Emergency/ inconvenience preparations

[sonrisa]

Hi everyone! It’s that time of year in CA when we need to get our inconvenience supplies together. (Disaster preparedness/bug out bags: yes, those too, but we hope to only need to inconvenience supplies this year).

How do you prep for whatever are your local inconveniences? Emergency prep ideas, too.

[sonrisa]

For comfort: I’ve ordered our MERV 13 furnace filters. Last fall I got a dehumidifier for locked in weeks. It made such a difference on the recycled filtered air. We have some small solar lights for the kids so they have power outage lights. We have clean N95s packed and ready in kid and adult sizes. Thanks to pandemic I’ve added a six pack of toilet paper to the supply tub 🤪

I added work gloves and a blue tarp to our standard emergency stuff.

[konapoppy]

Thanks for the reminder. I know I need to:
- check the size of kids clothes
- buy more water (Costco will do free delivery of a few big containers
- check the food in our kit. I think it is almost expired and the gross stuff anyway

I also need to:
- pack a bag of things we kind of like
- pack a few more sentimental items

I keep our photos by our go bag.

Our city hosted a session with PGE and FEMA that was helpful.

[Susie]

I live in the northeast, where power outages from storms are the big worry.  We lost power for like 5 days after a derecho last October.  After that my dad got a Generac generator, and we bought his old generator.  Eventually I'd like to do a Generac at our new house.

[InBetweenDays]

We live in Seattle so we generally don't need air conditioning. But when the smoke hits and we can't open the windows it gets unbearable upstairs (last year it was 88 in the bedrooms). I want to find some sort of cooling fan or portable AC unit. Problem is we have crank out windows and I don't know how the exhaust will work with that, and since we only need it a few weeks of the year (hopefully) I don't want to do anything permanent.

[mbcdefg]

I’m in North Jersey. Power outages and hurricanes are the most common issues here.

We had a power outage last August for about 3-4 days and the biggest issue was that it was very hot/uncomfortable. If not for the pandemic we probably would’ve gone away to a hotel - after that I ordered batteries, battery-operated fans, and lanterns in case it happens again. Our neighbor has a generator and very generously let us run an extension cord for our air conditioner (@@ we ran DD’s AC so she could sleep comfortably).

We also had a sudden snowstorm a few years ago where the roads weren’t salted in advance so people got stuck in their cars. MH couldn’t get home From work, but luckily my mom lives nearby so he stayed at her house for the night. After that I encouraged him to leave a change of clothes and a toothbrush in his car trunk. (@@ DD’s daycare had a few kids who had to spend the night since their parents couldn’t pick them up. Luckily my DD was home with me that day. She has a change of clothes at school.)

I have a couple backpacks filled with supplies that I already had around the house - flashlights, camping mess kit, basic First Aid supplies, hotel toiletries, changes of clothes and sneakers. I have a backpack in my car trunk with clothes, sneakers, a toothbrush and toilet paper, along with jumper cables. I bought MH a small portable car jumper too.

I don’t have non-perishable food, water, or cash in a bag, but I could easily grab those if we had to evacuate. Our important documents are in a small safe that we could also grab in a hurry - I keep meaning to scan them to digitally store someplace safe. We have two cat carriers and three cats, so while they won’t be happy to share they’ll survive.

I’ve found these lists useful, although I don’t have everything they recommend. The AOM guy is incredibly/overly thorough.

www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2015/10/emergency-preparedness-survival-station.html

www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-make-a-bug-out-bag-your-72-hour-emergency-evacuation-survival-kit/ (The site also has a bug-in list for staying put at home, and a get home bag list.)

[rubytue]

I just need to share… last year, probably right before mask guidance came out and we were all considering masking. I needed to go somewhere and needed a mask. I had KN95s in my emergency kit, and I was hand wringing over opening them. Eventually, logic won out. Ruby, *THIS* is why you have an emergency kit. This is the reason masks are in it. 😂😂😂

Needless to say, they have be replaced. And apparently, I’m feeling chatting today.

[kath16]

if you're in the East Cost - or anywhere i guess, but east coast especially - check to see if you're in a nuclear power plant danger zone (like i am, hooraaaay), add potassium iodide pills to your list.

here at least, they can be obtained for free (along with instructions) through local health departments.

