Monday Message

"[Concerning emergency storage] You may wish to consider storing, where they could be picked up at a moment’s notice, such items as water, food needing no refrigeration or cooking, medications needed by family members, a change of clothing for each family member, a first-aid booklet and first-aid supplies, an ax, shovel, and blanket. These would be used when a family or individual has only a short time to flee a disaster or needs to stay in a sheltered area within the home. It is also wisdom to have the family’s important papers and documents together where they could be picked up at a moment’s notice." (Barbara B. Smith)

This looks to be another active weather year.

So I thought after the week I have had, we should review a few things... keep in mind I am writing this like three weeks ago as you read this.

Two days ago, tornadoes ripped through Iowa - one devastating the town of Greenfield as well as causing damage around the state with some lives lost.

So my foremost item of advice - if you are warned in any way, follow that warning!!

We had advance warnings on the weather plus we stay weather aware so I suggest you make that a daily thing. Our weather was saying it was coming and they usually will say winds, rain, could be tornados but that time they were telling us there could be F 2 or F 3 tornadoes. That was the first they ever did that and it made me nervous.

The day started with the biggest ever thunderstorms with many inches of water. We were unaware the gutter over our front door had blockage not much of one, but enough of one so when rain came fast and hard, we had water come in the front door. We caught it fast then the next wave came. We could not go out because of lightning. We also took on water in the basement from the clog. When we could safely go out, we unclogged the gutter then put fans on the basement floor.

The rest of the day the air got heavy and very humid but that only made us think it was going to be bad.

At supper time, the sirens went off, the cell phone went off, the weather radios were going off...which meant go to the basement. My husband grabbed the phone, I grabbed the tablet and we went down. The reason we grab those is to have the weather info. At the top of the basement steps, I have two flashlights and spare batteries. We grab them on the way down. Then when we get down there, I keep two hard hats that we put on. 

A few years ago, they suggested people have them and a crowbar. We have a crowbar down there too.  A high percentage of deaths in tornadoes are from head wounds. The crowbar is if your house should be hard to get out of or your neighbor has a hard time getting out, you can help them. So there were tornadoes all around us. I really thought that storm would get us. We were blessed. The floor was dry when we had to go down with sirens going.

That was two days ago. As I wrote this then at about 4:30 in the morning, the weather radio woke us. We have one on each floor. This was followed by sirens. We did the same routine again... got to the basement, donned the hats, tuned into the weather.

That is us looking tired and wore out. Yep, I feel that it will be a year of weather.

We had no damage this time and no water, so that was good.

We did inherit big wet empty boxes someone must have had next to a garbage can. We added them to our burn pile, who knows where they came from as we had high winds.

I know not everyone lives in an area with tornadoes but you may have other weather like hurricanes, flooding, forest fires...whatever you have, be prepared for it. If you are instructed to hunker down or flee, heed the warnings.

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tornado.html

https://www.travelers.com/resources/weather/tornadoes/how-to-prepare-for-tornadoes

https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep

https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/wildfire.html

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_fire_how_to_prepare_wildfire.pdf

So here are a few sites to find information on how to prepare.

Tippy Longstockings says it is very important to be prepared, always have catnip in your bug out bag.

Missy says stay weather aware, always keep one eye on the weather.

Tippy Longstockings say if you hear the sirens, don't just roll over and go back to sleep.

Missy says listen for the sirens.

Tippy says if you find things are falling apart...find a friend.

Tippy and Missy say talk with your friend and it will be okay.