Like it or not, Mother Nature is bound to give us occasional reality checks. We’ve had a solid dose of it in the middle Tennessee area recently, and it appears the entire world will be dealing with some uncertainty over the next few weeks, or even months. This is why it’s so important to be prepared for an emergency and always have a Plan B.
Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods can create total disaster, but they’re also one hundred percent real and happen every year without fail. Even the smallest details of preparedness can prove the difference between safety and extreme harm in the likely event of a natural disaster.
In this age of same-day shipping, mocha-chocca-frappa-shitty-lattes, and instant global access via the internet, it’s easy to forget how hard our ancestors fought for survival every single day of their lives. And the truth is that it really wasn’t that long ago.
In the wake of Nashville’s recent tornado disaster, and the current global health situation, I’ve put together my tips of emergency preparedness for both your home and on the go. This topic can be very serious and I know it’s a bit different from our usual content at SoBros Network, but it’s always important to remain calm and focused on the task at hand in these types of situations. Following the public herd into panic and mass hysteria is the last thing you should concern yourself with. I hope you enjoy the material below, and if you have your own tips for emergency preparedness, feel free to comment!
Before we dive too deep here, you might be asking “What sort of emergency supplies do the SoBros Network keep in their office?”, and I’ll give you that answer. We know that it’s our duty to keep people informed on the latest and greatest content to be had, so we’ve just accepted that if disaster strikes we’re going down swinging.
The SoBros Office Emergency box:
- Jack Daniels (too many bottles to count)
- Gin (to be opened on Fridays only)
- Yeti Cooler of Mango White Claws
- Beef Jerky
- Condoms
- Bitcoins
- Roman Candles
- Pez
Apart from the beef jerky, none of these things should be in your emergency stash. And remember, always pack the flashlight…not the fleshlight.
For your Home
Any natural disaster can cause wide-scale power outages, so I recommend keeping some particular things on hand at all times. Most of this can be kept in a special box or space in your home, and should be checked or modified depending on the season and your physical location. Power outages may last anywhere from a few hours up to several weeks. Water, food, and physical safety should be your highest priority.
Water: Access to clean, safe water is extremely important. Having a few gallon jugs of drinking water on hand is the easiest way to get by in the short-term. For longer situations, having a good water filtration system will help to ensure your water is still safe to consume. Your local outdoor or camping store will have multiple options, most are highly affordable nowadays and have high-use life spans. A couple of my favorite brands are MSR and LifeStraw.
Food: Having dry-storage food items is key. Rice, beans, and ramen are some of the easiest and cheapest items to have stashed away, but most canned food options will be good to have on hand for these short term situations as well. Just be sure to check the shelf life and replenish the emergency stash as needed in case of expiration. Personally, I like to keep canned/pouched tuna around, as they typically have a shelf life of around two years.
Dehydrated meals used for backpacking and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) are also a great food source during these times. They are usually high in calories and thanks to the ever-growing popularity of camping, there are loads of brands and menu options to choose from. Once again, your local outdoor store (even WalMart) will have many options.
Having food on hand may not be a problem for some, but you need to ensure you have a way of cooking it. Most of the foods mentioned above simply require boiling water, or just a pot and heat source, but if your home is solely dependent on electricity for cooking then you should have a quick alternative ready to go. If you have the space to cook outside with charcoal or a gas powered stove, then be sure you have the materials on hand in the event you may need them.
*Remember: you should never use charcoal or gas powered grills/stoves inside due to extreme risk to your personal health through inhalation, as well as the possibility of fire.
Other food items to have on hand that don’t require cooking:
- Snack/Power bars
- Beef Jerky
- Canned Sardines
- Canned Meats (Vienna sausages, Spam)
- Peanut Butter
- Crackers
One last food-related item I’d like to mention is cold food storage. This can be one of the most difficult things people deal with during times of long-term power outages as the temperatures begin to rise in their refrigerator and freezer. My personal opinion here is to consume or salvage the most important items such as meats and dairy products. By keeping one or more frozen gallon jugs of water in your freezer at all times, this can be used to temporarily maintain a cool environment in your freezer, fridge, or even if you transfer items to a quality personal cooler. This can save money for sure, but also your family’s health. Breast milk kept in the freezer can be a devastating loss to families if it cannot be kept at an adequate temperature.
Miscellaneous Items: Once your water and food situation is secured, there are some other items to consider having accessible in your home:
- Candles (matches/lighter to ignite)
- Flashlight & Batteries
- Blankets or sleeping bag (keep seasonal times in mind)
- Medications & Toiletries
- Clothes (at least one clean, full set for hygiene or to keep dry)
- Important Documents (IDs, Passport, Legal docs consolidated and ready in case you need to flee)
- Cash in varied denominations (in case of emergency purchases where ATMs and card readers are not accessible)
On The Move
One of the scariest possibilities of an emergency situation can be displacement from your home. In the blink of an eye, you may be forced to leave your home and belongings to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones. Having a plan for this moment could be the difference between life and death.
If you’ve practiced an emergency supply plan for your home, then you’re already in a good mindset to consolidate further and be ready to hit the road.
My personal opinion on this topic is for everyone in your home to have their own bag that’s suited to their needs, packed and ready to grab in a moment’s notice. I prefer having a solid, medium sized backpack with good waist support and loops for quick attachments, but really any type of backpack will work in a pinch.
I could write five more articles on the bug-out bag subject alone, but I’ve narrowed down some essential items below for the sake of simplicity:
- Clothes (at least one clean, full set for hygiene or to keep dry)
- Rain Gear
- Food (dehydrated meals, MREs, tuna pouches, snack bars, etc)
- Hiking Stove (not necessary, but highly beneficial if on hand)
- Sleeping Bag (if space allows)
- Water Bottle
- Water Filtration or Purification Tablets
- Medications
- Simple Toiletries
- Signal (small mirror, whistle, air horn, etc)
- Compass
- Fire Igniting tools (lighter, flint striker, tinder)
- Pocket Knife
- Cash (varied denominations)
- Important Documents
I hope you never have to endure a situation in which the above items and methods are needed, but having some variation of this ready in your home could prove to be truly lifesaving. Good luck out there!
Cadbury Pringlebatch is the Operations Manager for The SoBros Network, but knows a little bit about everything. Known for frequenting Nashville YMCA steam rooms, he’s a firm believer that winning football is produced by moving the chains, and became a SoBro after mistaking one of our podcasts for an AA meeting. Follow on Twitter: @SoBroCadbury
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