Reasons why I think I am fairly well qualified for giving survival advice:
- I was a Girl Scout
- Who was raised in New England (home to blizzards, Nor’Easters, hurricanes a plenty)
- By a mom who grew up in one of the snowiest states in the country
- And a father who was in the military for longer than legally allowed
- We lived in a house with a built-in bunker in the basement.
- There is a photo of me in the Blizzard of ’78 sitting atop an 8’ pile of snow, just 2 years old, thinking I really don’t know what all the fuss is about.
When bad weather comes out way, I prepare. I get practical.
Once all the practical stuff is out of the way, I get My Most Important Kit together.
With the incoming hurricane about to eat NYC and the surrounding areas alive (according to Mayor Bloomberg, looking a bit nervous in today’s press conference as he told us that the transit system will close effective Saturday and reminding idiots not to go in the water during the hurricane), my main concern is Power Outage.
I am fine with power outages when it is just me.
I am NOT fine with power outages when I have two small annoying children in my care.
I spent this morning gathering the last few pieces, and thought I’d share the full contents with those of you who are also suburban parents who aren’t quite sure how to get through a potential power outage with the kids.
Kim’s Potential Power Outage During A Hurricane Essentials Kit
1. Water to stay hydrated, and for washing up.
2. Combined floodlight, flashlight, alarm, radio so we can stay connected with current weather news and find each other in the dark.
3. Funky fancy flashlights that glow colorfully, to make the kids excited about being in the dark.
4. Small flashlight of my own to help me hunt down a dark, quiet corner of the house while the kids are distracted with their cool new flashlights (3.) so I can play Scrabble on my iPad (5.).
6. Pop ‘ems for the kids’ breakfast. Maybe lunch. Possibly dinner, too.
7. Entenmann’s Raspberry Danish, a non-perishable food source which will give me enough energy for all the battery changing I’ll need to do with a house full of people using flashlights.
8. Bass Ale, so I can be more patient with kids who whine once they are no longer enamored with the new flashlights and realize that they are bored without Wii and Nick Jr.
9. Small Wet Vac for sucking up spills such as basement flood water or Bass Ale (8.) being consumed in a very dark house.
If you’re the type that wants multiple opinions on this sort of thing, The Red Cross has a simple yet thorough checklist you may want to peek at as well.
I do hope you found my kit helpful. If you are in the path of the storm, I wish you safety, dry basements, and very patient children.
Lol I love it and I think I will be putting together a very similiar kit myself!!! Good luck and I hope that you ride out the storm safely!!!
–Laura
http://laura-twopeasandapod.blogspot.com/
Thanks! I guess you could substitute wine for beer (especially since it can still be good when not cold), and brownies for raspberry danish, but I think you get the idea. Good luck!
You should host some kind of preparedness seminar. What have got in your Bass Ale Drought emergency kit?
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, Cline Zinfandel, and a cabinet full of vodka, rum, whiskey.
Oh, and 4C iced tea lemonade. That stuff is YUM.
We’re in preparation mode here too. We missed the water…grocery store ran out, so instead I’ve got some seltzer…figure I can let it go flat. In place of Bass, we’ve got 2 bottles of wine & a few pints for my hubby. I’m hoping that it’s not as bad as they’re anticipating. My mother in law is with us (evacuated from the Jersey shore). I’m praying her house doesn’t get blown away or damaged too much for a multitude of reasons.
I’m from Massachusetts, so I’ve been through all this before. I know it can be serious, so i’m trying to balance the Prepare For Disaster with Not Scaring Kids. Man, I hope this thing magically blows out to sea….my mom is still up there in MA, so I worry about her house, too!
I wish you luck with the oncoming storm. It looks like you’re well prepared.
I’d maybe make sure there is LOTS of Bass Ale, just in case.
i have back-up, don’t you worry.
Oh my god, I forgot the Pop’ems! I’ll be right back.
RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!!
Hah. It looks like you have all your bases covered! You are lucky to get water. My relatives are in MA and they said there is no more water in the grocery stores. Don’t forget that if the power goes out you will need cash! Good luck!
I already had one case, and while the kids were in camp on friday morning I popped into Target who had just stocked an entire aisle with it (all the shelves, both sides). Yay!
I sent my husband for the cash, it was the one thing I forgot. Let’s hope the storm dies down a bit, and we can just use it to order pizzas on Monday.
Good luck to your MA family! Just talked to my own back up there, and they are bracing for it like the sturdy New Englanders they are….
Ha! I’m not at all prepared. This week, I lost my wireless router, my computer and my washing machine, so that (and the earthquake) kept a lot of my attention. To prepare for this weekend, I…
1. put a bit of water in the tub (not that I’ll be doing laundry any time soon)
2. pulled down the basketball hoop
3. tried to buy batteries (sold out)
4. didn’t buy water because we had a ton of bottled water (that the kids didn’t inform me they’d consumed)
5. forgot bread at the grocery store
6. baked bread (but have no foil in which to wrap it)
7. put a bunch of ice cubs in plastic containers and froze them for drinking water
Think we’ll be OK?
Sounds like things are totally under control… *snicker* *cough* Ahem.
Kim you are prepared, I’m impressed. Except I think you need more Bass Ale.
Visiting from Write on Edge (not sure the acronym is a good one heading into a hurricane situation)
LOL! Thanks for not using the acronym this week.
I appreciate your coming by, and definitely for your suggestion for more beer. I think we’d get along famously.
I know this had potential for actual disaster but somehow see you link to the Red Cross list for those who wanted a second opinion made me laugh out loud! I guess it was the idea that someone might think you had missed something in your super inclusive list!
Glad you liked it, May.
I’m all about preparation.
You, my dear, are one smart momma!!! New follower here.
Thanks, Kristy! Both for thinking I’m smart and for sticking around.
LOVE IT! I hope you survived the storm
We did, it was tough but we are okay….
You’re well-prepared… must keep this list in mind for the next possible storm/hurricane/natural disaster! There’s basically something for everyone here.
It is all very important stuff. Very, very important.
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