If you’re ready and you know it, clap your hands

The recent tragedy of Madonna Badger reminded me how ill-prepared we are sometimes for the forces of nature. And this is particularly tragic because it is my job to be prepared, both as a professional, and as a mom. Here are my emergency preparedness tips for you and your family. Do we do all of these things? No. But every little bit helps.

(1) check your smoke alarms annually (at least); install new batteries, check that they work properly

(2) make sure that the storm windows in your basement can actually open in case of an emergency

(3) cover storm wells in the summer so that small children will not fall through

(4) at least one bedroom upstairs (ideally all bedrooms) should have an escape ladder tucked in the room in case of fire

(5) have at least one, if not two, fire extinguishers near the kitchen; (5.b.) know how to use them – the first time I tried using one (to put out a fire in our toaster oven, I accidentally fired it backwards, towards my husband’s face . . .

(6 ) have a “go pack” ready – this is a backpack that has copies of all of the important papers and other items that you might need in case of a fire. Have it in your home office or mudroom or somewhere near an exit or the garage. It should have copies of an insurance in formation, numbers and accounts you will need to contact companies in case of fire or natural disaster; an emergency contact list would be helpful too, although most of us have this on our phones these days. If you feel ambitious, also store your passports and a check book and some extra cash in here. This is how you will rebuild your life if you need to evacuate quickly.

(7) have an emergency meet-up place outside of your home in case you and your family get split up or are not together when the emergency occurs; maybe a friend’s house in a different town, or another location. Also have a back-up emergency meet-up place that is farther out of town (or in the next state) in case something happens in the entire area (e.g. tornado or earthquake, etc.)

(8 ) have an emergency phone number that is out of state that everyone in your family can call to get in contact; during a local emergency, cell phone towers may be down due to high traffic. Having an outside number you can call from a landline or payphone can keep you all in contact.

(9) try to refill prescription drugs before they are completely empty; make sure to keep them together and in a place you can grab quickly if you need to evacuate (instead of all over the house like ours end up sometimes)

(10) try to fill up your car when it gets to half a tank instead of waiting until empty (or waiting several miles after the light comes on – it’s a weird game of “chicken” I play with my car; I don’t know why, it’s a quirk). Especially in cold weather, you do not want to run out of gas if it takes you several hours to get home in a snow storm.

(11) keep emergency supplies in your car during the cold weather – a sleeping bag or warm blankets, a few bottles of water, some non-perishable snacks, flashlight and extra batteries, jumper cables, make sure the spare tire is in good condition, etc.

(12) have an emergency stock of canned goods and bottles of water in case you need to “shelter-in-place” for awhile in your home. Plan for roughly one flat (24 bottles) of water, per person, in your household. Yes, this is probably unrealistic, but even just an extra flat or two could be helpful. Keep them in the garage or mudroom so that if you need to evacuate in your car, you can toss them in the trunk quickly.

(13) when there is a sale on at the grocery store, or every time you go grocery shopping, buy an extra non-perishable item for your pantry in case of emergency. Over time, you will build  up a nice supply. Just remember to rotate your supply so the expiration dates are not an issue. And buy foods that your family will eat (tuna is great for emergencies, but if no one will eat it, it’s just a paperweight). Also, consider that the electricity might be out, so consider foods that do not need to be heated or cooked.

(14) consider back-up plans for your digital files. If there’s a house fire, or if you need to evacuate quickly, how have you backed-up all of your photos and videos and files. An external harddrive is great for insuring against a computer failure, but if you need to evacuate (or if you’re not at home when disaster strikes), you may not be able to access it. Consider uploading photos and videos to a free site that allows for full-resolution uploads (photos) or youtube type places for videos.

(15) your “go-pack” should also include any necessary items that you might need overnight (e.g. change of clothes, baby formula, glasses, prescriptions, etc.)

(16) obviously, this is a long list. We’re not going to all be able to accomplish all of these. But at least sit down together and review the list. See where you are as a family in terms of preparedness, prioritize what can be done, and discuss where you might go next. And in the end, as they say in my husband’s home land, just remember to “stay calm, and carry on.”