On August 10, my hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was devastated by a hurricane-like storm called a “derecho.” Most everyone lost power and trees–beautiful, big, old trees.
Every property, it seemed, was impacted.
The day after the storm, Alliant Energy reported more than 200,000 customers were without service. Now, 12 days later, Alliant’s website shows 5,684 are still without power.
Some of those are my friends.
In the days since the storm, I began wondering how prepared I’d be if a natural disaster caused a long-term power outage at my North Carolina home.
Turns out the answer is “not very.”
I’d be less prepared if it weren’t for my wife, a longtime Girl Scout, who thinks of things like corded phones and weather radios and cellphone charging packs. But we both agree there are plenty of things we don’t have–things we talk about getting but never do. Things like a generator.
So when the sawdust began to settle in Cedar Rapids, I asked friends and family on Facebook to share their list of things we should all have on hand in case of an emergency; to fill in the post-derecho blank: “I wish I had _________.”
They came up with 78 emergency supplies for a power outage. I alphabetized them, but the power outage essentials at the top of the list: bottled water, nonperishable food, chainsaws, extra gas, solar/battery-powered radios and lights/lanterns, tarps–and that generator.
Also sprinkled in the power outage essential list are a few things you can’t buy. For example: numbers 58-60.
Here you go. Feel free to share this list of power outage essentials. In fact, please do. And then go buy your emergency supplies for a power outage. Buy locally if you possibly can.
Oh, and FEMA has a guide you can download, too, that covers how to prepare for power outages and other emergency situations.
Adaptors (3-way)
Ax
Batteries (particularly AA, AAA, C & D)
Black Velvet (or vodka or rum or, or, or)
Book light
Books
Bottled [Starbucks] coffee
Bottled drinking water (flats, gallon jugs—“a crap ton”—for you and your pets)
Buckets (for clean-up, water leaks, and/or to collect water at local lakes, rivers, etc., to flush toilets or, god forbid, drink)
Bug spray
Camp coffee press
Camping stove
Can opener (manual)
Candles (battery operated; we don’t need no darn fires)
Cash (when the power goes out, banks close, many ATMs won’t work, and stores can’t take credit/debit cards.)
Chainsaw bar oil
Chainsaws (Sharp!)
Charcoal
Chargers (solar-powered for cellphones and other devices; “get a bunch”)
Clothespins (to hang laundry)
Compassion
Coolers (“really good ones”—and big)
Drying rack (for laundry)
Extension cords (long, heavy-duty, high-quality—for your generator, etc.)
Eyeglasses (spare pairs)
Face wipes
Fans (battery operated)
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit (remember, chainsaws may be involved so have more in that thing than a few band-aids)
Flashlights (with extra batteries)
Food (dry, nonperishable, canned goods—remember the manual can opener—as well as individual-sized chips and other snacks, peanut butter, etc. Yes, chocolate is an essential food group.)
Freezer (only if you have a generator to power it)
Friends & Family
Gas cans (empty; at least two, 5-gallon ones)
Gas in your car (no more running it to the last drop; keep it topped off)
Gas on hand (for generators, vehicles, chainsaws—if you can safely store it)
Gas stove (might think about replacing that electric one)
Gas water heater (see #37)
Generator (portable/on wheels; at least 5,500 watts, enough to run almost any household appliance, from a small window AC unit to a refrigerator; Honda was recommended for being quieter than most)
Generator oil (good quality synthetic 5W-30 oil; 3-day supply)
Grill and charcoal
Handsaws
Hats
Helmets (especially to protect kids during a storm; heck, any noggin)
Homeowners insurance policy (copy of policy with policy number/phone number)
Hot spot (through your cell phone company)
Ice (see “coolers,” “freezer,” and “generator”)
Iron skillet
Kleenex
Landline (yep, pay for it)
Lantern (battery operated or solar-powered; Mini Eco-i-light)
Lighter fluid
Local radio station (Sure, maybe you can’t buy one, but support the one you have with your ears. Says my friend Nancy in Cedar Rapids: “The only source of communication we had the first few days was the radio—and one of the first stations we were able to get was Z102.9, which is locally owned and staffed by local on-air people who did a great job of disseminating info. It shows the importance of having live, local DJs and news people, instead of radio programming piped in by national radio chains.”)
Masks
Matches
Medications (for you and your pets)
Neighbors (get to know them before a catastrophe strikes)
Patience
Patience
Patience
Pet food (stock up)
Phone (cellphone, sure, but what you really need is an old-fashioned corded one. Yes, you can still buy them)
Phone numbers (for your neighbors, family, friends, and favorite electrician, contractor and tree service; also homeowners and car insurance companies)
Power tools for clean up
Propane for gas grill
Radio (crank, battery or solar-powered; with AM/FM and weather bands)
Solar lights (but check for ants and other bugs before bringing them indoors)
Solar shower bag
Steel chain and lock (for your generator, which will be in high demand with thieves)
Tarps
Toilet paper (but go easy on the stocking up, okay?)
Toiletries
Water purifiers (in case you have to drink water from a pond, lake, river, etc.)
Wine (any and all—well, skip the kind you have to chill; oh hell, get that too)
Wipes
Work gloves
Zip ties
Ziploc storage bags (strong, good quality; no time to go cheap)
Photo: Donations being dropped off in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Photo Credit: CBS2 Iowa)
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