[abs]

For us our main concerns are hurricanes/flooding. Apparently ice is another issue to watch for now, too.

We were without power for 17 days during Hurricane Ike and without water for 2.

In February we were without power for just over a day and no water for 5.

For hurricanes we have go bags ready. All of our insurance paperwork is together along with photo IDs and some cash. We can grab and go if necessary.

We also always make sure we have plenty of batteries, lanterns, flashlights, portable phone charger, gas in our cars, and lots of bottled water. This is one people don't understand until you don't have water and need some for drinking, washing hands, and flushing toilets. We also fill big buckets with water for the toilets.

I also try to make sure we have bread, peanut butter, and other high protein snacks on hand during hurricane season.

Oh, also tarps. I'm sure I will think of more. We are looking into solar panels/stand by generators as more long term solutions but so is everyone else and wait lists are long to even get quotes. Also, $$$$. Not sure we will pull it off.

[schrodinger]

Jun 22, 2021 10:50:09 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

We live in Seattle so we generally don't need air conditioning. But when the smoke hits and we can't open the windows it gets unbearable upstairs (last year it was 88 in the bedrooms). I want to find some sort of cooling fan or portable AC unit. Problem is we have crank out windows and I don't know how the exhaust will work with that, and since we only need it a few weeks of the year (hopefully) I don't want to do anything permanent.

North of Seattle here.  We have crank out windows as well.  When we need to set up the portable AC exhaust, we use cardboard to seal the upper part of the window and duct tape or painters tape to hold it all in place.  It's not a perfect solution and it doesn't really look great from the outside of the house, but it does work.

[katfco]

Last year, my sister bought me a Halo car charger and I highly recommend it. As long as you charge it, it'll charge the battery of your car and you can even use it as a USB charger as well. We've used it when our battery died and when we lost power, to keep our phones charged. Currently on sale.
www.amazon.com/Portable-Starter-Battery-Devices-Charger/dp/B07W85TF6X

[mouse]

Jun 22, 2021 13:24:53 GMT -5 schrodinger said:

Jun 22, 2021 10:50:09 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

We live in Seattle so we generally don't need air conditioning. But when the smoke hits and we can't open the windows it gets unbearable upstairs (last year it was 88 in the bedrooms). I want to find some sort of cooling fan or portable AC unit. Problem is we have crank out windows and I don't know how the exhaust will work with that, and since we only need it a few weeks of the year (hopefully) I don't want to do anything permanent.

North of Seattle here.  We have crank out windows as well.  When we need to set up the portable AC exhaust, we use cardboard to seal the upper part of the window and duct tape or painters tape to hold it all in place.  It's not a perfect solution and it doesn't really look great from the outside of the house, but it does work.

We have sliding windows, so we cut a 2x4 to fit and put foam tape (plumbers?) around to make it snug. It works much better than the flimsy plastic piece it came with. I got the idea passing by someone else’s window. But there’s a lot of casement window hacks out there too.

After last summers wildfires and making other through with the box fan and furnace filter, I got two of the big blueair purifiers. I’m scared for this summer.

[Michelle]

Everyone I know is investing in a Generac generator if they can afford it.

Next tier of income level is investing in smaller generators for refrigerators and some fans.

All in my area who prepare generally put together a hurricane kit that includes items from here: www.ready.gov/kit

Another consideration is a Jackery recharger station.

I also do a once-over of our laundry room which is the center-most room in the house to make sure we and our pets could all comfortably shelter in place in there if hurricane winds cause tornado spin offs and such. I like to keep the emergency kit in the laundry room so everything is right there.

If there was an imminent threat of tornado my husband would drag a twin mattress into the laundry room with us to get under in the worst case scenario.


Edit - i also have a few empty storage tubs with tight locking lids in the garage that I can use to take important photos off the wall and other sentimental, irreplaceable items in case of evacuation. And any time a hurricane or tropical storm is predicted, I make sure to have plenty of clean underwear and versatile clothing handy and ready for evacuation or easy access. (living in just your period/last resort panties for 2 weeks is not fun).

