygiene products
4) Small
tool bag.
- Includes:
- A multi-tool
- Screwdrivers
- A wrench
- Pliers
- Pair of protective gloves
- Flashlight
- A reflective vest.
5) Emergency food & water.
- My stash is mostly made up of items I purchased at Costco:
- Bottled of water
- Bottle of Gatorade
- KS trail mix
- KS applesauc
- Lara bar & Rx Bar*
- Beef Jerky*
*Not purchased at Costco
In the winter months I add a few more things to our
car kits:
A.
Snow & ice scrapers
B.
Foot & hand warmers
C.
Emergency thermal blanket
D.
Pair of winter gloves, winter hat, & wool socks
All
items were purchased at Costco except for the round ice scraper, thermal blanket, and winter gloves & hat.
I put a
reminder on my calendar to: rotate out these food & beverage items every 6 months,
check the expiration dates on the meds in the first-aid kits, and to test the
batteries in the flashlights.
As a self-described “overly prepared
crazy person” I also have the following items in my vehicle:
- A roll of duct tape and roll of plain scotch tape
- Duct tape because in a pinch it can
temporarily fix almost anything (as long as it’s REAL duct tape - not the
brightly colored "duck" tape covered in fun designs).
- Scotch tape because my mom once used it
to put together a car key that had broken in half - no joke, the key literally
broke into two pieces - and simple scotch tape kept the two pieces together.
Not only was she was able to use the key in the ignition to start the car, the
taped key continued to work perfectly well for several days (you just had to
remember not to put the key in your pocket because it would bend). On that day
I realized two things: one, my mom is MacGyver and two, I would never go
anywhere without scotch tape. It has occurred to me recently that most vehicles
today don't even have traditional “keys” anymore, instead they are just one big
keyfob now, but I’m still not taking any chances being without scotch tape.
- Travel games and a trivia book
- All of the road trips my parents took
us on as kids must have really affected me, because to this day I still keep games
in my car. In the event I am stuck for an extended
period of time, be it another road trip or traffic jam, or maybe I locked
myself out of the house or perhaps I just have restless passengers - whatever
the reason I am prepared to entertain old-school style.
Now, this may sound like a lot of stuff
and I guess you're right, it is a lot of stuff, but it all fits quite neatly into
this small
red duffle bag I purchased from Amazon. I like being prepared and having
all these little things on hand puts me at ease, so I don't mind that it takes
up some space in the trunk of my SUV.
PHOTO
(Disclaimer: Aside from the
similarities I noticed between my parents and MacGyver as a child, I also partially
blame my “being prepared for every possible situation that I may find myself in"
neurosis, to falling in love with a little book called My
Fathers Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett when I was in second grade.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of
reading this award winning book, I cannot recommend it enough for children of
all ages and adults alike.)
Now where was I? Oh right - automobiles. It's also a good idea to
familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s spare tire & jack, even if you
plan on calling AAA in the event of a breakdown. You should know if your
vehicle has a spare, whether it's a donut or a full size spare, how to operate
your jack and where the safe lift points are on your car. (The owner's manual should
provide you with all of that information.)
The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that you keep up with your
vehicle’s maintenance schedule, ensuring all routine maintenance is done in a
timely manner and that you replace worn out parts as necessary.
Costco sells:
- Windshield
wipers
- Windshield
wiper fluid
- Car
Batteries
- Motor oil
- Tire
centers (at most warehouses) sell new tires, provide rotation & balance services and can repair
some tire damage
Now that everyone's vehicles are adequately (or more so) prepared,
I'll move on to how you can prepare your family and home for various emergency
situations, including natural disasters.
General Storm Safety Tips
Build an
emergency supply kit and create a family emergency plan now. FEMA has a list of emergency supplies they recommend.
If you have
warning before a storm or natural disaster strikes, make sure your vehicles
have full tanks of gas, obtain fuel for your generator if you anticipate you
will need to use it, and have some cash on hand in case power outages are
widespread and prolonged.
