The sky is turning greenish and the air feels supercharged, making your hair stand on end. The birds have stopped singing — an unnatural, eerie silence follows a long night of screaming wind, foreshadowing the approach of a tornado unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed. Are you ready for it?
30 Ways to Prepare for a Natural Disaster
From long-term preparations to last-minute tasks, here’s how to survive an extreme weather event.
1. Stock up on Nonperishable Goods
If the power goes out, you may not have a fridge or freezer to store your food. Canned and dehydrated food can meet your dietary needs until you get the power up and running again. Stock your pantry with a wide variety of options to keep things interesting and ensure you get a balanced mix of protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber and vitamins. Some ideas include:
- Canned tuna, chicken or chili
- Canned vegetables and soup
- Honey
- Peanut butter
- Beef jerky
- Individual condiment packets
- Pudding
- Powdered eggs and dairy like milk, butter and cheese
- Oatmeal
Visit an outdoor retailer to stock up on freeze-dried meals — like instant breakfasts and dessert mixes — that only require boiling water to prepare.
A lot of foods, like oatmeal, come in packaging that may fall apart if it gets wet. To avoid spoilage, you can transfer foods into glass or metal containers, especially if you’re anticipating a flood or hurricane.
2. Get Cleaning Supplies
Even during a natural disaster, life goes on — pets have accidents, kids spill their food and bathrooms get dirty. Stock up on several types of cleaning supplies well in advance of an emergency. If you go to the store right before a storm hits, there will be a mad scramble to get supplies, and odds are you won’t find what you need.
3. Tag Your Animals
It’s sad to think about, but pets and livestock often get lost after natural disasters. Fences may break and animals panic during storms.
Microchip your dogs and cats, and ensure the information on their chips and collars is up to date. Ensure all your cattle have unique ear tags. Sheep and goats may wear ear tags or collars. For Adal sheep or LaMancha goats — which may have tiny or absent ears — always use a collar. If you have poultry, band them to make them easier to identify if they escape.
Rabbit and pig owners often use small ear tattoos to identify their animals. Pigs may also wear ear tags. Due to these animals’ thick necks, it’s difficult and even dangerous for them to wear a collar.
4. Buy Extra Animal Supplies
Stock up on feed, medicine, bedding, toys, grooming supplies and anything else your animals need on a regular basis. While you’re at it, write down your vet’s number as well as the contact info for local emergency vets.
5. Get Candles, Batteries and Lighters
You’ll want to have plenty of light sources to use as a…