Prepare for Winter

The windows are open, the birds are flying around, I'm wearing shorts.

This is all very good, but the trees are starting to change color, and I'm remembering last November when the weather turned nasty and some woman attempted to buy every battery available at the local grocery. Thankfully, I was there for bread, and there were a few loaves left. Score.

At any given time, you should have food and hygiene supplies for three days and water and medicine/first aid for a week. If you live in a region or climate that has severe storm weather, you should try to have common-use supplies (your regular foods) for a week, and long lasting rations (rice, canned food, powdered milk, etc.) for up to 2 weeks.

This is pretty easy to do - the main blocks for most people are cost, space, and motivation.

• Cost - do a little at a time over a few weeks. Buying dried pasta? Buy a bag or two more than usual. Buy an extra half-gallon of milk and put it in the freezer. Buy your regular bread, and then buy a box of low-cost whole wheat crackers to substitute for bread as needed.
• Space - you need to find it. Food lasts longer in dry, mid-temperature spaces. You can store it in stacking plastic bins, a lockable closet in the garage, or in the converted bedroom/office closet.
• Motivation - One good storm, and the interstates are closed, the groceries are empty, and the lights are off. Just think about leaving your kids in the dark living room under a pile of blankets while you go and ask your cranky neighbor if he has a loaf of bread you can buy.

Resources

Ready.gov - this one has stuff for kids, too!
FEMA
US Dept of Health and Human Services
US Center for Disease Control
American Red Cross - Prepare your Home and Family

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In a natural disaster, like an earthquake, flood, or volanic eruption, emergency services may be unavailable, and the community may not behave as nicely as usual. If your home is safe, stay home and lock your doors. Talk to your kids about what's going on, and let them know that you have a plan and supplies.

• Check with your kids' school and find out what their policy is on releasing kids to parents/guardians during emergencies - some states have laws allowing schools to retain children if they feel it is safer to do so.
• Visit your city/town's website and see what information they have about community preparation for disasters. If you city/town doesn't provide that information on the website, call city hall, or visit the county or state website.