We were very lucky at Chez Modern Femme, and were spared the brunt of the storm. Though we had prepared for the worst, we didn't lose electricity, and were able to shelter in place, with no flooding and no damage to our property from the winds.
In preparation for Sandy, we bought extra flashlights and batteries, had candles and matches laid out on the dining room table, and dusted off our hand cranked radio. I had also purchased non-perishable food, non-refrigerated fruits and vegetables, and three gallons of distilled water. Obviously, we didn't end up needing our flashlights or using the distilled water, but an event like Sandy makes you realize how important it is to have basic items on hand to survive during a weather-related emergency, or heaven forbid, a man-made emergency.
You can find resources for what to pack in an emergency preparedness kit at Ready.gov. I've looked through their suggestions for a basic emergency kit and marked what I have and don't have. Here's how I fare with FEMA's recommended basic supplies:
Lighting
1. Flashlights and extra batteries. (Have.)
Food and Water
2. Water (3 gallons/per person/per day) (Had, but only enough for one person for one day)
3. Non-perishable food, 3 day supply. (Have. See thoughts on menus below.)
4. Manual can opener for food. (Have.)
Health
5. First aid kit. (Have - have assembled our own family-specific kit that lives in the linen closet)
6. Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation. (Have everything but the plastic ties. Moist towelettes courtesy of Bebe - i.e. diaper wipes!)
Safety
7. Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place. (Have. Well, in a manner of speaking. Mr. MF has dust masks for his DIY projects, and he had purchased some plastic sheeting to cover our back porch door, which always leaks in heavy rains. We have duct tape.)
8. Whistle to signal for help (Don't have.)
Communication
9. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both. (Have.)
10. Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger (Have everything but the solar charger, which is a good idea!)
Other
11. Local maps. (Don't have.)
12. Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities (Have.)
FEMA recommends these items be packed together in a kit. I appreciate that, but frankly, all of the items that they recommend I can find uses for in my daily life, so for now, my emergency "kit" will be kept in various locations around my house. Here are some additional quality of life extras that I either had, or want to purchase for the next emergency:
1. Candles, lighters and matches. (Have.)
2. Lanterns, for use as ambient light in rooms at night. (Don't have.)
3. Board games or puzzles, to pass the time. (Don't have.)
4. Red wine - for Mommy time outs - no refrigeration needed! (Have.)
5. A full tank of gas in the car. (Have.)
6. Cash, for use in cases where credit/debit cards cannot be accepted. (Have.)
A word about non-perishable menus. Here's a more detailed listing of what I had on-stock to feed my family. I've grouped them together to give you a sense of the meals that could be made. (Note: I have a gas-powered range, which makes some cooking possible in a blackout).
Carbs:
1. Steel-cut Irish oatmeal.
2. Sandwich bread.
3. Pasta
4. Rice
Protein:
1. Peanut butter
2. Cannelini beans
3. Roasted almonds and peanuts
Vegetables and fruit:
1. Apples, pears, bananas
2. Sweet potatoes and yellow potatoes
3. Garlic, onions
Other:
1. Assorted spices and sugars
2. Spaghetti sauce
3. Assorted condiments and oils
4. Chicken stock
Using those examples, here's a sample of what I could have made during a blackout:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Peanut butter sandwiches with banana slices.
Lunch: Cannelini bean soup, drizzled with paprika oil. Peanut butter sandwiches.
Snack: Apples with peanut butter. Roasted almonds.
Dinner: Spaghetti with pasta sauce. Spaghetti with garlic and red pepper flakes. Risotto with sweet potatoes.
For Bebe, I could have steamed and mashed bananas, pears, apples and sweet potatoes.
One final thing that I want to bring up is the importance of having a plan with your family for what to do and where to meet during an emergency. I was in New York on 9/11 and was able to find my father in the chaos, without the aid of cellphones, because we had agreed years earlier that we would meet at a specific location in the event of an emergency. Mr. MF and I have discussed and selected an emergency rendez-vous location for our little family. It doesn't take but a few minutes to discuss with your loved ones, and it makes all the difference in the world when you need it, so please at least make an emergency rendez-vous plan with your family, if you haven't already.
If you have emergency kit suggestions or additions, or recipes that you can make with non-perishable foods, please share them in the comments!
Stay safe,
xoxo
MF
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