Hurricane Irene

Well, I missed one earthquake while I was gone on vacation and made it back just in time for Hurricane Irene. We were extremely blessed that the hurricane slowed down and passed without any damage. We pray for those who have been affected by the hurricane.

We prepared for the worst. I never take chances with the lives of my kids and husband. I prepared the best I could.

There are 3 things that I ALWAYS have ready to go for whatever emergency may arise. I want to share with you what these 3 things are. This made my preparation a lot easier.

1) Flee Bag. This bag is a plastic shopping bag that contains an old pair of tennis shoes, a pair of clothes (light-weight, pajama pants and t-shirt sort of thing just in case you're not fully clothes when emergency strikes), and a flashlight. This stays at the foot of the bed in case of an unplanned emergency and you have no time to do anything but just go.

2) Emergency Backpacks. Each family member has a backpack loaded with toiletries, flashlight, whistles, a pair of clothes, some activities, and snacks. It gets complicated when you have a baby. This is a 72-hour kit for each member of the family. I usually keep these in the car (if you have the room) or by the front door. Make sure the backpacks are updated every 6 months or so. Food expires, kids grow out of clothes and diaper sizes, etc.

Here's a list of things and other suggested items that I keep in my backpacks:

For Adult or Older Children

WATER
Soap (hand sanitizer and bar)
Acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen
Pepto Bismol
Wipes
Feminine hygiene supplies
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Shampoo
Deodorant
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Hand lotion
Socks
Clothes
Flashlight
Whistle
Tissues
Trash bag
Rain poncho
Deck of playing cards
Pen and paper (small notebook)
Scissors
Important phone numbers and info. (in notebook)
Cash
Snacks

Vienna Sausages
Tuna salad and crackers (ready to eat)
Hard candy for quick energy
Applesauce
Fruit cup or dried fruit
Beef Jerky
Peanuts
Fruit snacks
Gum
Granola bars or protein bars
Plastic spoons

For Infants and Toddlers

WATER

Soap (hand sanitizer and body wash)

Infant and/or child’s acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen

Shampoo

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Sunscreen

Hand lotion

Chapstick or Aquafore

Socks

Clothes

Flashlight

Wipes

Diapers

Baby formula

Bottle

Baby Food

Spoon

Pacifier

Toys

Stuffed animal*

Coloring books and crayons

Easy card games

Blanket (extra hospital blankets work great so don’t throw those away)

Snacks

Granola bars
Applesauce
Fruit snacks
Fruit cup or dried fruit
Peanuts (toddlers that are old enough)
Handi-Snacks (Cheese dip and crackers)
Hard candy
Vienna Sausages (for toddlers)
Spaghetti-O’s (single serving size)
Plastic spoons

*I have a back-up favorite stuffed animal for my daughter. She has grown attached to it and loves it more than anything. I went online and bought a back-up to put in our emergency kit. It will be a great comfort if we have to leave home.