[...] time of year, it’s good to be reminded that you should always be prepared for emergencies.  Lynnae at Being Frugal told about running out of diapers during an snowfall and slipping and sliding…, … no matter where you live, you need to be prepared for an emergency.  Keep extra food on [...]

[...] Are You Prepared for a Weather Emergency or Natural Disaster?. [...]

I’m taking care of what I must do tomorrow so we can be snowed in and make loads of Christmas cookies and spend some family time together.

We were in the bathtub when the tornado hit. It is an odd feeling to walk out of your neighborhood in the dark knowing that your house has major damage and your cars are trapped in the garage. Fortunately, we had a church family that took care of us for the next several days until we could get back into our neighborhood and start finding a new place to live.

I can’t emphasize enough the need for a strong support system and a plan for where you might go if you’re house becomes uninhabitable for any reason. This will greatly reduce your stress should you ever have to face this situation.

Disasters come in all shapes and sizes. It is very important that you cover the basics because in times of chaos, these items will mean the world to you and could save your life.

Growing up in Alaska, this all baffles me. I grew up with conditions that meant we regularly had to leave the water running, so the pipes wouldn’t freeze. (When it did, my mom — ever frugal — would use a hairdryer to thaw it rather than call an electrician, which cost a bundle.) They had to plug in their cars on bad nights, so the things would start in the morning.

We also had flashlights and candles/matches for power outages. (Since this also meant no heat, we knew to pile on sweaters and blankets. Once or twice, when it went on too long, my mom would turn on the stove and open it for a bit to help us warm up. Obviously, though, this wasn’t safe for long/very frequently.

Growing up in a cold climate, you learn to always think ahead. Except for that brief period we euphemistically called “summer” in Anchorage, you had to carry two sets of shoes. In the fall/winter, your regular shoes were in a bag so you could wear your boots. In the spring, you had rubber boots on to deal with all the slush. So I guess I should be grateful my parents raised me somewhere that gave me foresight.

And make sure that if you have canned goods that you have a manual can opener. For years my neighbor always came over when the power went out for this very reason. We were always glad to share ours, but it is amazing how many people forget them until there is no power.