If you live anywhere vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters or events: floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, snowstorms, blackouts, electric grid failures, and more, it’s important to have a plan and gather emergency preparedness supplies ahead of time.
“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best” may be cliché, but certainly true. There are many great resources on assembling a Basic Emergency Preparedness Supply Kit. FEMA has a good one through their website, www.ready.gov, Team Rubicon the disaster response organization, and Red Cross too.
Here’s a simple compilation to consider:
- Water – one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days
- Food – at least a 3-day supply of non-perishables
- Gadgets – batteries, radio, flashlight, whistle, can opener, wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
- Health - First aid kit, dust mask (to help filter contaminated air), plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter-in-place)
- Toiletries - moist towelettes, garbage bags, hand sanitizer
- Navigation - local maps
- Communication – phone, charger and contact information for local authorities
- Important Documents – banking information, deeds, insurance, personal identification
While not explicitly included in the Basic Emergency Preparedness Supply Kit noted above, Weego Jump Starting Power Packs provide multiple ways to help in case of an emergency. Depending on the model, it can include: high-lumens flashlight for blackouts and SOS/Strobe functions to signal for help; recharge your USB-connected cell phones and tablets for communication after the event; power 12V tools and portable accessories (including camping lanterns); charge laptops (with adapter accessory); and a jump starter to jump any drained vehicle batteries after the disaster. We recommend our larger models for more battery capacity and power and recommend having Weegos for each person and/or device needing power. And because you can get stuck at home, work or in a vehicle, it’s wise to be prepared in all of these.
In the event of an emergency, be certain to listen to your local officials if and when they tell you to evacuate – it always pays to err on the side of caution. Plan ahead. Be smart and above all else, be safe.
