by Larry Darter

Created on: February 05, 2010

Weather disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year.  When disaster strikes, local government and disaster-relief organizations may not be able to respond immediately which is why individual preparation is so important.  There are real benefits to being prepared.  Advance preparation serves to reduce the fear and anxiety that often accompanies a severe storm.

Having an adequate storm shelter is of course a major part of advance preparation but it does not end there.  Remembering to properly stock a storm shelter with a basic emergency supplies kit is also part of effective preparedness.  Everyone should be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days which means providing for their own shelter, first aid, food, water and sanitation.

The Necessities 

Food and water are two necessary components of an adequate emergency supplies kit.  Thunderstorms and tornadoes are frequently violent but fast moving storms which minimize the length of time that it is necessary to remain inside a shelter yet thought must also be given to the fact that housing could be severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable.  In such a situation it might be necessary to remain in a storm shelter for an extended period of time until government and relief officials can organize public shelter facilities. 

To err on the side of safety, a storm shelter should be stocked with at least a three day supply of food and drinking water.  The safest and most reliable emergency drinking water supplies to stock in a storm cellar are commercially bottled water.  While water consumption varies with the individual, a good rule of thumb is to plan for one gallon of water per person per day. 

Foodstuffs used to stock storm shelters should be non-perishable foods that require no refrigeration and little in the way of preparation or cooking.  Ready-to-eat canned foods; meats, fruits and vegetables and high energy foods like peanut butter, crackers, granola bars and trail mix are all good choices. 

Tools and Utensils 

An adequately stocked emergency supplies kit also requires a number of tools and utensils such as; 

• Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils

• Portable, battery or crank operated weather information radio

• Flashlight and extra batteries

• Manual can opener

• Small fire extinguisher

• Battery powered lantern

• Small hand tools like pliers and an adjustable wrench

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