By Carolyn Raymond
This September, organize a bad-weather essentials kit during National Preparedness Month and prepare yourself and your family for the upcoming storm season. Whether you’re gearing up for coastal hurricanes, New England nor’easters, or Midwest blizzards, an organized and well-stocked bad-weather kit is a must.
Pack your bags
Although pre-packed “go-bags” may be purchased online, everyday items you already own make great containers for bad-weather essentials.
Cyndi Seidler, author, organization life stylist, and owner of HandyGirl Organizers in Southern California, recommends storing storm safety essentials in an old suitcase.
“Whether you’re tossing it in the car or evacuating with it on foot, you want a bag that you can easily grab and take with you,” Seidler says.
If you don’t have an extra bag, inexpensive suitcases can be easily found at thrift shops or secondhand stores. Look for a bag with the following features:
- Carry-on size
- Wheels
- Comfortable handles
- Brightly colored
Zippered pockets help organize the supplies within. Keep extra batteries and nonperishable foods like dried fruits, nuts, and protein bars in outer pockets for easy access. Larger items such as bottled water, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio fit well in the inside compartment.
It’s also important to pack the essentials kit together as a family so that everyone is familiar with the bag and knows what is inside.
Darryl Madden, director of FEMA’s Ready Campaign, suggests keeping your “go-bag” in a central location in the home, such as in a closet by the front door.
“When disaster strikes, you don’t have time to be hunting for supplies,” Madden says. “A few minutes really can save your life.”
Prep your vehicle
Severe weather can arise suddenly, so you may not be at home when a storm hits.
“With today’s mobile society, I recommend keeping a backpack with supplies in your car at all times,” says Francesco Portero, owner of Diamond Advisory Group in Chicago. In addition to a backpack stocked with granola bars and bottled water, the following items are useful to keep in your vehicle’s trunk during the storm season:
- Blanket
- Hand-crank or battery powered radio
- Portable shovel with a folding handle
- Air-activated heat packs
Whether you’re stuck in evacuation traffic or stranded overnight due to road closings, these supplies can help ease the stress of unpredictable weather.
September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored by FEMA’s Ready Campaign. Communities can sign up to receive resources and tips on how to promote storm preparedness in the neighborhood.
One Comment
Great article Carolyn! Thanks for including NAPO-Chicago member Francesco Portera in the article. It would be great to see it noted that he is a NAPO-Chicago member.