Preparing your Home for Disasters

This is for all my Caribbean friends or anyone who is everyone living on this earth to at least prepare your home family in case stuff happens or an event of a hurricane or disaster.

PS: These tips/ideas are of my own personal preparedness. It is not to be taken as something you must do but something you might want to do but don't hold it to me if it does not work or if you find it is wasting your time.

It is now Feb. 2005 and although in the Caribbean region, we call this the dry season as we only have two seasons, (Dry - sun and hardly any rain for 6 months and Rainy - Rain everyday FOR SO!) I believe that within these few months of dry, one should prepare for the wet.

1. Check your Roof!!! Is it bolted?
2. Look around your home or apartment. IS IT SAFE and free of DEBRIS?
3. CHECK pots and pans and old tires outside... Make sure there is no stale/stagnant water in them.

In February - I check the stocks from the last Rainy season.

Canned food, medication, water (yes, some water I see these days caring expiration dates) drinks such as juices etc.

Check to ensure you have the following left over items. If you do not have them, restock them!

• Candles (yes we still use candles but never leave them unattended)
• Lamps with lamp oil.
• Matches (in a water proof bag)
• Toilet paper
• First Aid Kit - Band Aids of different sizes, wraps, ointment for cuts and bruises (check expiration date on it)
• Pain killers, gauze, medication for whatever aliment you and members of your family are suffering from (check expiration date)
• Flash lights
• Batteries for flash lights
• Transistor Radio
• Batteries for Transistor radio
• Plastic bags, zip-lock bags
• Blankets/pillows
• Bleach (Ensure you read the instructions for purifying water)
• Book with pen - Addresses of all your loved ones in case of an emergency.
• Female stuff (pads, tampons etc)
• Soap
• ONE LARGE BAG (IF waterproofed the better) One you can carry with everything above without harming yourself.

Food:

• Canned sardines, sausages, tuna (items that don't require cooking/heat)
• Crix (West Indian crackers)
• Pre packed coffee, milk and sugar packs, coco packs, chex mix (very handy)
• Soup packs
• A pot and pan for boiling.

Key things to have in your house:

• Butter (hey, if it melts, small ting, it's butter, it will not spoil)
• Sugar
• Flour (to make bread if you have a gas stove and not electric)(Caribbean people still have gas, many don't have electric stoves)
• Crix (de vital supplies)
• Gallon bottles of water
• Buckets (for flushing and washing)
• BUG REPELANT (water and mosquitoes do mix well together and eggs from bugs can live for quite some time in stale water)
• Cards, board games, novels, magazines, etc to take away the boredom.
• Comfortable clothing and sneakers (in case for a fast getaway)
• Key for the house, the car etc. Some even carry their house deed, and important credentials like PASSPORT, MONEY, ID CARD, ETC. for you and your family.
• YOUR PHONE CHARGED and with CASH ON IT
• Phone cards
• A WORKING WATCH that is waterproofed

• Shovel - In case you have to dig
• Plastic sheets to keep the water out from rain, etc.
• Garbage bags
• Towels
• Blankets and Pillows
• Face mask

THINGS YOU MUST DO but some hardly do anyways:

1. ALWAYS listen to the news... HEY its not only educational but you will know about the weather.
2. If you don't have a TV, listen to the radio.
3. Check the papers and the WEB!

If I forget anything... I will be right back. - Angel

About The Author:
Angel is a ThriftyFun reader and contributor. We want to thank Angel for all of her hard work in putting these tips together and sharing her personal planning. Thanks Angel!

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