This is a partnered post with Energizer and TheMotherhood. All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from yours. I will only endorse companies, products and services that I believe, based on my own experiences.
See I’m a planner. I like to know what’s going on and have an itinerary. I wish I were more spontaneous… but it is not in my nature. But that’s okay, especially when it comes to preparing for emergencies. Granted an emergency is full of the unexpected, but because I am prepared, it may make the emergency less stressful.
Here are 7 ways you can be prepared for an emergency:
1. Make a plan
As I mentioned above, I’m a planner, and it is so true in this case that you and your family really need a plan. Everyone needs to know what to do before, during, and after severe weather, or other emergency. Be sure to practice your plan so you and your family are ready for any situation.
2. Keep a portable light in every room
The last thing you want when power goes out is to be digging through closets or drawers looking for a flashlight. Energizer portable lights ensure you’re ready for any situation.
- Weatheready®– Long lasting, practical solutions designed to keep you and your family safe during a weather emergency
- Fusion Flashlights and Lanterns – Compact and versatile, Energizer® Light Fusion Technology products are compact, water resistant and provide impressively bright long lasting light
- Headlights – Energizer’s powerful LED headlights are lightweight and versatile – perfect for keeping your hands free during an emergency situation
3. Designate a place to seek shelter
Designate a meeting place for your family to take shelter. It can be a basement or the smallest, most-interior room on the lowest floor is safest for severe weather and tornadoes. In the event of a tropical storm or hurricane, evacuate the area if instructed by local authorities.
4. Prepare an emergency kit
Keep an emergency kit stocked with bottled water, canned food, copies of vital information, a first aid kit with prescriptions and an Energizer® Emergency Weather Station, which acts as a light, radio and charging station, in a designated place where everyone knows where to find it.
5. Check social media for updates
Oftentimes communications can be limited during severe weather. As a social media addict, I know that social media can give you the most up-to-date information from local government agencies and news outlets to people out in the situation to give live up-to-date information.
6. Charge your devices
Be sure to charge cell phone and ensure that your radio and flashlight have fresh batteries. Energizer® MAX® with Power Seal Technology are long-lasting and are no leaks guaranteed. You don’t want to be left in the dark – figuratively and literally – when an emergency arises.
7. Stock your vehicle
Don’t be caught unaware in your car during a severe weather situation. Make sure to have an emergency kit with the essentials in your vehicle.
According to a recent Energizer survey….
- Only 38 percent of American households keep an emergency kit at home for severe weather.
- 36% of American households have experienced a power outage in the past year, which can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.
- Only 36 percent of households have discussed a safety plan for weather related emergencies or power outages.
- About half of the households don’t feel well prepared for a power outage.
- While 84 percent of households who keep an emergency kit said their kit includes a flashlight/handheld light only 36 percent of those that keep an emergency kit have a lantern and only 21 percent keep a headlight/headlamp in their kits.
- During a power outage, not having household lights make American households more uncomfortable than not being able to charge their cell phones or use the internet
I will be incorporating the above 7 tips to make sure my family and I are prepared for National Preparedness month and beyond!
Stay connected with Energizer:
- Energizer website: energizer.com
- Energizer on Facebook
Please join me next Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. EST for a #PoweringSafety Twitter party (there will be prizes)… RSVP via Twtvite: http://twtvite.com/poweringsafety
Note: The Energizer Preparedness survey was conducted in August 2014 among 1,000 online Americans representative of the U.S. household population 18+ on age, gender, geographic division, income, household size, household designation, and market size via TNS’ Omnibus, Express Online.
Thank you for sharing this. Everyone should have these items prepared.
Try to keep at least 1/2 a tank of gas at all times. Plus, if severe weather is looming, it is a good idea to fill up propane tanks. That way if you do lose electricity, you can at least grill out.
I realize I now need to be more prepared as I don’t have half this stuff.
my hubby and I always make sure we have tons of batteries, like water, can good , dryclothes , blankets , medication n so on…you really never know when life can be flipped upside down with disaster or something ……
I was just saying the other day that the winter is supposed to be especially harsh this year from what I’ve read and that we need to make sure we have all the necessities.
They are predicting a really rough winter here in Kansas again this year, so I need to get prepared.
I do have an emergency kit, but sometimes I really think I need to do more. I always have candles, matches, flashlights and batteries stocked, though.
This is a great checklist.
The emergency kit should be one per person or one for everyone? If there’s no Internet connection, then a mobile data connection will also be necessasry.
Roch, I think one kit for the whole family is fine. You’re right about a mobile data connection…. at least that would be nice.
I’m a planner too, but I am embarrassed to say that I don’t have a plan in place. That is something I need to figure out.
These are great tips I really need to get prepared. I seriously need to buy some hurricane shutters for our new house.
It’s so important to have a plan for these types of things. Thanks for the share. I will be reading this one again with my family.
These are some really good tips. I am never prepared for anything. This makes me feel like I should make it happen.
Yes, it’s so important that you are prepared.
These are all great suggestions. I should follow this list especially with it being hurricane season here in Fl.
Being prepared is a virtue! yahoooo
We are in the middle of Hurricane season and its always good to be prepared.
this is great
The emergency kits can really save lives. This is a great initiative by Energizer for national preparedness month.
Thanks for raising our awareness. Everyone should be prepared in case of an emergency.
Living in Florida we are always prepared, thank you for this list!
Great list! Every household should be this prepared.
I always say I need to be prepared, but then never take the steps. I need to write a list and post it on my fridge as a constant reminder. When the power goes out now, I’m pretty miserable!
Great idea to charge your devices and keep the car stocked. We’ve been fortunate to not have a natural disaster lately but we never know when that will change.
I’ve been through blackout once and it’s not the greatest feeling. Everyone started piling up on water and other basic necessities. We always keep candles at our home.
These are great tips! We had a huge blackout here in Toronto about 10 years ago and it was awful!
I’m not prepared, thanks for making me feel guilty lol
What’cha waiting for… go get prepared! 🙂
It’s always better to be prepared than sorry.. My father always reminds us that we should have our batteries ready, in case incidents like blackouts or storms are coming.. extra foods and clothing…
We are always prepared here in our country because a lot of storms are coming our way. We have kits containing survival essentials.
This is an area where I really need to get in gear!
When I first had kids I was so prepared for disaster, equipped with emergency bags, for each etc. Now that they are older I have slacked off on that, thank you for the reminder of the importance.
this is very timely as it’s typhoon season already in our country. in our home we always make sure to have enough rechargeable led lights to get us going during blackouts! thanks for sharing these tips! 🙂
These are some great ways to be prepared. I need to add some things to our emergency kits.
Thanks for the reminder! I haven’t got any of the things listed here. I should be careful now.
great post. really interesting
Great list and reminders! Thank you! I need to get more batteries and lamps/flashlights.
These are great tips to remember! We had a small earthquake here in Las Vegas over the weekend and it really made me think about being prepared for a large emergency.