Preparing For An Emergency
Posted on: 24 February 2015
Many people wonder what would happen if there was a national emergency where you would be limited on your food and water supply options. Becoming trapped at home, unable to travel until conditions are safe is a scary thought that can be handled by making preparations in case something were to happen. Here are some ways you can prepare yourself for an emergency situation where you would be unable to travel for an extended time.
Food Supply
Each time you go grocery shopping, grab an item or two that you will set aside in case of an emergency. Look for food items that are non-perishable and that have an expiration date far into the future. These items can be stockpiles in a garage, basement or crawlspace in an area where they are kept cool and away from sunlight.
Water Supply
Having a water supply is extremely important if you are unable to get out of your home. If your electricity goes out, making your water pump stop working, you may not have accessible water to drink. But extra gallons of drinking water to store in a location for emergency. To save money, consider reusing water containers to fill with tap water to store.
You can use calcium hypochlorite to place in water sources to disinfect them if you need water in an emergency situation. This can be purchased at a pool store and kept in storage until needed. In a pinch, it will be useful to take out bacteria from rainwater, ponds, or fountain water in an emergency situation.
Electricity
Having a generator would be the ideal situation in an emergency. Keep a supply of gas in your garage to run it when needed. Run it sporadically to do the things around your home that are essential and then shut it off to conserve gas if you not sure how long the power will be out. Invest in several flashlights and batteries, candles and lanterns to keep in case of a national power grid problem.
Heat
If you are trapped at home without heat, you may need to improvise by burning things in a fireplace or outdoors to keep warm. Keep a metal container outdoors to be used to burn paper or leaves if you need a quick heat supply. Make sure there are several blankets stored to wrap yourself inside when the temperatures drop very low.
Communication
If there is a nationwide emergency, you will want to keep in contact with friends and family members if possible. After awhile cell phone batteries will die if there is not source to charge your phone available. Keep your electronics at full charging at all times to maximize their capability in case of an emergency.
CB radios or walkie-talkies can be a great asset in an emergency. They do not need to have cell towers to work and they can be turned on inside your vehicle every once in a while to get some information from others with them available.
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