Perfect storm of readiness
Published 2:54 pm Thursday, October 21, 2010
The autumn harvest season is the perfect time to gather items in preparation for the winter that lies ahead. For some, it means a trip out to the garden or local farm stand to pick those last minute vegetables for canning or freezing. Others are spending their weekends gathering up tools and equipment to winterize their homes and yards.
Given the forecast of a potentially severe “La Nina” winter this year, we’d all be well served to invest some additional time gathering a few essential items to have on hand to help us ride out the inevitable storm.
Whether you subscribe to the “three-days/three-ways” camp or are inspired by the latest campaign encouraging us to “Take Winter by Storm” — investing time in a little preplanning always seems to pay substantial dividends in emergency situations. The Red Cross also offers preparation tips for all types of storms and natural calamaties on its website.
Although it’s been a couple of years since we had major snowfall in this region, it’s hard to forget the total paralysis that gripped the area when the snow and ice settled in for a long nasty stretch. Those who ventured out in a panic to acquire an ice scraper, tire chains or deicer were often disappointed to find supplies depleted and store shelves empty. Now is the appropriate time to make sure you have those items in your car ready to go.
While you’re at it, you should also throw in a rain poncho, warm blanket, extra clothing, sturdy walking shoes and a bag of sand or kitty litter. Once you’ve secured those items in the trunk, you’ll be much better equipped to take on a variety of winter driving challenges.
Inside the house, a large waterproof grocery bag or plastic bin works perfectly for collecting items that could come in handy in an emergency. Obvious items such as batteries, portable radio, matches and candles can share space with a three-day supply of non-perishable food items and water, manual can opener and flashlight. Making sure you have an appropriate supply of pet food and at least seven days worth of prescription medication will also help make riding out the storm a bit easier and certainly more comfortable.
The best part is that once you’ve stashed away your emergency supplies, you can rest easy knowing that you’re as ready as you can be for a host of challenges ranging from natural disasters to severe flu pandemics to the worst that winter can throw at us.
