by Edna Thomson
Every homeowner wants to be safe within their own home. This is achievable by installing door and window locks, fire alarms and electrical lines. Unfortunately, in cases of emergency these things can hardly be of any help. During a natural disaster the term “my home is my castle” may not fully apply unless you have a safe place to hide. It is necessary that you provide a shelter to keep you safe from hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and other severe situations. Building a safe room or stocking an existing room with the basics required to live through an unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening situation is vital.
How to organize your shelter so it has everything necessary for you to survive?
How to organize your shelter so it has everything necessary for you to survive?
If you don't already have a shelter, consider using your garage or basement as a safe room. Note that it depends mainly on whether the area you are in is prone to tornadoes, hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes or floods. If there are high winds, your best option is the basement. However, if flooding occurs regularly, the basement is not an option at all. In that case you would want to opt for higher parts of the house. Also note that your shelter should not have windows. Use Plexiglas if you still want to include windows. Apartment owners might have to use a walk-in closet for the purpose.~
You want to stock your shelter with the most essential things you need to endure. Since you could be stuck in there for a long time (you never know how long a storm or another severe situation can last), it is wise to prepare a four or five days' worth of supplies.
Here is what should be in your shelter:
Clean Water
You need to provide enough clean water for you and anyone who is likely to share the room with you during an emergency. On the whole, you need one gallon of water per person on a daily basis. You need enough water supplies for at least three days. Do the math.
Food
Another essential addition to your shelter is food. When it comes to food, things get a little complicated. You need to select products with a long shelf life that can withstand fluctuations in temperature and humidity. It makes sense to use packaged foods. What you can use is canned food, breakfast cereal, granola bars, peanut butter and jam, ready-to-eat soup, crackers and cookies and any other non-perishable foods. It is crucial that you check the products every now and then. If you find any that have become inedible, you should get rid of them and find a proper replacement for them.
First-aid kit
A first-aid kit should be well-stocked. Here is what you should keep in yours: painkillers (ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, etc.) and other medicines, bandages, scissors and tweezers, cleansing wipes, safety pins, sticky tape, antiseptic cream, distilled water, digital thermometer, antihistamine tablets, plasters, sterile gloves, gauze dressings (sterile), etc.
In addition, you should always have handy a cell phone and a phone charger so you can call emergency care services anytime.
Other supplies
Apart from the supplies mentioned above, you will also need other things, such as toilet paper, hand cleaner and sanitizer, flashlight and extra batteries, hygiene products, extra bags and buckets, cash, baby supplies, books and toys (if applicable), copies or originals of important documents, plastic trash bags, toilet bucket, mattresses and extra blankets (make sleeping easier and more comfortable).
Also, consider keeping a knife, crowbar and other tools that might be of help during an emergency.
All supplies should be checked regularly and replaced if necessary.
Tip: It is essential you stay in your shelter until the weather clears and you know it's safe to get out.
You want to stock your shelter with the most essential things you need to endure. Since you could be stuck in there for a long time (you never know how long a storm or another severe situation can last), it is wise to prepare a four or five days' worth of supplies.
Here is what should be in your shelter:
Clean Water
You need to provide enough clean water for you and anyone who is likely to share the room with you during an emergency. On the whole, you need one gallon of water per person on a daily basis. You need enough water supplies for at least three days. Do the math.
Food
Another essential addition to your shelter is food. When it comes to food, things get a little complicated. You need to select products with a long shelf life that can withstand fluctuations in temperature and humidity. It makes sense to use packaged foods. What you can use is canned food, breakfast cereal, granola bars, peanut butter and jam, ready-to-eat soup, crackers and cookies and any other non-perishable foods. It is crucial that you check the products every now and then. If you find any that have become inedible, you should get rid of them and find a proper replacement for them.
First-aid kit
A first-aid kit should be well-stocked. Here is what you should keep in yours: painkillers (ibuprofen, aspirin, paracetamol, etc.) and other medicines, bandages, scissors and tweezers, cleansing wipes, safety pins, sticky tape, antiseptic cream, distilled water, digital thermometer, antihistamine tablets, plasters, sterile gloves, gauze dressings (sterile), etc.
In addition, you should always have handy a cell phone and a phone charger so you can call emergency care services anytime.
Other supplies
Apart from the supplies mentioned above, you will also need other things, such as toilet paper, hand cleaner and sanitizer, flashlight and extra batteries, hygiene products, extra bags and buckets, cash, baby supplies, books and toys (if applicable), copies or originals of important documents, plastic trash bags, toilet bucket, mattresses and extra blankets (make sleeping easier and more comfortable).
Also, consider keeping a knife, crowbar and other tools that might be of help during an emergency.
All supplies should be checked regularly and replaced if necessary.
Tip: It is essential you stay in your shelter until the weather clears and you know it's safe to get out.
About the author
Edna Thomson is interested in topics related to home improvement, homesteading and survival. She is a young business woman, trying to balance between work and family.
Edna Thomson is interested in topics related to home improvement, homesteading and survival. She is a young business woman, trying to balance between work and family.
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