And instead of using bottled water for toilet flushing, we generally fill up a bathtub with water for that purpose. If we don't use it, we give the dogs a bath with it so we don't completely waste it.

[redheadk]

Michelle, whole home generators are on major back order We have a portable generator but need to replace our portable A/C unit. We use it in the garage as needed during non-event times but can bring it in and vent it if necessary. That and keeping an extra propane tank on hand for the grill are most helpful for normal Hurricane aftermath issues. We've been very lucky to not lose power during any major event since we moved into this house. We had power all through Harvey & the winter storm.

Our main planning revolves around food/water/cooling while everything is repaired. We are far enough inland that our best course of action is to shelter in place during a storm then evacuate a few days later if absolutely necessary. We are fine without power for a few days and this keeps us off the roads for the people that must evacuate prior to the storm.

[gretchenindisguise]

I have continually read this thread title as emergency incontinence preparations. And I was all “well yeah, I guess we’re all getting older and maybe we need to have these prepared.”

[snapoutofit]

We are in MA but not on the coast. Our biggest threat is losing power which seems to happen frequently in our town. We got two Tesla house batteries that charge up with our solar panels. With moderately conservative energy use they can last for up to a week.

[suburbanzookeeper]

We're in Southern California and there is no such thing really anymore as "fire season" as its become essentially year round. DH is a firefighter. In the summer/fall I keep our collapsible travel crates down (from Costco/Sam's: www.costco.com/greenmade-instacrate-collapsible-storage-bin%2C-12-gallon%2C-black-or-black-and-red.product.100750981.html) to make evacuation packing easier - I can line them up on the living room floor and toss them in and they stack/lock on top of each other in the car.

I have a "ready, check, go!" list taped up in one of our closet door's in a plastic sleeve - it has the immediate things to grab (meds, go bags, dogs/cats, computers, etc.) and a loose guidance for someone who's not me as to where things are (specifically my husband and my next door neighbor whom I have an agreement - her animals are mine, mine are hers in this situations). From there we have the "would be nice to grab list." If we have the gift of time like we did in 2018, it also has a lockout process for the house (moving hoses to the curb, locking all doors, putting ash filters in the attic vents although we're installing permanent ones this summer). I learned I can do the entire checklist, get all the moving pieces out (including @@@@ and animals), and load up the cars in less than 30 minutes. I can get the immediate things and the living beings and be out in 5.

My husband is a CERT instructor and I'm in the process of being one as well. If you've never taken it, it's a weekend course and well worth the free price tag.  

[pixy0stix]

Jun 22, 2021 16:55:40 GMT -5 suburbanzookeeper said:

My husband is a CERT instructor and I'm in the process of being one as well. If you've never taken it, it's a weekend course and well worth the free price tag.  

Agreed! Speaking of which, I need to go through our CERT bags and replace the medical supplies in there. I'm sure they're expired.

As for the rest of the thread, I need to make sure we have air filter replacements. We went through so many last year when we had months of shitty air quality.

[suburbanzookeeper]

Jun 22, 2021 17:07:43 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jun 22, 2021 16:55:40 GMT -5 suburbanzookeeper said:

My husband is a CERT instructor and I'm in the process of being one as well. If you've never taken it, it's a weekend course and well worth the free price tag.  

Agreed! Speaking of which, I need to go through our CERT bags and replace the medical supplies in there. I'm sure they're expired.

As for the rest of the thread, I need to make sure we have air filter replacements. We went through so many last year when we had months of shitty air quality.

We go through our home kits and our professional grab & go bags with the time change each year. I toss everything expired and then note anything that's close to that will probably expire in those next six months and build a shopping list/when on sale list to backfill on our phones or Amazon. 

[waverly]

Pretty much we get tornadoes here, power outages and snow/ ice storms. The snow isn’t really a huge issue because work will close if it’s bad. It’s really more power outages. I didn’t know whole house generators are back ordered. I would put that on my list for when they become available in the future. Otherwise there isn’t much prep to do for tornadoes or snow storms. I tend to clean up the basement every couple of weeks not for tornadoes but having a comfortable area to go to is helpful if we have one.

Let me add fire extinguisher to your lists.

