Weather has been so crazy lately that it is a good idea to be ready for anything. Cold snaps have caused millions to go without power in a usually hot climate like Texas, for example. Add the higher frequency of hurricanes to the East Coast and almost yearly wildfires to the West Coast and it becomes clear that preparedness right now is essential.
There are a lot of obvious ways to be ready such as having a generator like Bluetti’s new EP500 to keep the lights on. Those are great to have but there are a lot of other things that should be in place to help you get through a prolonged power outage.
In this article, I will go over a few things that you should be doing when there appears to be strange weather coming to your area soon.
1 – Emergency preparedness kit
Well before a disaster strikes you should have an emergency preparedness kit set up and ready to go. It should be in an easy to reach place and be completely self contained so you can grab it and get at a moment’s notice.
It’s one thing for the lights to go out and be without power for an extended period of time. It is quite another when disaster strikes in the form of flood or wildfire where seconds count.
In a big duffel bag, put together some essentials like warm clothes, bandages, a knife, scissors, and flashlights with batteries. These are things that you may need if you get caught out of the house but can also help if you are stuck inside. A separate first aid kit is also a good idea.
2 – Have a weather radio
Don’t rely on your smartphone if there is a weather disaster as you may not get any signal. This could leave you unprepared and without a plan because you don’t know what is happening around you.
Instead, have a weather radio that will work in almost any extreme condition. Check it occasionally to make sure that it’s working.
3 – Have plenty of gas in the car
If there is time to head out to the gas station if you see that a major storm is incoming then do so and fill your car with gas. You should also bring a can to fill up in case your car gets stuck somewhere when you are trying to get away.
Often in a blizzard, cars get stuck on the highway because they run out of gas. Having some extra will help you avoid that situation.
4 – Stock up on non perishables
Having canned and dried food is going to help you get through some tough times. If you are stuck in the house with no way to get fresh food then these goods will tide you over in the meantime.
You could even have some MRE (meals ready to eat) just in case as they provide you with a balanced meal and plenty of nutrients.