Keep crucial
documents like birth certificates, passports, medical records, deeds, titles,
marriage license, pet records and insurance policies in a fire and waterproof
safe. It's also a good idea to have an inventory of all items within your home,
including photos and/or videos of your house, property, belongings and serial
numbers of electronics & appliances. I know this can be a huge undertaking,
but having this documentation can become invaluable in the event you have to
make an insurance claim (keep a copy of the inventory and photos in the safe).
Remember to
keep neighbors & family members who require special assistance (i.e. the
elderly, people with infants, etc.), in mind before, during and after storms and other natural disasters.
Most Costco locations offer:
- Less espensive gasoline
- ATM in warehouse
Be Prepared for Power Outages
In the event of a power outage, flashlights are a necessity. It's also
quite helpful to have a generator - especially if you live in an area prone to
regular severe storms. Always follow the generator manufacture’s installation/setup
and operating instructions exactly and NEVER run a gas or propane powered
generator indoors, inside a garage or near doors & windows. Make sure the
extension cords you have are specifically rated for use with your generator and
double check the watts of all the appliances you plug in so as not to over tax
the generator or damage your appliances. Store fuel only in approved
containers, and store those containers outside in well-ventilated areas.
Before a
storm hits I try to make sure the house is clean, the laundry is caught up and
everyone has had a shower. You never know how long the power could be out!
Costco sells:
- Portable
generators
- Whole-home
generators
- Gasoline
containers
- Extension cords
If you don't
have a generator, then flashlights, lanterns and candles will be your main source
of lighting during a power outage. I keep a small flashlight tucked away in
each room of our house, and lanterns & flameless candles in our home emergency
kit. Candles are okay in a pinch but flameless candles are much safer - especially
if you have children or pets. We also have an all-weather radio, as keeping up
with the weather reports and local news can be crucial during a severe storm. We
purchased our weather radio from L.L.Bean.
Costco sells:
Have a Home First-Aid Kit
Make sure your home first-aid kit is well stocked, and remember to
replace items as they are used or when they expire. Before a storm, refill all
critical prescriptions. If you have pets, make sure you account for them in
your first-aid kit as well by including pet specific items:
- Phone numbers for your veterinarian, a
local emergency veterinary clinic and the Animal Poison Control Center
(888-426-4435)
- Pet first-aid book or app
- Absorbent gauze pads
- Self cling bandage wrap to wrap &
protect wound
- Milk of magnesia, activated charcoal
& hydrogen peroxide 3% (call your vet or poison control BEFORE
administering any absorbing or inducing medications)
- Oral syringe
- Extra leash
- Muzzle (NEVER muzzle a pet if they are
vomiting!)
- Temporary I.D. tag so you can put your
local contact info on your pet’s collar if they are traveling with you
If you can afford one, a defibrillator is an excellent addition to
any first-aid kit, especially if you have a family member with a known heart
condition. If you have one already or plan to buy one, it is crucial that you familiarize
yourself and family members with how to properly use the defibrillator. It's a
good idea to take a CPR course and basic first-aid class if you can, but at the
very least keep a copy of CPR instructions with your first-aid kit. There are
also several CPR and first-aid apps available that you can download to your
phone or tablet.
Costco sells:
- Defibrillators
- First-aid kits
- Band aids
- Antiseptic ointments
- Disinfectants
- Protective exam gloves
- Prescription and OTC medications
- Thermometers
Establish Home Emergency Food & Water Supply
Keep plenty of drinking water on hand in case a storm also knocks
out water, or your water source becomes compromised and unsafe to drink. It is
recommended that you have at least 1 gallon of safe drinking water per person
in your home for a minimum of 3 days. That means for a household made up of 4
people you should have at least 12 gallons of water on hand. Additional water
will be needed for food preparation, and don't forget to account for drinking
water for your pets too.
Keep a minimum of a 3 day supply of non-perishable foods in the
pantry for snacks and meals. Don't forget to take into account any special dietary
needs within the family and include food for your pets too. Note expiration
dates and create calendar reminders to rotate through and replace all of your
emergency food & water supplies as they are used and before their
expiration dates.
