When it comes to preparing for severe weather, whether it’s ice storms causing power outages in winter, thunderstorms toppling trees and power lines in summer, or the looming threats of hurricanes and tornadoes, one can never be overly prepared. This winter, marked by erratic temperature swings from freezing one day to the mid-50s the next, along with snow and ice storms, will eventually give way to spring and summer, bringing with them the usual round of thunderstorms. While we eagerly welcome warmer weather and the relief from bundling up and shoveling snow, we’d rather not dwell on the severe seasonal weather that accompanies it.
Nonetheless, just like a diligent Scout, I firmly believe that you can never be too prepared. My upbringing in California instilled in me the significance of preparedness for earthquakes, which can strike without warning. Even though advancements in satellite tracking and weather alerts help us predict the timeline of severe weather events, it’s always prudent to be prepared, making it easier to cope with the aftermath.
Here’s a brief checklist of nine steps to prepare your family and home for severe weather while you keep a watchful eye, wait, and hope that Mother Nature will spare you:
- Conduct a Yard Inspection: Engage the kids in a quick yard cleanup to ensure that their snow shovels aren’t buried under layers of snow, and yard tools left out from gardening projects won’t become projectiles in high winds that often accompany thunderstorms. It only takes a few minutes but can safeguard your property. After all, no one wants a garden spade or a full-size shovel hurtling towards their home during a tornado or hurricane.
- Check Flashlights and Portable Lanterns: Before any storm, check if flashlights and portable lanterns have functional batteries. It’s wise to replace batteries and bulbs while power is still available to avoid fumbling in the dark. Also, ensure that flashlights are easily accessible, especially in children’s rooms. Involve the kids in deciding where to place their flashlights, but guide them to select a location near their bed for easy access in case they need to get up at night.
- Evaluate Your Battery Stock: Verify that you have an ample supply of batteries in various sizes for your household devices. If you use rechargeable batteries, it’s an opportune time to remove them and ensure they’re fully charged ahead of the storm.
- Review Your Family Disaster Plan: Severe weather can be frightening for children, but one way to boost their confidence is by preparing them so they know what to do in case of an emergency. Take a moment during a family meal to review your family plan, ensuring that kids know where to gather.
- Protect Your Files with Automatic Backup: Consider using an automatic backup service like Carbonite to safeguard your files in case of a power surge that could damage your computer. Carbonite and other cloud-based backup services enable you to restore your data on any computer in the event that severe weather wreaks havoc on your machine.
- Consider Insuring Your Mobile Devices: In times of severe weather, maintaining open lines of communication is crucial. In the unfortunate event that your phone is lost or damaged due to severe weather, services like Asurion can typically provide next-day replacements, saving you hundreds of dollars on a lost, stolen, or damaged device.
- Prepare Your Technology for a Storm: Ensure your tech is ready for a storm by following these tech-savvy steps. For additional pre-storm tech advice, you can refer to the “7 Tech Savvy Ways to Brace for Severe Storms” for more tips.
- Check on Your Neighbors: As you venture out to gather supplies, offer to pick up items for your neighbors to ensure everyone is prepared and supported.
- Test Emergency Essentials: Verify the functionality of other emergency essentials such as weather radios and walkie-talkies.
For comprehensive advice on being prepared for severe weather, you can visit Rayovac’s Storm Prep website, which offers specific tips for various weather emergencies, including lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe winter weather. Rayovac is also extending a 15% discount on all lights (excluding bundles) on their website using the promotional code LIGHTS15, along with free shipping on orders over $25.
