Home Maintenance Monday 12/9/24
The time has come to review your emergency kit and update your supplies for winter storms!
Do you have these emergency supplies? Some basic emergency kit supplies are pictured spread out on a table. “How Prepared are you for a winter storm?”
If you do NOT have an emergency kit, now is an EXCELLENT time to consider putting one together. If you are in this boat, you are NOT alone! Just a few years ago in 2021, Wells Fargo conducted a survey which indicated that less than 46% of homes have an emergency kit prepared that will last for everyone living in their home for several days after a disaster. Just over half of us, at 54%, are prepared with a 2-week emergency food supply in their homes. Just two in five survey respondents reported that their important documents are not easy to find in their home. (38%) And only a third had documented possessions by taking photos and videos of their house and household items in case they need to make an insurance claim."
The article where I found this information, "Most Americans Ill-Prepared for Natural Disasters, Wells Fargo Survey Finds", goes on to point out that only a third of Americans have not even had a conversation with their family members about how they will locate each other if they become separated during a disaster event. Parents! This is an especially important conversation to consider having with your school-aged children! (Not to scare them, just to prepare them!)
A scenic road covered in snow. Would this level of snowfall leave you stranded at home?
No matter what your level of disaster preparedness is, this is a good time of year to break out your emergency kits and review your emergency supplies to make sure that you are ready for a winter storm!
During a winter storm, your primary concerns are loss of heat, power and telephone service, as well as a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day. Here are some basic supplies that you should consider prepping yourself with:
Flashlight and extra batteries
Battery-powered Radio to receive emergency information
Extra water and food which requires no cooking or refrigeration on hand: some good examples are dried fruit, nuts, granola bars.
A well-stocked First-Aid Kit
Extra prescription medications
Baby items such as diapers and formula
Extra pet food and warm shelter for pets
Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove or space heaters properly ventilated to prevent a fire
Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm; test smoke alarms monthly to ensure they work properly!
This is more rare in the NW, but if you have an oil or propane tank for your heating fuel, you may want to keep that topped up and refuel before you are empty, as fuel carriers may not be able to reach you for days after a winter storm
If you are using a generator, review generator safety instructions: NEVER run a generator in an enclosed space and make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working correctly. (If you've been following along with this blog, you should have checked these two weeks ago!) It is also imperative that you make sure that the outside vent is clear of leaves and debris. During and/or after the storm, you should also make sure it is cleared of snow/ice.
Home fires are an all too common tragedy that ticks up each winter when people find themselves trying to stay warm. Please make sure to review the safest ways possible to keep your home and loved ones safe over the winter.
While I was doing the research for today's home maintenance topic, I came across the NY Times' Wirecutter list of the Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies, updated in September of this year. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/emergency-preparedness/
I think that some of the items on this list could make AMAZING last minute holiday gifts for those homeowners that you may know whom might be harder to shop for! EVERYONE should have access to a good emergency tool kit and as we discussed above, more than half of us are not exactly prepared for any kind of a disaster. Emergency preparedness might wind up being a necessary and welcomed way to say you care this year!
An array of wrapped gifts are arranged below a tree. Do you think any of these are emergency preparedness supplies?
Resources:
"Prepare! Don't Let a Winter Storm Take You by Surprise" web article located at: https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-before
"Most Americans Ill-Prepared for Natural Disasters, Wells Fargo Survey Finds" web article located at: https://newsroom.wf.com/English/news-releases/news-release-details/2021/Most-Americans-Ill-Prepared-for-Natural-Disasters-Wells-Fargo-Survey-Finds/default.aspx#:~:text=Less%20than%20half%20(46%25),to%20find%20in%20their%20house.
"The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies" web article located at: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/emergency-preparedness/