Disasters and emergencies happen everywhere. Whether you live in tornado alley, an earth quake area, or down in the tropics, there are times you may need to evacuate your home. Thinking none of those natural disasters apply? How about a tanker or railroad car accident with say a cargo of chemicals? A wildfire coming out of the woods toward your home? Let’s not forget September 11th and the terrorist attack that filled the air with smoke and toxic fumes.
Living in central Florida, I can have droughts that cause fires, flooding from storms, tornadoes, and of course hurricanes. It’s May and we’ve had temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s (F) for over a month. Unfortunately, the wet season has not arrived. We are at the end of a long dry season. This is a time a small spark causes fires. My garden looks sad and some plants are dying. I’m trotting around to water my plants where I can. I’m praying for rain too. It’s time for me to review my emergency plans.
Hurricane Season in the United States begins June 1 and does not end until November 30th. Each year anyone on the eastern coast of the United States must be ready for possible evacuation and damage due to tropical storms and hurricanes. Memorial Weekend brought rain, flooding, and winds to the Gulf coast with Sub Tropical Storm Alberto several years ago. Now is the time to review your emergency planning and take action to be ready for any disasters.
Review Your Disaster Plan
Each year I review my own disaster plan and bug out kit. Traditionally I do this at the end of May, If you live on the eastern coast, be prepared. I have reviewed my post on Emergency Preparation and checked all the links. Our safety is my top priority and should be yours. Even if you live on the west coast, I suggest everyone review my post and take steps necessary for disaster planning whether you have fires, earthquakes, flooding, or tornadoes in your area. There are many links and printables that will assist you in protecting your family.
Visit FEMA’s list of Emergency Management Agencies to find your state’s emergency planning agency. For example, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has a hurricane preparedness page, Hurricanes. It also has information for 14 more emergencies.
Recommended steps
- Check with your local emergency agency for information. All states and counties have such an agency. Follow their steps for disaster planning.
- Build a disaster supply kit or refresh your existing one.
- Make an emergency plan or update an existing one for your family and/or business. This should include your pets.
- Follow emergency agencies on Twitter to receive up to date information at times of natural disaster. See Emergency Preparation for the list.
This year’s plan
After my loss of electricity several years ago with Hurricane Irma, I knew I needed to expand my emergency power options. I can’t really afford a portable generator, but I did buy several items to add to my emergency tools. I got 2 Solar Puff Lanterns (from Uncommon Goods) and 2 portable batteries for mobile devices ( from Ross for Less). The solar lanterns were developed by Uncommon Goods for camping and emergency loss of electricity. My inexpensive solar lights in the yard served as night lights during Irma. I pulled them out of the ground and turned them upside down on the flat top. The next day I replanted them to recharge. They cast a dim light and I wanted a brighter light.
I’m impressed with the solar lantern because its 2.6 ounce weight and flat-packable design make it easy to carry with camping gear, in a car glove box, or emergency kit. Easy to flatten and put in my bug out bag. Put in the sun during the day and use at night with a fairly bright light for the size. It’s attractive too in an origami design. The 2 power batteries will enable me to use my phone and tablet for twice as long. Last September I was fairly content to spend an evening in the dark with only a couple of solar lights from the yard as night lights and my tablet to keep my mind busy. One evening of reading and the battery needed a recharge. Now I can read longer and with a brighter light in the room.
Photo Uncommon Ground
Everyone should have new batteries and flashlights and a couple of good solar lanterns. They are much safer than candles and solar lights can recharge in the sun daily. Expand your emergency equipment with a few additions if necessary.
Thanks for coming by. Have a safe and happy summer.
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…hurricanes have a way changing things!
Hurricane Irma was such a nightmare. I thought I was going to die in the heat by the last day we went without electricity. In addition to solar lights I have camping lanterns that are great when the electricity is out. I have one big one that easily lights up our great room and a couple small ones that we can take from room to room. They are so much better than flashlights and candles are just too dangerous.
I wish I could afford a generator but it’s not in the budget. I agree candles are dangerous. I do love my solar lights though. Here’s a prayer we have a mild hurricane season here in Florida.
One thing living in Amherstburg, Ontario, The weather is not that bad. We might have strong storms but we don’t have hurricanes, we don’t have floods, the tornadoes are further down the road. I’ve never seen a forest fire only a brush fire. Really I think this area is OK. Last year we had an earthquake that was so loud. I was 3.5 and that was it. Sometimes I was I lived in Florida but then I’m happy to live here in Amherstburg..
Cruisin Paul
Yes you sound like you’re in a good area disaster wise as long as there isn’t a problem with wrecks of chemicals or terrorists. I just can’t handle the cold weather so I learned to live with hurricanes. I like that better than earthquakes, fires, and mud slides in California.
We don’t get the same kinds of emergencies like you do. Our biggest supply is to be sure we have batteries for the lights in case of a power outage. We might get winds and rain but the batteries are usually enough (that, and being fast enough to get anything that might get wet off the porch!). In the winter there is the potential for ice storms and blizzards (rare, it seems, these days). So, we probably have a bit more planning then. A generator would be nice.
Weather wise ice storms and loss of power are probably all you have to worry about. Just remember trucks carry all kinds of toxic things and an accident can happen anywhere. So if you had to leave your home quickly, just have a plan of where you would go and what you could grab to tide you over. When police empty buildings, they don’t give you time to pack. I’m praying you never have to worry about it. BTW there was a small earthquake in Tennessee when I was in college. Another reader in Canada said 2 years ago they had an earthquake. Scary.