Storm season is here and simple preparedness can significantly reduce stress. Follow these practical tips to prepare for your family for at least 72 hours without outside assistance.
1. Get Alerts
- Sign up for Local Emergency Weather Alerts
- Register with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), making sure to include your local zip codes.
2. Identify Safe Shelter
- Know your safe place within your home to go to immediately during an emergency.
- Locate nearby community shelters and understand their access procedures.
3. Assemble a Severe Weather Emergency Kit & Prepare for Power Outages
This kit should sustain your family for a minimum of three days.
Lighting & Power
- Flashlights for each family member
- Solar lanterns, headlamps, or light sticks for children
- Extra batteries for flashlights and emergency radio
- Portable power banks (fully charged)
- Generator (if you have one)
Food & Water
- Bottled Water (at least one gallon per person per day)
- Shelf-stable foods
- Way to heat/cook dehydrated or canned foods (e.g., campstove or grill, used safely outdoors)
Survival & Comfort
- First Aid Kit
- Emergency Radio
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Extra clothing and shoes for each family member
- Medications
- Hygiene supplies (toiletries, baby products, hand sanitizer)
- Supplies for children or family pets
4. Protect Important Documents
Create a secure, easily accessible binder or digital folder with essential records for a grab-and-go emergency.
Important Documents Binder/Folder:
- Homeowners or renters insurance policy
- Car insurance policy
- Contact information for insurance agents
- List of trusted contractors for repair work (they book up fast!)
- Pet-friendly hotels list
- Copies of IDs for each family member
- List and photos of heirlooms and valuables for property loss claims
- Copies of appraisals
- Color photos of each room of the house showing contents
- Copies of health insurance cards
- Digital Backups: Back up all documents on a thumb drive or cloud storage. Email all documents to yourself so they are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Emergency Funds: Include a Visa/Mastercard gift card of $100 and cash for grab-and-go situations.
5. Have a Family Communication Plan
Designated Meeting Spots:
- A primary meeting spot at home.
- A secondary meet-up spot (e.g., a church, business, or a relative's house) if your home is inaccessible.
Communication Backup:
- If cell service is down, have a simple rule to meet up at the designated location.
- Establish an out-of-town contact for everyone to check in with.
- Consider a family messaging app, as sometimes data/apps work when calls fail. Apps like Life 360 can show where family members are located.
6. Secure Your Home and Property
Prior to Severe Weather
- Secure loose items outside, such as outdoor furniture, grills, and play equipment, which could blow in high winds.
- Trim dead or overhanging trees that could fall on your home or car.
- Have vehicles filled with gas and ready for evacuation.
- Park vehicles in garages or under carports, or at least away from large trees.
Home Storm Checklist
- Have your roof and gutters inspected for missing or damaged shingles before heavy rain and wind arrives.
- Seal gaps around windows, doors, and siding to prevent water intrusion.
- Clean and secure gutters and downspouts.
- Take photos of your home’s exterior for documentation prior to storms.
For peace of mind, contact Freedom Contracting at 270-303-0229 or online at freedomcontracting.us for free roof inspections, emergency repairs or help filing out your insurance claims.
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