Do you keep a Grab & Go Bag of some kind? We keep all kinds of bags packed and ready to go . . not that they ever have every single thing we need but they’re definitely good to have. I needed some mosquito repellant for yesterday afternoon and I know exactly where I kept it in MO but went through all the boxes I could find that were in that room and couldn’t find any. I hate to buy more when I have plenty but had decided I’d have to go to Wal-Mart and get some and then I remembered my Grab & Go bucket has repellant in it.
Not exactly the purpose for which the Grab & Go bucket was intended but I’m sure glad I remembered that the Off was in there. And, I even remembered to put it back when we got home!
We keep these bags or plastic containers packed for if we have to leave home quickly. There’s this container with personal supplies (soap, shampoo, lip balm, hand lotion) and it also has a few bandages, first aid cream, aspirins, antacids, anti-itch meds, etc. We keep another one with a few snacks such as crackers, beef jerky, dried fruit, nuts, dog food, and the like. I try to rotate this stuff out every couple of months. There’s another one with batteries, wind up radio, wind up flashlight, LED (battery operated) lantern, Sterno candles and matches. We each keep backpacks with our own personal articles . . the things you can’t live without (foot cream, Bath & Body Works smell good lotion, Vicks VapoRub . . can’t live without that stuff, toothpaste and tooth brush, etc.) Then there’s a little overnight bag that stays packed with clothing articles. I actually keep a grocery sack in each car with pajamas, underwear, an extra set of cloths, socks, and whatever so that if I get a chance to spend the night somewhere, I’m ready!
It sounds like a lot of stuff but most of the buckets are small enough that I can carry three out to the car in one trip so even if I’m home by myself and have to make a quick getaway, I can do it all in 2 trips. After seeing what happened in Joplin though, I’ll never feel totally prepared for everything. I’m sure lots of those folks had all their emergency kits packed and right where they should have been but in just a second, everything was gone. I guess we just do the best we can and feel better about thinking I’m somewhat prepared. Heck, I thought the last thing I’d have to worry about in this drought stricken area was a flood and now I’ve had two “floods” in two weeks in my basement!
Are you as prepared as you could be for whatever might come your way?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re so prepared! I’m not even close, unless you call thinking about what I would grab prepared! lol. Makes me think I should. What an inspiration and good friend you are! I’m so glad Vince got transferred to Brownwood!
Compared to you, I am NOT prepared….although I do keep a little bag of toiletries, makeup and vitamins packed since I am out of town a lot. I should keep a backpack with a few clothes in it ready too….good ideas, Judy!
sao in Midlothian, VA
You inspired me several years ago, when we lived in earthquake country, to stock a backpack for each of us, plus one for the pups, to grab and go – just in case. The backpacks contain tennis shoes, socks, hats, sunglasses, extra medicine, money, toiletries, emergency radios, flashlights, copies of important papers, etc. And I always keep my suitcase packed with duplicate toiletries – actually, everything I need except clothes. And now that we live in tornado alley, we’re considering investing in a tornado shelter.
And I always stock up on batteries and flashlights – sure did help last April when the tornadoes ripped through Alabama.
But I found then, that no matter how much you prepare, you just never think of everything you might need.
We’re no where near as prepared as you are but for a family of eight we do pretty good. Food and shelter in the basement, camp gear always ready to go in one location with ALL the necessaties, extra blankets and first aide kit in one location. My husband is a hunter so he has his special locations for guns and separate location for ammo that is secure AND portable if necessary. The one thing we would like to have available but don’t, for various reasons, is gasoline and fuels. I want a wood burning stove/oven someday so we aren’t dependant on electricity and natural gas.
the knapsack with your things is sounds like a very good idea. I should do this when it starts to be tornado weather. I normally pay attention to the weather and get a bag packed earlier in the day if they say it is tornado weather but I never keep it together all year round.
Karen
This is such a great idea and a good reminder for me to update my own quick getaway kits! You just never know when you’ll need them.
I don’t know why—but I am feeling a bit nervous. Do you know something I don’t :c). To that same aim, although I don’t have everything as organized as you, I have a husband who has “plans” in case AND rather than add to my stash with a recent “windfall” we are having a tornado shelter installed. I guess that should count for something.
Have a great day!
We each have backpacks with food/clothing/needed items for about 3 days packed and in our garage. My Huband, a teacher, also has an emergency bag at school, in case something happens and can’t come home right away.
We have backpacks packed with necessities. Of course I also have my knitting and stitching bag ready with a project or two.
Here’s a site that’s all about being prepared for just about anything: http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/
Maybe a little extreme, but after reading about the preparations you ladies have made it makes me realize I’m prepared, yet not prepared…know what I mean?
We maintain a ’48 hour’ kit for each of us. Its a grab and go bag with extra clothes, food, toiletries, radio, and even shelter and bedding. Plus water…gotta have water. You just never know.
One nice use of the Vick’s VapoRub that I found out recently is that it is a great bug bite treatment! I get mosquito bites all the time, and Vick’s (my MIL uses regular petroleum jelly for the same effect) applied directly to the bite keeps the bite from itching. I’m serious! I live in Germany with no air conditioning and no screens…and until I got my mosquito net, Vick’s was the reason I could go through my day!
How did it turn out with your basement after the second flooding? Did I miss this post? I hope nothing was ruined. Hugs
Great info on the Vicks and the mosquito bites. Mosquitoes will come from a tri county area to find my daughter or I!! I get black & blue welts. We aren’t nearly as prepared as you, but we have “go” bags that are somewhat prepacked (just add outer clothes). Canned foods for the house, crank up radios & emergency lights,quilts & extra water in both cars as well. Matches, wide tape, candles & spare copies of our important papers. You have such great ideas and we appreciate you sharing them.
Wow. I feel like a slug or worse. I don’t have anything even close to a Go Bag. Nada. Maybe I should at least think about it.
I keep thinking that I should have something prepared but at this time I don’t have. I am planning on stocking a couple boxes of water, and some canned meats and veggies and fruit but haven’t done anything as of yet. I need to locate all the leashes for the four legged kids so that if we have to go I can get them out without much difficulty. Now I just need to get it done!