's Blog | Mommy Talk: How prepared are you for emergencies?

Mommy Talk

Leave a Message

Leave a Comment

Request a Friend

<< Prev | Main | Next >>

Mommy Talk: How prepared are you for emergencies?

Posted by: eyoung on January 8, 2008 at 2:04PM CST

I am not a well-prepared parent. Yesterday afternoon, when the tornado warning sent us into our basement, I grabbed six things: My two daughters, my cell phone, my home phone, a quilt and, inexplicably, a box of Lucky Charms. No water. No sturdy shoes. No flashlight. Nope, I grab the most sugary cereal in the pantry and a blanket so we have something to sit on. Plus, we don’t have a TV down in our basement, or even a radio. So I waited to hear from my husband, who was working downtown, when it was safe to head back upstairs.

At the time, I was just trying to keep my kids from completely freaking out. My daughters, ages 5-1/2 and 3-1/2, were practically in hysterics. They started worrying in the school parking lot when we heard the warning over the radio. The whole drive home, they were crying “Is that a TORNADO?!” at every dark cloud in the sky. Once they calmed down (who knew Scrabble would be such a hit with kids who can’t read yet?), I was able to look at us. None of us even had shoes on. Had a tornado hit our house, we would have had to climb out of the debris in bare feet and short sleeves, or sustain ourselves with Lucky Charms.

I’ve since talked to parents who are much more prepared, not just for a tornado but for all disasters and emergencies: NOAA weather radios, bottled water, extra clothes, canned food, first aid kits, etc. I’ve always got this stuff on my “Should Do” list: “Should get a fire escape ladder for the girls’ bedroom.” “Should get a LifeHammer tool and first aid kit for the car.” “Should get a NOAA weather radio.”

Maybe it’s time I get my act together and actually do some of this stuff. Especially now that I’m a parent responsible for little people. I mean, Lucky Charms and bare feet are OK for me, but for them? The NOAA radio is first on my list; we can’t hear tornado sirens in our house.

How prepared are you for emergencies? Do you have a disaster survival kit? Fire escape plan? Auto emergency kit?

Send This | Categories: Mommy Talk by Liz

(24) Comments

Posted by: xanthia on January 8, 2008 2:37PM CST

Funny you mention this. We live in Twin Lakes, about a mile and 1/2 from Wheatland where it was pretty hard hit. (Our realtor actually called us to make sure we were ok and safe last night) Anyway....this morning driving to work, I said to my fiance we would have been in big trouble had we needed to leave our home because of damage. We have 2 big boxers and a pug - with no back up plan. So, I thought that we should have a plan of where we would take them since I am sure a hotel or a friends place would not be able to house all of us. Yeah, I really started thinking we need to make sure we have some sort of plan in case a situation arises, we need to be prepared.

We did think last night though if we needed to get to the basement where we wanted to be. We have a fully exposed, finished lower level. He was saying if real damage happened, what ever was above us could end up on top of us.

So in the 2 areas we would need to seek shelter - the utility room or the bathroom, we figured the utility room was best. (above the bathroom is a washer and dryer.)

I am just glad no one was seriously hurt yesterday and it was damage that can be repiared or replaced.

Posted by: HSmom on January 8, 2008 2:37PM CST

I have lived in Racine my whole life, and the worst weather I have lived through happened 2 years ago when we had large hail that really scared me because it pounded so hard I thought it might break the windows of the house. We did have to replace the roof of the house and repair our cars. Other than that, the rest of my almost 40 years have been quite uneventful here in Racine - weatherwise. I guess this explains why I, too, found myself in our finished basement without shoes, without a flashlight, just mostly worried about unplugging the computers and keeping away from the windows in case we should get hail again. I hope a tornado never catches us off guard. I realize that just because we have been lucky so far does not mean that a tornado will never strike in Racine in the future.

