www.ready.gov

This website will help you prepare yourself and your family for a natural (or not) disaster.

People with illness (or family members with an illness) need to be doubly sure they have a supply of meds on hand should they need to evacuate or be away from home unexpectedly.

I have a two 7-day pill containers with my daily meds ready to go at a moment's notice. Also have extra containers of Tylenol, Imodium, Tums, Benedryl, Bandaids and Neosporin.

It doesn't have to be a natural disaster. It could be a chemical spill or a public safety matter that causes you to have to evacuate.

I feel much better knowing I have at least made some preparations for a few days of "disaster".

Don't forget your pets....please.....they depend on you.

I am probably ready, because "worst case scenario" is my middle name.

We have battery lanterns, and extra batteries. A crank-up weather radio with AM/FM also. Lots of canned food and an old-fashioned hand can-opener. Ace bandages, a cat carrier for each cat (how many have just one for several cats?).

Corded phones that work without electricity. Emergency phone numbers. A small propane furnace in the basement that will run without electricity (doesn't need the fan going).

Four 5-gallon jugs of water, plus rotating jugs of drinking water. Plus two trash barrels full of water for the chickens.

Basic emergency equipment that lives in the car.

We keep a few of the styrofoam coolers that my shots come in, so if the power is out for a couple of days we can cram everything from the freezer and fridge in coolers.

My purse lives near me at night so I don't have to try to find it if we need to leave in a rush.

Let's see, what have I left out?

Me, too!!! I have a extra large one (can fit two cats but I got it for Miss Gracie) and one regular size one (for Tigger) plus an extra one (large) just in case the door or something breaks on one of mine....or a neighbor or someone needs one and doesn't have one.

I feel better knowing they're there. They sit right beside the door that leads inside from the garage. I have to keep them out in the garage because Gracie associates them with going to the vet - and freaks!

Good idea for a thread Kitty! Especially with winter on it's way

I thought we were well prepared, till now.
In fact, we are ok for "stay at home" disasters, but not for ones like chemical spills that might require evacuation...the "Grab & Go," emergencies.

Thanks for posting this, I printed out the list and will round out the away kit today and tomorrow.

I think its also important to have some emergency cash on hand. My pets of course are my biggest concern, Katrina still haunts me, but I'm prepared to pack everyone up and watch it unfold on TV from a hotel room in the next state.

I would not be ready to evacuate. We've never had any reason to do that, and there's no plan for such. Except the one for the power plant, and I'm so close I can't see how we'd leave in time.

We do duck in the basement for the tornadoes and hole up in snow storms. I used to have some stuff down there, but when all the kids were here all of it got used or lost. Heck I'm not ready for today.

Yep ! Extra meds, tons of nonperishable food (that I check for expiration dates at the before hurrcane season), batteries, flashlights, generators, hurricane shutters, first aid supplies (including one-time use cold packs), corded phone, pet taxis for all four cats preloaded with disposable liners in case of kitty accidents, extra canned cat food, water, bleach, camp stove with propane tanks, an extra propane tank for the grill, camp coffee maker, and everything else we could possibly need. Our important papers (living wills, birth cerificates etc.) are packed in ziploc bags inside of fire proof box. Thanks for the thread Kelly .

Great point, Jules. I keep $300 cash in a fireproof/waterproof safe that I can carry (important docs are in there, too) so all I have to do is scoop it up and I'm ready to go!

You know, one thing we could probably use in an emergency is adult diapers. OK....I'm serious here.

Just think, what if we had to sit in traffic for hours on end, or take shelter somewhere that had no bathroom facilities. I know me.....and when I gotta go I gotta go....and the waterworks will start with or without a restroom.... I drink lots of water all day and have to have access to a restroom.

I know it sounds icky...but in a disaster situation or just an evacuation a few hours without use of a potty can be pretty rough.

I'd feel better just knowing they were there......