Question of the Day: Do you have an emergency plan? | Gather

Today was spent preparing for Sandy to hit our area. ?Gutter cleaning, leaf-raking, and double-checking battery power. ?I actually have a routine for when a storm comes, a habit from growing up in the midwest, home of debilitating snowstorms. ?While there are things I don't have to do for this storm thanks to the warm temperatures, I do always make sure I have the following whenever I know a storm is coming:

* ?Batteries are fully charged
* ?Phone/iPad is fully charged
* ?Cars have full tanks of gas
* ?Basement has nothing on the floor (extended power outages mean no sump pump, so the possibility of a flooding basement)
* ?Enough cooked food for a day

For winter storms I don't worry about the basement having nothing on the floor, but I usually make sure the fireplace is ready to go with some logs and all the blankets/bedding are clean and easily accessible. ?I have many fond memories of being stuck in our home, our family sitting in front of the fireplace sipping hot chocolate made over the fireplace, and us reading and playing board games by firelight and candlelight while we wait for the power to come back on and the snowplows to come through. ?Sometimes getting "stranded" at home can be a real treat: ?all your regular obligations are temporarily lifted, and you can just enjoy each other's company without any modern distractions.

So do you have a plan/routine for upcoming storms? ?What are they? ?Anything I missed in my short list?

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Source: http://berfofanation.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981726686

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