This past winter our electricity was out for a few days during an ice storm and we were COMPLETELY unprepared! So, I want to share with you 17 Emergency Storm Kit MUST HAVES, so you will be prepared for any type of storm.
Now, granted I grew up in Florida and it’s not 20 below but, it was FREEZING! We couldn’t get warm, we couldn’t cook, charge our phones, nothing. It was miserable!
So, we were pretty stuck. The electric company kept saying it would be back on “soon”, so you don’t really want to move out or head to a hotel if it will be back on in an hour, you know? So, we waited and we piled on clothes and blankets.
17 Emergency Storm Kit MUST HAVES
Luckily we have a gas grill and hubby was able to cook and make coffee and tea on the grill! Hubby braved the streets a bit to get us food when he could, but there was so much ice it was terrifying to me!
We went one time to a friend’s home to warm up and charge our phones and do some work on our laptops. They live about 5 minutes from here and I think I made Hubby NUTS all the way there cause I was completely terrified and he was driving about 3 miles an hour! lol
Finally after 2 or 3 days my Mom and I gave in and Hubby drove us to a nearby hotel, as he and our son pulled back in to the house, on popped the electricity, of course!
As soon as the ordeal was over and we got back to the house (we spent the night in the hotel) we started thinking about what we needed to do if this ever happened again.
We looked at gas powered generators, and thought about all sorts of things we could do if it every happened again Well, I thought I would share this list of suggestions from our local Police Department.
There are many reasons you could be without electricity in any weather, and at any time of the year, so be prepared:
Be Prepared At Home before Severe Weather Strikes
A severe storm can knock out utility services to your area, leaving you without electricity, heat, water or fresh food. It’s a good idea to put together an emergency kit you can grab at a moment’s notice (or store it in the “protective area” in your house you plan to use during severe weather.)
Be sure to store your emergency kit in a waterproof container. (Remember to check your kit semi-annually.
Suggested: At daylight savings time, change/ replace your home smoke detector batteries!)
- Flashlight and extra batteries (Check batteries semi-annually!)
- Battery-operated radio with a weather band
- First aid kit with essential medicines and a manual
- A large jug of drinking water
- Non-perishable, ready-to-eat food
- Towels, toilet paper and bathroom items
- A spare pair of shoes (that give some protection from broken glass and broken wood fragments)
- Work gloves
- Duct tape
- Credit cards
- A copy of insurance documents
- Blankets and sleeping gear (both for flying-debris protection and comfort)
- List of phone numbers and addresses of emergency services and protective areas, physicians, family and friends
- Stock the kit with spare home tools that you may need:
- Hammer and nails
- A pocket multi-tool
- Screwdrivers
- Pliers
- Wrenches
- Small pry-bar
Make sure everyone in your family knows where the kit is kept. Be sure and store your severe weather emergency kit in the protected area where you plan to seek shelter from storms!
Review your emergency plan with your family and post the written plan
Common Sense Note: Candles and matches in your kit might be great for use during a simple storm-related power outage blackout, but their use could be hazardous where actual storm damage to your apartment/house has caused gas leaks. Use with care!
If possible, take your cell PHONE with you when you seek refuge!
I would add blankets, or this 4 pack of Emergency Mylar Blankets, portable phone chargers, and because I was SOOOO very bored – a deck of cards, make sure you have plenty of games loaded on your tablet that don’t have to be played online 
Aaron` says
I’d recommend cash in addition to credit cards. If there is widespread power outages the ZON machines don’t work. Also, making sure you are never below half a tank of gas in your car, because gas pumps don’t work without power either.
Dian says
Aaron,
Great advice! We didn’t experience that, but, very good advice!
Thanks,
Dian
Terry Noxel says
I’d add paper plates, cups and plastic utensils. Also, people like us who have a well & septic system instead of city water & sewer may lose both running water and a way to flush the toilet. When a sever storm is predicted we fill and keep several 5 gallon containers of water in the bath tub.
Dian says
Terry,
Great tips! Thanks for sharing! I will definitely add it!
Thanks,
Dian
Allison says
I would also add masks. In 2011 my family and I went through the Joplin MO EF5 tornado and face mask were great.
Dian says
Allison,
Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that! Glad y’all made it through ok!
Thanks,
Dian
terri says
Hi, all of these are good tips. I like to look at these tips and see if I should add more to mine. I would like to add that I live in the mid-west. Severe weather like ice storms, blizzards, wind storms and severe lightning happen every year. We have gone 10 days once with no power. I also keep a bag in my car. It has change of clothes, toiletries, 3 day supply of meds with med sheet, snacks, extra shoes (in summer I am in flip flops) extra portable battery fully charged for my cell, flashlite, ins papers and also copy’s of IDs. There have been times when power was out, trees down, roads blocked or severe snow/ice storm and I had to spend nite at friends as I could not get home. I also carry small shovel, cat litter, extra gloves, boots, heavy coat and blanket in winter. I also go through and change or update meds, snacks and water. The hardest thing to carry keep in car in winter is water as it freezes.
Dian says
Terri,
Great tips! I would hate to ever be in that position, but, you never know! You would be prepared though!
Thanks for sharing!
Dian
terri says
thanks
Dian says
Terri,
You’re very welcome!
Dian
Kathy says
We always make sure we are at home when we know a storm is coming. I probably have around 20 large jar candles plus plain white emergency and tea candles. The one thing I’d like to stress here the most is having a generator, something at least 2500 watts. That is so you can run heaters if need be, or a coffee pot and maybe a small lamp. We keep 3 big cans of gasoline ready to go. I usually keep40 gallons of water just in case. I fill up used Coke bottles plus one/two gallon plastic jugs I buy for that reason, gotta have water. Plus fill up the tub. Heres another tip I learned for myself, if its an ice storm or say a 3 degree morning brrr….. I put candles near my plumbing, just open the cabinet doors in the bathrooms and kitchen because at that time I didn’t have a generator for heat. I also hear Mr. Heaters are also good to use for heat , I dont know, but they have been recommended ((shrugs)). 7 to 10 days worth of food. Check your propane and/or charcoal grill and be sure to have extra propane or charcoal on hand. Also, we had some Coleman Lanterns which came in so handy. I have been thru a hurricane, plenty of ice storms plus one evening I was wrapping presents two nights before Christmas and some inebriated butthead ran down the alley one street over and took out gas meters and crossed the main street and took out a major Electric pole, everything went black , we had no heat , no lights and was so unprepared for 15 hours at 3 degrees that morning. I vowed then I’d never be unprepared ever again. 🙂
Dian says
Kathy,
Great advice! I really want to get a generator.
Thanks for sharing!
Dian
Roger Mose says
These are all really great tips and everyone should make sure their family and home is ready when disaster strikes. Being in the generator business, we highly recommend a house generator. You can rely on having power whenever your area has an outage which is the best way to be prepared.