Costco sells:
- Canned
meats, vegetables and fruits
- Cereals
& crackers
- Peanut
butter and almond butters
- Applesauce
& dried fruit
- Pre-made
soups (don't forget to have a manual can opener!)
- Trail mix
- Granola
bars
- Protein
bars
- Beef jerky
- Survival and emergency food kits
It's also a
good idea to familiarize yourself and family members with some basic food
safety information like: How long is
food safe to consume in the refrigerator/freezer without power?
Check out Foodsafety.gov
for more information.
During a Storm
To pass the
time during a storm (or to distract frightened little ones) have a few
non-electronic activities readily available like: books for reading or story
time, puzzles & board games, coloring books w/crayons & markers, and
building sets. When I was little, I can remember during storms and power
outages my brother and I would make forts inside with all the pillows and
blankets we could find. To keep everyone together and have a little fun you can
throw a big family slumber party! Pick the safest room in your house (based on
the type of storm) for everyone to sleep in, have everyone change into their
favorite pajamas and camp out together for the night.
Once I know
we are safely hunkered in our bunker, to pass the time I like to:
- Read
- Color (it’s quite relaxing)
- Blog or journal
- Nap
- Or use the down time to work on our home inventory list
Fire Preparedness
Make sure your house has working smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors on each level of your home, and one in each bedroom. (Add a reminder
to your calendar to check batteries in all of these devices twice a year - l
believe most fire departments recommend checking these when you change the
clocks to and from daylight savings time.)
Come up with evacuation plans for how you would safely exit your
home in the event of a fire and be sure to practice those plans as a family.
Make sure everyone in your household knows how to get out of each room in the
event of a fire, and establish a rendezvous point a safe distance away from your
house (like at a specific neighbor’s house). Have at least one fire escape
ladder on each floor of your home that is above ground level in case a fire
prevents you from being able to go down the staircases to exit. Practice using
the ladder so everyone will know how to set it up and use it safely before an
emergency arises. Keep a fire extinguisher on each level of your home, one in
the kitchen, one in the garage, and one near each fireplace. Make sure each
member of your household knows where the fire extinguishers are located and how
to use them.
Costco
sells:
- Smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire & waterproof safes
Evacuation Preparedness
If a hurricane, wildfire, volcanic eruption or other emergency
situation calls for you to evacuate your home it's important to be prepared
well ahead of time. Make a plan for what you would grab if you only had 5–10
minutes to vacate your home and share that plan with family members in case you
are not the one at home when the evacuation is ordered. (But remember: NO
material possession is more valuable than your life so don't risk your safety
by trying to save your stuff.) Keep important documents together in one safe
place so they are easy to grab in a hurry. Your pet's vaccination & medical
records can be crucial if you have to go to a shelter, check into a hotel or
travel out of the area, so keep those documents with the rest of your important
papers.
Store your emergency supplies together in plastic containers so everything is in one place when you need to retrieve them. Be prepared to take your home emergency kit with you if necessary
during an evacuation, or create a more portable grab-and-go emergency kit.
If you like, you can take things a step further and create
individual “bug-out bags” for each family member (pets too!). A bug-out bag should
include supplies to get each person through a 24-72 hour period. For a family,
in addition to each family member’s personal bag, create two additional bags:
one for first-aid, medicine, and important documents, and the second for tools
and emergency gear that the whole family can use. Keep things organized with plastic
zip lock bags, which can also protect contents from water damage.
- Changes of clothes (appropriate for the weather)
- Favorite or familiar stuffed animal/blanket or toy for a child
- Mini toiletry kit (travel size toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant,
etc.)
- Medications specific to that family member
- Flashlight and or glow sticks
- A quiet activity like a book, magazine, coloring book or puzzle
- Bottles of water and nonperishable snacks
- For a pet: pet food & a water bottle, an extra leash, food
& water bowls, a favorite toy or blanket, and crate if
necessary
Know how to turn off the utilities coming into your home like
power, water, and gas. Ensure all adults and older kids within your household
know how to turn utilities off in case you are not home when it's time to evacuate.
