Disaster Skills: 5 Things You Must Have – Before The Storm

We’ve all been in the mad rush of last minute shopping when inclement weather is predicted. Shoppers scurry around pushing carts in a low grade frenzy. You can almost hear them chanting in their minds – “milk… bread… toilet paper…” But is this the right time to be shopping for the supplies that will keep your family safe and secure during and after a storm? I think not. And how will you even keep that milk cold if the power goes out?

Before this year’s hurricane season ramps up, there are 5 critical needs that you must have covered - and there’s no better time to buy these supplies than right now.

RADIO WITH NOAA ALERT Say that your phone and electricity go out during a storm. How would you know if something more wicked is coming? A small and affordable emergency radio could be the most vital part of your preparedness supplies. A weather radio with alerts will beep and convey important information in the event of an emergency in your area. Keep an ample supply of batteries for this device, and ideally – those batteries should fit your lighting devices too. You won’t know whether to hunker down or flee without the alerts.

FIRST AID KIT Don’t ignore this second priority item, or say that nothing bad will ever happen to me. Body injury of all sorts can occur hand-in-hand with bad weather. Your standard household first aid kit is a good start, but this kit must be supplemented with trauma supplies such as larger bandages and dressings to treat larger wounds that can come from broken glass and storm debris. You may not be able to reach medical care during a hurricane or in the aftermath of a storm. Be prepared to provide your own first aid, if needed. 

WATER This third priority will keep you and your family safely hydrated, should you lose your utilities. Purchase the 2 gallon water jugs with a spigot. This will give you running water when your faucet stops flowing. Plan for 1 gallon per person per day in your household, and plan for a week without water. It’s also a great strategy to plan ways to disinfect more water, post-disaster.

NO-COOK FOOD The easiest way to handle your daily need for calories is to have ready-to-eat foods that require no cooking. Consider high calorie foods that store well. You could also add a camping stove to your plans for occasional hot meals to boost morale. Store enough food for feed your entire family for one week.

LIGHTING Candles and kerosene lanterns are a choice for grid-down lighting, though they can be a fire hazard. For better results and safer operation, choose LED flashlights and a stock of appropriate batteries. Hand held flashlights and stand-alone lanterns are good. Headlamps are even better, as they leave both hands free for working. Any good LED headlamp will illuminate for 100 hours on one set of AA batteries.  

And for many more DIY survival skills, check out my Disaster Crash Course and Bug Out Weekend. If you wait until you need these preps and skills, you waited too late.

Written by Tim MacWelch First draft published on outdoorlife.com