Posted by: my2sense on January 8, 2008 2:41PM CST

Don't be so hard on yourself.
When my son was small (baby) I was soooo prepared. I tell you that diaper bag! I had things for other people emergencies. And no it wasn't this huge monstrosity of a diaper bag I was lugging. Just organized I guess.
Now, not so much. Sure I've got a heavy blanket in the trunk and if the situation arose I'm pretty rational in my thinking. Get shoes on, grab a jacket, Gatoraide (not a whole lot better than Lucky Charms but..) some healthy snacks from the cabinet and a candle & matches. Luckily for me my son is 10 and a little more self sufficient, and all the things I;ve listed are within easy and accessible reach.
No they aren't ideal, and no I don't have a fully stocked first aid kit or emergency kit handy..but really even if I did have those things (I use to as said) in a situation where as I may only have mere minutes I'm not going looking for my kit. I'm grabbing my KID and whats ever close by!
Oh and I ALWAYS have my cell so I'm good...Wait! go figure today the battery is practically dead ;(

Posted by: TinainNC on January 8, 2008 3:33PM CST

Living in a Hurricane region, I go through this stuff at least 4 times a year. Get a Rubbermaid tub to put the list of things in it.
1. Flashlight w/extra batteries
2. Battery operated radio with wether and emergency stations
3. 1 gallon of water per person per day usually 12 gallons iis plenty
4. A can opener, plastic utensils/plate/cups
5. Non pershiable foods
6. Candles with 2 boxes of safety matches
7. Camping lanterns, fuel, camping stove
8. 2 extra changes of clothes (old clothes are fine)
9. Blankets for each member of the family.
10. Well stocked First Aid kit

Put a BIG LABEL on it that says EMERGENCY SUPPLIES DO NO TOUCH.

After going through 5 hurricanes, my box has now grown to 3 and I keep adding more stuff to it.

You can keep your cell phone handy but it the tornado or hurricane knocks out the towers, you are screwed.

Posted by: TinainNC on January 8, 2008 3:34PM CST

And make sure you have a full tank of gas. Remember Florida when the hurricanes came through, gas stations ran out of gas and the lines where 50 cars each isle.

Posted by: sisterbelle on January 8, 2008 3:51PM CST

When I hear the sirens, I get my daughters medicine. That's the only thing I worry about. We've got everything else downstairs.

Posted by: The Original Mary on January 8, 2008 4:19PM CST

I live in tornado alley and the stories (well one in particular) I could tell you but I won't.

Posted by: kkdither on January 8, 2008 4:26PM CST

You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You did get them down to the safety of the basement. Everything else is just stuff. Yes, it is good to be prepared, but survival is the most important factor. You even had the sense to think of a snack to get them through.

Posted by: The Original Mary on January 8, 2008 4:33PM CST

Let me add to that by saying I'm at work and for some reason they are making me do just that.
Anyway, if you want some humor I will tell the story.

Posted by: my2sense on January 8, 2008 4:44PM CST

Mary, isn't that the truth sometimes???
I mean the nerve!!!!How dare they get in the way of my blogging and what.....I mean come on! The net won't surf itself!
I'd like to hear the stories.
Man I tell you if any disater happened tonight....I'd be screwed! Cell phone battery practically dead, left my work bag @ my house so I have no actual 'cash' or my checkbook (do of course have card but) AND my car is ready, but I didn't put gas in it before I brought it in....so I'm basically on fumes.What did I say before? I use to be organized..really!?

Posted by: native man on January 8, 2008 5:15PM CST

Well Mary, I am waiting...

