About this time last year, I wrote about my memories of the Great Storm of 1987. As a child I was pretty oblivious to the fact that a storm was about to hit. However, with the news that a storm to rival the Great Storm of 1987 is apparently currently on it's way to the UK, as a parent, with the responsibility of the kids to keep safe, I wanted to know how to prepare for an event of this kind - just in case! Most of the UK news sites are advising the public to "be prepared", but not really giving any information on how to actually be prepared. Hopefully the storm won't be as bad as predicted, but in true Girl Guide "Be Prepared" style, I took to the internet to find some good tips for being prepared for a storm. Most of the best tips came from US sites, who are used to having storms, floods, hurricanes and the like, and so here are some tips for being prepared. Feel free to pick and choose which ones are relevant to you.- Stock up on household essentials such as canned goods, toilet roll, perhaps nappies, bread and milk, so that you have something to eat if you can't leave the house for a couple of days.
- Stock up on torches, batteries, candles & matches which may be required in the event of a power cut.
- Check your house insurance covers what you need it to, & know where your documents are.
- Locate other valuable & precious documents, and place them in a plastic bag or metal box, ensuring that they are high off the floor and easy to locate.
- Ensure that mobile phones and electrical devices are charged in case power is lost and home phones may not charge if power goes out.
- Have a stash of cash for emergencies available in case cash machines or debit cards aren't working,
- Have a plan in place to move furniture to a higher location if your area is prone to flooding.
- Cut back branches from over hanging trees on your property if possible.
- Secure garden belongings, rubbish bins, and anything which could potentially fly around and cause damage.
- Avoid unnecessary travel - don't try and venture out unless it's an absolute must.
- Consider where the best place for your car to be parked is.
- Try and locate if possible, a room in your house which is free from external windows and doors, and designate it a "safe room" for your family to shelter in should the need arise. Failing that, an internal cupboard if the need were to absolutely arise.
- Have an evacuation plan in place & a bag with clothes and essential items for each person ready to go. in the event that you have to evacuate your property..
- Secure windows and doors and keep internal doors closed if possible to minimise damage.
- With the current generation's reliance on technology, try and have something prepared such as perhaps colouring pads and pencils, or a board game, to keep them occupied should power be lost to the house.
- If you were feeling very prepared, you could fill the bathtub with water, in case water is cut off. A bathtub full of water will last three days and enable toilets to be flushed and water to be available.
- Most of all, stay safe and don't take unnecessary risks to go and rescue outside belongings.
Do you have any more tips for preparing for a stormy weather front?
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