[mbcdefg]

Have something in the pantry that you can eat if you lose power - tuna, PB&J, crackers, etc. Also a manual can opener, wine/bottle opener, and a way to make coffee (we have a Chemex).

I keep a small cosmetic bag in my purse all the time, with things inside like Band-Aids, emery board, Shout Wipes, thin maxi pad, Pepto Bismol tablets, ibuprofen, those little wet wipe packs from restaurants, floss picks, a travel tube of sunscreen, breath mints, lip balm, safety pins, hair tie, hand sanitizer, Colgate Wisps. I have one of those lipstick-sized phone chargers too.

I keep takeout napkins in my car and at least one plastic grocery bag (trash, if someone gets carsick, etc). I’ve also found use for a roll of paper towels, an old bath towel, tweezers, ballpoint pen, clean socks and underwear, small blanket. I keep forgetting cornstarch powder for beach days.

I have an eye mask in my travel bag - getting another one for an evacuation bag would probably be a good idea. Last time I was in the hospital the eye mask was such a help. Earplugs would be useful too.

[sofamonkey]

What do EV people in CA do? Do they areas with power you can drive to to charge? Do you keep your vehicle fully charged?

[hellomarriedlife]

Jun 22, 2021 19:24:07 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

Have something in the pantry that you can eat if you lose power - tuna, PB&J, crackers, etc. Also a manual can opener, wine/bottle opener, and a way to make coffee (we have a Chemex).

This reminds me of something I read on a meteorologist's blog about his own personal preparations for hurricane season. His blog post noted that he eats through his personal non perishable food stash on a "first in, first out" basis throughout the year, and then replenishes as he eats through it.  This way, when he does need to turn to his non perishable food during a weather emergency, he is already confident that his non perishable food stash is fairly new / not stale / not expired. 

[waverly]

Jun 22, 2021 20:10:43 GMT -5 sofamonkey said:

What do EV people in CA do? Do they areas with power you can drive to to charge? Do you keep your vehicle fully charged?

Not in CA, we do charge our EV every night. If the power goes out at our house it’s likely still on at the super charger that is about 15 minutes away. We also have a gas vehicle. We aren’t affected by fires and brownouts though so I don’t know how that changes things. We do have storm related blackouts.

[litebright]

This may seem simple, but in lieu of or in addition to flashlights, consider getting headlamps. I always make sure our camping headlamps are close at hand when we're facing potential power outages. We have flashlights as well, but IMO the hands-free aspect of a headlamp is really helpful when you're doing tasks or looking for things in the dark.

[sonrisa]

Jun 22, 2021 22:16:12 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Oh and for some truly practical advice! Don’t evacuate to a dry county!! I went to MS for Katrina, it was a Sunday in 2005, I still drank cosmos. I ordered one at the Ruby Tuesday, was told we don’t serve liquor on Sundays and proceeded to say “oh that’s fine I’ll have a beer”, the look I got. Don’t be me. Always evacuate with some alcohol.

If necessary, plan to evacuate to wine country. So I’m safe on this front.

[konapoppy]

Michelle - you are reminding me to check our jackery

There is one huge thing I still need to figure out- where to evacuate to. Last year pretty much every direction had the risk of running into a fire 😐😐😐

[StrawberryBlondie]

Jun 22, 2021 15:13:22 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I have continually read this thread title as emergency incontinence preparations. And I was all “well yeah, I guess we’re all getting older and maybe we need to have these prepared.”

I'm glad I am not the only one. 😉

[Michelle]

Jun 22, 2021 23:05:00 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Michelle - you are reminding me to check our jackery

There is one huge thing I still need to figure out- where to evacuate to. Last year pretty much every direction had the risk of running into a fire 😐😐😐

That is terrifying. In that case I would include fire blankets and maybe a fire shelter if the risk of getting trapped is really high. And I'd definitely have printed maps with identified evacuation routes in case phones or apps fail.

[Michelle]

Jun 22, 2021 15:13:22 GMT -5 gretchenindisguise said:

I have continually read this thread title as emergency incontinence preparations. And I was all “well yeah, I guess we’re all getting older and maybe we need to have these prepared.”

hahaha I am usually in this camp and am surprised I didn't read it that way.