Spring has arrived in the New River Valley. We have enjoyed some beautiful days lately. I snapped those fluffy clouds last week while laying on the front porch. There has also been some rain which has been nice for spring plantings. There are a few thunderstorms in the forecast this week. Storms always seem to sneak up on us and we are left scrambling for supplies at the last minute.
My favorite thunderstorm scene is from the movie, "The Sound of Music" where Julie Andrews sings, "My Favorite Things".
Here are a few of my favorite thunderstorm preparedness items:
Having all of the supplies in one place helps my children(and me) to feel more safe and secure in the event of a power outage. Here are the items in my emergency kit:
1. Hand Crank Weather Radio, flashlight, smartphone charger: We bought this one last Christmas but have not used it yet. It gives me peace of mind just to know I have it (especially the phone charging feature). It gets great reviews and is almost 40% off right now!
I also keep a flashlight for each member of the family. I found that my children would fight over who got to hold them if there wasn't one for everyone.
2. Glow Sticks: I try to stock up on these at the after Halloween or July 4 clearance but they are quite inexpensive anyway. If your children are fearful of storms, glow sticks/necklaces/bracelets help make a scary event manageable(and maybe a little fun!).
3. Candles and matches: For whatever reason, I used to keep my candles and matches in separate locations. It is so much easier if you can keep the two together. We have made the mistake of using scented candles during a b kou It works, but the combined scent of those scented candles was nauseating! I recommend a no scent candle or several candles in the same scent(one that your family can tolerate).
If you are concerned about safety, stock up on some flameless candles and batteries. You can purchase flameless tea light candles at the Dollar Tree. I grab flameless candles when I see them on clearance as they are a bit pricey.
4. Non Perishable Foods: Hopefully, a thunderstorm just means a temporary loss of power. You will want to keep your family distracted and happy for that time. We have found the best foods for a blackout are trail mix, beef jerky and fruit leather. I keep these items on hand because they typically have a long shelf life and my kids like them. They also take these foods camping with them so I stock up when I see a good sale. We tried this Stretch Island Fruit Leather when Amazon had a good price and the kids enjoyed it. I always try to have bananas and apples on hand for an easy non refrigerated snack, as well. We keep several cases of bottled water on hand in case of a boil water advisory.
5. Games to play by candlelight or flashlight: A deck of cards, UNO, Simon Flash and electronic Battleship(found at the Thrift Store) are some of my kids favorites. Simon Flash and Electronic Battleship light up(make sure you have batteries). Even the little ones can play UNO so everyone can be involved.
6. Blankets and to keep warm (or make a fort!): We keep a basket of folded blankets in our basement to keep warm. It is nice to have these in one place during a thunderstorm as my kids use them for comfort. They sometimes make forts, which, when combined with their glowsticks or flashlights, keeps them happily occupied until the lights come back on.
Did I miss anything? How do you prepare for a thunderstorm?