Establish a plan for where the family will meet up - like at an out of town
friend or relative’s home, or at the family beach house, or at a large public
area outside of the evacuation zone with plenty of parking - like an amusement
park or mall. Specify a backup location too, just in case the first location becomes
part of the evacuation zone. In a widespread emergency situation - like the
terrorist attacks on September 11th - phone lines can go down, and
cell phone towers can be jammed, so it's important to have a plan that everyone
in the family knows how to execute without having to communicate with one
another. Establish a point-person whom everyone can check in with instead of trying to call each other
during the emergency. That point-person should ideally be someone out of town.
Text instead of call - you’ll have better chance of your message going through,
and you won’t be tying up phone “lines.” If you can, utilize social media to
let family & friends know you are safe.
Costco sells:
Flood Preparedness
Know your
risk for flooding in your area and prepare your home before a storm comes
along. Waterproof basements, if necessary install a sump pump with a battery
backup, raise utilities off the floor and check your insurance policies to make
sure you have flood protection. (Most standard home insurance policies do NOT
include flood insurance, so be sure to add a separate flood policy.) Clean gutters, downspouts and ground drains to keep them free of debris.
When a storm
is imminent make sure your sump pump is plugged in and the battery backup is
charged. Move valuables and important things from flood prone areas (such as
basements) to higher areas of your home. If necessary, stack sandbags around
entrance doors, low windows and stairs leading down to basements. Listen to
local news & weather reports for possible evacuation notices.
If you are
out driving and flooding occurs, DO NOT try to cross flooded roads or bridges. Do not walk through flooded waters or allow children to play in flood water as the water can be contaminated or have debris which could cause injury. Flood water can be deeper than it appears, and the current can be flowing much
faster below the surface.
Hurricane Preparedness
Even if
hurricanes are not a regular occurrence where you live, they could impact your
summer or fall vacation so make sure to research the risks for the area you are
traveling to. If hurricanes are a regular occurrence where you live, you should
know how to protect your property. As with flood preparedness, ensure you have
adequate flood insurance and ask about wind insurance.
Since hurricanes
are massive, relatively slow moving storms, so you should have several days of warning
before a storm hits to prepare your home and family. Start by storing all outdoor
furniture & décor, pool floats, planters, toys, dog houses, trash &
recycling bins, grills and anything else that could be picked up and tossed
about by strong winds. Bring pets inside and secure horses, farm animals and
livestock. Secure storm shutters or board up windows & sliding glass doors.
Follow the flood preparedness advice above for protecting utilities &
belonging from flood prone areas. Be prepared to be without power and water for
a few days.
Depending on
how close to the coast you live and the storm’s path, you should prepare for an
evacuation order. If you choose not to evacuate, know that you put yourself and
family at a greater risk of injury and without emergency services to come to
your aid.
Tornado, Volcanic Eruption & Earthquake Preparedness
Hurricanes,
floods, and even wildfires are natural disasters that are generally easier to
plan ahead for because forecasters and emergency officials can give warnings. However, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and especially earthquakes
provide little (if any) warning at all before they strike so it's crucial to
prepare well in advance. I personally have never lived in an area that is prone
to any of these. But because I travel frequently for my job (sometimes up to several
weeks at a time) it occurred to me that I ought to be somewhat prepared for these
natural disasters should one strike while I am on travel. In addition to the
general emergency preparedness tips I’ve laid out above, here are specific
preparedness tips I have compiled for some of the more extreme natural disasters:
Tornadoes:
- Make a family plan of what to do in the event of a tornado,
include what to do if you are at home, in the car, or out shopping, and practice!
- If you live or work in an area that is prone to tornados, most big
public buildings (like airports and schools) will have tornado shelters.
- If a tornado WATCH is issued, tune into local news & weather reports
via radio or television.
- Call friends, family or neighbors who may not have heard the watch
to alert them.
- Charge your cellphones and review your tornado emergency plan.
- If a tornado WARNING is issued, seek shelter IMMEDIATELY:
- Best Protection: an approved storm shelter or safe room
- Moderate Protection: ideally a basement or cellar below ground
level, or a small interior windowless room on the lowest level of the building. Crouch down
and protect your head & neck.
