The recent wave of natural disasters has got me thinking about our own safety and preparedness. Just last month tornadoes claimed the lives of 43 people in North Carolina. The storms left 130 people injured and 84,000 without power. The rising levels of the Mississippi River have forced 5,000 residents to evacuate their homes. These are the horrors we all hope to never face, but are never prepared for when the time may come.
I have been watching the news concerning these natural disasters. I also tend to get a little paranoid with our current national security fears. I blame watching Jericho on Netflix. The wife and I discussed the need to prepare in case of an emergency. We talked about what materials are needed, where to store it and the importance of putting together a plan to keep our family safe.
Like any self-respecting tech-dad, I took to the web for inspiration. A quick search took me to Ready.gov, the U.S. government’s website that provides tips for your preparedness plan.
Prepare a kit:
Here are the guidelines according to the Ready.gov website:
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
- Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Think green:
Start a garden. Stockpile, can/jar and freeze what you can. Consider a raised or container garden bed. Even a “pizza garden” helps. Starting a garden not only helps the environment, but it teaches you to become self-sufficient and self-reliant in case of emergency. If crap hits the fan and you and I are in it for a long time, well, we need a way to feed our families. Looking to nature is the best way to do it.
Look towards the sun. I have a detached garage in desperate need of repair. I have been conjuring up some plans on how to go about repairing it. The garage does not have electricity hooked up to it, so one of the items on the agenda is to install solar panels and attach them to a battery bank to store power. This is the solar panel kit I am looking to start with. I plan on wiring the garage to bring light and electrical outlets to plug in a few items if needed.
In the event of a disaster, the power might be gone for days, perhaps weeks. We’re going to need a way to get things powered up. This is one way I can ensure my family can endure some comfort during that difficult time.
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These are just a few items to consider. Be sure to check Ready.gov for more ideas. Our families are our responsibilities. As fathers we need to make plans for worst case scenarios. iPads, Android tablets, HDTVs and PS3′s are nice and all, but set a few moments aside to think about what really matters. Talk it over with your family and get your plan in order.
Do you have an emergency preparedness plan in place?