Changing Seasons - You Ready? Stocking Isn't Just Food

 Hello and happy April!!!  Wow, three months already done this year.  It sure is going fast.  

It is a chilly frosty morning here.  We will see 50's today and some sun!  More spring storms headed this way during the week.  Not looking forward to those.  March and April seems to bring those nasty storms to the interior of the US. 

They say April showers bring May flowers - boy, we better see a lot of flowers!!!  LOL

This was looking out my living room window to the West at about 7PM Sunday.  It got very nasty looking.  We did have very hard rain, pea size hail (just a bit), and 70 mph winds.

Looking North of me.  See that white tree?  Oh that thing is huge - probably 70'+ and it is just beautiful.

Yes, me and my neighbors are those people that stand outside and look up, instead of heeding the warnings!

We had some nasty storms come through over the weekend.  I seem to be right in the eye of the needle (luckily), as the worse missed me.  Many had wind damage, flooding, hail, and some areas had tornadoes.  We will soon be coming upon hurricane season for coastal areas.  Think fires in the driest area, earthquakes, you name it - it is that time.  Are you as ready as you can be?

We always talk about how we stock food, for the emergencies and just daily living.  What happens if you lose power for an extended time?  Maybe no power, no water, etc.

You need to have a plan just in case!!

• Do you have water?  Jugs of water to help flush, or to just wash yourself.  Water to aid in drinking or cooking?  What about bathroom use over a long period of time?  A potty chair, or a lined bucket.  Maybe a way to collect rainwater.  A way to purify water.

• Do you have a way to get light for your home?  Make sure you have flashlights and batteries or candles available.  Yard type solar lights work great when you bring them in.  They do give off a good amount of light.  Glow sticks might be something to have on hand - you can stick them in an old milk jug for a super nice glow of light.  Do you have ANY TYPE of generator?  They sure help to keep foods from thawing in freezers.  You do NOT need to run constantly - just a bit here and there to keep things frozen (and not open the freezer much).  Make sure freezers are full - if with nothing other than water jugs.  That keeps things cold.  Generators are good if someone needs medical devices as well (think C-Pap machines, etc.).  If you have a portable generator, you will need a supply of fuel.
• Can you cook?  Many stoves today cannot be lit without power.  Do you have a grill or know how to cook over a fire?  Maybe have a piece or two of cast iron pots.  They work great on a fire.  Do you have some foods that can be eaten just as it is?  Food that doesn't need to be cooked - think canned fruit, tuna, some veggies, peanut butter/jelly, home canned goods, etc.
• Have alcohol and/or peroxide to help clean and keep germs away.  Antibacterial wipes on hand.  Hand sanitizer.  Bleach and cleaning products just in case.
• Non-electrical devices to replace your normal way of living.  A car phone charger.  A mechanical can opener, a coffee pot that can be used on a grill or fire (or instant coffee).  Non-plastic cooking tools (that won't melt).  If storm is coming, make sure to charge up phones and any batteries.
• TP or wipes!!!  
• H & B - allergy meds (remember no AC - so windows open), cold meds, eye drops, basics for cleansing yourself (you want to feel somewhat normal)
• CASH on hand - you never know.  Odds are you won't be able to shop anywhere - as they are in the same predicament as you, but you may be able to barter with neighbors, or have someone help you
• Pet foods - you can't forget your fur babies.  They will need food and water too.
• Have your important papers and items together if you think you may be in a big storm - in case you need to flee!  Papers, meds, keys, glasses, animal carriers, etc.
• Be ready to do some work!  Odds are you may have to do clean-up of some kind, so just know you may be responsible for YOU.  Everyone will be in the same boat.

There is just a plethora of things to think about to be able to survive and survive well.  Storms come in all shapes and forms, and they happen all over the world.  If you have some of the basics lined up - you will feel a bit comforted in knowing you can survive.  Some of our own readers here, have been through this with the last hurricanes.  Many areas are still not back to normal.  It can be lasting or it can be short in time - you just need to have a plan.

I pray no one else has to go through these things, yet I can almost predict someone will, sadly.  You gals that have survived these horrible times, please feel free to offer things I didn't think of.

It just makes since to be prepared for anything.  We never know what kind of emergency we may have - it could be sickness, job loss, weather, anything!  

You may need to get rustic for a while - think about that.  Life isn't always, turning on faucets, flipping power switches, and AC or heat - it may get real basic!

Have a plan!!!

Wishing you all a lovely April day!