- Minimal/Inadequate Protection: manufactured mobile homes/offices
or trailers, open-plan buildings
(like malls, large retail buildings - Costco’s, gymnasiums), automobiles, or
outdoors). Plan ahead and seek better protection BEFORE the tornado warning is
issued- like when tornado a WATCH is issued.
Volcanic Eruptions:
- Volcanic eruptions are crazy because on top of having to be
concerned about lava flow, ashfall, acid rain and lateral blasts, other
disasters like fires, floods, landslides/mudflows, earthquakes and tsunamis can
also occur SIMULTANEOUSLY!!
- Active volcanoes are most dangerous within a 20-mile radius but
damage can occur within 100 miles of an eruption.
- Avoid areas downstream and downwind of the erupting volcano (like
valleys).
- If there is ashfall, keep your arms & legs covered, and wear
goggles to protect your eyes. A dust mask or damp cloth can protect your face
and help breathing.
- Listen to local news reports and prepare to leave immediately if
an evacuation is ordered for your area.
Earthquakes
- When you feel the ground shaking:
- If you are indoors: stay put, do not go outside. Lower your center
of gravity by getting on your hands
& knees and protect your head & neck with your arms, and if you can do
so safely, crawl under a sturdy table or desk. If you are in bed, stay in bed
and cover your head & neck with a pillow.
- If you are outdoors: move to an open area away from buildings
& utility poles if you
can do so safely, then drop to your hands & knees and cover your head &
neck with your arms. If you are in a city, you may need to seek shelter in the
closest building to avoid being injured from falling debris.
- If you are in a moving vehicle: stop as soon as it is safely possible
since it can be difficult to control a car during the shaking. Try to avoid
stopping under overpasses, near trees, utility poles or close to buildings.
Stay in your vehicle until the shaking stops.
After the Storm
Once a storm has passed, and the immediate threat of danger has lifted the clean up can begin. If your property was damaged take photographs or video to document the damage before you begin clean up or any repairs, and contact your insurance company as soon as possible to get your claim started. When accessing the aftermath:
- Wear appropriate clothing and protective gear such as sturdy work boots, rubber rain boots or wellies and work gloves or rubber gloves.
- Assume all damaged or downed power lines are live and DO NOT touch
or approach them.
- Do not touch electric panels if they are wet or it you are standing in water.
- Hand tools and power tools can come in handy if you have to clear
small limbs or trees from your yard or driveway - just make sure to wear
proper safety equipment like goggles & work gloves.
- Lawn & leaf bags and garbage bags are necessary to clean up
debris from the yard, dispose of spoiled food from refrigerators &
freezers, and ruined items that cannot be cleaned or repaired.
Costco sells:
- Work gloves
- Some hand tools
- Some power tools
- Trash & refuse bags
Emergency preparedness can be a scary topic, but don't let fear
hold you back. Creating a plan and preparing yourself, your family and your
home ahead of time is the best defense you can have in the face of any
emergency situation - especially if that plan involves making a few trips to
Costco! To lighten the mood, make emergency preparedness fun by turning it into
a game and run practice drills with the whole family. :)
Additional Resources:
Check your app store for CPR, first-aid, emergency preparedness, and weather apps.
Sign up for local emergency text notifications for your area, and add
notifications for new areas when you travel or move.
For more detailed
information on how to create a family emergency plan, checklists for building
emergency kits, and more, explore these websites below:
I’d like to
close this post by thanking my "MacGyver" parents for instilling in me the “hope
for the best, but plan for the worst” mentality. I'm thankful I have not had to
fully execute any of my emergency plans or utilize all of my emergency gear, but I am at
ease knowing that for better or for worse, whether on the road or at home, I am
as prepared as I can be for just about anything life can throw at me. And now,
because you have read my ridiculously long post, and with a little help from
Costco, you too can be prepared!
Until next time,
the Costco Connoisseur
#GoingToAllTheCostcos
P.S. - Selections and prices listed above will vary from different Costco locations.
P.P.S. Don't miss out on the latest roadshows and other Costco deals I spot in between blog posts- use the links below to follow me on Twitter and Instagram, and like my new page on Facebook!
