Disaster preparedness...

With the beautiful Spring also comes turbulent weather.  There have already been record numbers of tornadoes in southern and midwestern states (almost 300 dead with millions of dollars worth of devastation this week alone), so this is probably the time to start an emergency preparedness kit, (if you haven't already).  But how to do this in an eco-friendly way?

Here are a few essential items you'll need to get your kit together:

1. Hand crank radio: To keep you informed of weather conditions, doesn't require batteries
2. Hand crank flashlight: Doesn't require batteries and is always ready to go when you need it.
3. Water: Get the biggest water jug you can find at the grocery store and then use reusable water bottles to drink from.  
4. Blankets and rain gear
5. Waterproof safe: to contain all your valuable papers.  Or better yet, make copies of your most important documents, such as passports, birth certificates, social security cards, and keep them in a safety deposit box at the bank.
6. Latex-free band-aids
7. Food: Organic snacks and canned food (plus manual can opener)
8. Baby supplies: such as baby food, diapers, wipes (if needed)
9. Solar cell phone charger
10. Supply of toys, books, games 
11. Tools
12. Keep your gas tank at least half full.
13. Photos: Download your digital photos to an online service, such as Shutterfly or Snapfish and try to scan your paper copies.  Photos are my most prized material possession and irreplaceable.  

Keep these things in a rodent-proof container in your basement or most secure room in your house.  Remember to have at least a 5-7 day supply of these things, just in case it takes that long to restore power.  It's a good idea to keep a mini version of this kit in your car also, as well as things to survive if you stall out or get stuck in a winter storm.

I hope that no one will need these in the future, but will at least be prepared.  There's less environmental impact with these supplies, but everything you need just in case.   

Here are a few links for more information on disaster kits, as well as a link to LL Bean who sells a handcrank radio and flashlight.  

Disaster Preparedness

Green Disaster Kit
LL Bean flashlight
LL Bean radio

Stay safe!