Yesterday’s storm that slammed into Oregon and western Washington is yet another reminder that none of us are out of harm’s way and that we all need to be prepared for emergencies, disasters, power outages, and especially at this time of year…. storms.

Regardless of whether you live on the pacific coast, in the middle of the Kansas prairie, nestled in the rocky mountains, or on the sunny shores of the gulf… everyone has storms. They can be mild and melancholy or disastrous and deadly.

Roads and infrastructure can be damaged or inaccessible, power can be cut off, sewers can be backed up, homes can flood, water treatment facilities can be shut down, grocery store shelves can be barren, and gas station tanks can be emptied. So in the likely event that a storm hits your neighborhood, even if just the power goes out for a few hours, here’s a reminder of five things that would be handy or perhaps crucial to have:

#1 - Some Way to Keep Your Family Warm: You need to have a safe way of keeping your family warm. If the power goes out in the middle of a blizzard, Your home won’t stay warm for long. Propane space heaters are a good option that doesn’t require electricity.

#2 - Clean Water for Drinking, Cleaning, and Cooking: 1 gallon per day per person is the standard, so for a family of four for one week you would need a 30-gallon water barrel or six 5-gallon stackables.

#3 - Shelf-Stable and Easy-to-Cook Food: If the power goes out, you’ll need food that will last without refridgeration, and you’ll need food that is easy to cook with just hot water or on a camping stove like the the JetBoil or some other shelter-in-place cooking option. If you have a gas cooking range, you’ve got the cooking part covered, but FEMA still recommends that you have at least 2-weeks supply of food on hand at all times.

#4 - First Aid if Someone Gets Hurt: First aid kits are inexpensive and easy to store… just get one like our 200-piece Soft Case First Aid Kit… and know how to use it. You might not be able to get to a hospital or other medical assistance if the weather or roads are too bad. It’s always a good idea to have a first aid kit handy at home and in the car.

#5 - A Different Way to Use the Restroom: If water tables are too high and flooding is occuring, it is likely that your sewers may be backed up and your toilet could not be available for use. A port-a-potty is a simple temporary solution to use until things get flowing again. Unless you want to brave the weather and go in a bush or just hold it for a few days, a port-a-potty would be a good idea.