Posted by: The Original Mary on January 8, 2008 5:38PM CST

Sorry - had to get home and play with the dog for a minute.
I believe it was 2003 when we had a tornado on Thursday night and one Friday night. On Thursday I was heading to get my hair cut/colored (priorities) when the sirens went off. I listened to the radio and realized it was east of here so I was okay.
On Friday night about 7 storms were starting and sure enough the tornado warnings started.
I have to tell you that our weather guys are the best in the world when it comes to tornado's. They can tell you what street its on.
So anyway, around 7:45 they came back on and projected where it was going to go. Right at us. No panic as tornados change.
Mind you, I am the type of person who comes home and (to be very honest) takes my bra off, puts on a t-shirt and shorts.
Around 8:00 the sirens start. Then we get a little worried and get the blankets out and the weather radio so we can go in the bathtub. (Let me say the reason we go into the bathtub is because there are no basements down here). We can hear on the tv where it is and it is still coming at us.
A few minutes later they start telling us what we need to be wearing. Helmet, boots, long pants.
So with a minute to spare I am running into the bedroom to grab a pair of jeans and a bra. By the Grace of God, I made it just in time, wearing my jeans and clutching my bra and shoes. As I jump in with my husband and dog, and by this time pretty scared, we hear it. Apparently after it hit the small airport a half a mile away, it went back up and then a half a mile to the east, it came back down.
We didn't have any damage but did have debris in the back and front yard.
Moral of this story: When the weather is bad, keep your bra on. If you don't, this will happen to you. And if you are married to a flooring salesman, he will tell the weatherman about you not having one on and everyone will get a good laugh at your expense.

Posted by: native man on January 8, 2008 5:48PM CST

LOL...Thanks for the story and I'm glad you're here to tell it. Keep safe, everyone.

Posted by: The Original Mary on January 8, 2008 6:35PM CST

Seriously though what the weatherman said was right. Had we been hit, and had to get out into the rubble, I would have been screwed. The joke was I would be found (alive) clutching my bra as it hung from a tree limb.
Living in tornado alley we've learned to take certain precautions during storm season. There isn't really time to "prepare" like in hurricanes. You basically (up there) get yourself in the basement, preferably under something with some blankets and pillows for protection. Make sure everyone has shoes on. Take a cell phone just in case you get trapped. And, yes, bring your purse. There is no time for food/water/pictures. Hopefully you have a battery operated radio so you are aware of what is happening outside. You don't want to be sitting in the basement if the tornado has already passed by.
You can never be fully prepared for something like that because sometimes you just have time to get under cover.
Shoot, here we are a few years later and I still don't have a helmet.

Posted by: beejay on January 8, 2008 7:00PM CST

Mary, you gave me a smile....I, also, have a box packed to go...unfortunately, it has most of our medical/financial records in it. I have the radio/water/et al in the garage...again, no basement and I hate to mention this...we have no bath tub...

Oh dear.

Posted by: beejay on January 8, 2008 7:03PM CST

Oops, we do have two showers ....just no tubs!

Posted by: The Original Mary on January 8, 2008 9:26PM CST

I honestly don't know what to tell you there Beejay. A closet is good. The problem is, I have so much stuff in my newly organized closet (thanks to sisterbelles blog) that I'd never get the stuff out in time. Knowing my luck I'd grab the umbrella just as the storm hit. My name may be Mary but Poppins is not my last name. Great, now I have super cali fragilisticxpolodocious in my head.

Posted by: Huck Finn on January 8, 2008 11:37PM CST

I watched the weather, opened the front door to watch the weather real time, and had the keys to my car in my hand. This house has no basement. I figured forget the wheelchair, get in the car and get out of the way. Kind of funny actually as I have four tubs of Emergency supplies for "the big one." I worry more about the coming pandemic than about the weather. Giggle if you want, but I've been following it (bird flu/H5N1) since September of 92. It seems to be slowly adapting and we seem to be putting out the spot fires for now. With a 60% mortality rate, we really don't want it crossing over until they have better ideas of how to do genome vaccines.

Anyhow, I have emergency supplies, and didn't give them a thought. Was more concerned with getting out of the way.

Posted by: Attached Mommy to 4 Kiddos on January 9, 2008 8:43PM CST

catch up with the flylady.net. She has a great guide for emergencies. I put together her list of numbers for my control journal and I use it all the time for the bbsitter. I have yet to copy all my insurance stuff and write down my policies....but, she really has a good system outlined...check it out....