HAVE FUN AND BE READY

It may seem like a waste of time to "jazz up" preparation for hurricanes, severe storms, tornados, floods and other weather emergencies. Emergencies are life threatening events, and we all have to face them sooner or later.

Certainly, this is a time when we must all "buck up", put on grim expressions and just do what's right.
 

The trouble is, people just don't want to do things that aren't fun. People wait until they are afraid.

All too often, emergency preparation is done at the last minute, making these activities all the more stressful and less effective.

You may wind up standing in line to stock up, lifting heavy plywood window panels, running back and forth to the hardware store, and driving in a downpour with storm debris littering the road.
 

Leaders often wait until the last minute to suggest storm prep or issue evac orders. By making storm prep fun, you will be able to enlist people who ordinarily would resist taking any action until it is too late.

BE READY T-SHIRTS

Be Ready T-shirts are available to be ordered from Be Ready Bear, Inc. Send an email with Be Ready Bear in the subject line to, or a letter to the address below with the desired size and gender, along with your regular U.S. Mail address.

You can also design your own and print out T-Shirt transfers, available at office supply stores.

Be Ready Bear is on Face Book, so send him an email and he'll send you an invitation to be his friend.Our e-mail address is did62@juno.com

TASTY EMERGENCY FOOD

Find recipes for tasty emergency food that doesn't need refrigeration. Buy canned fruit. Empty out a saltine tin and put in animal or graham crackers instead. Get out and test your propane stove by having an outdoor cookout every six months or so. This would be a great time to host a Hurricane or Tornado Prep party.

HURRICANE SCRAP BOOKS

Create hurricane scrapbook - visit scrapbook websites - download satellite/radar pictures of past hurricanes, the hurricane tracks and pictures of the aftermath.

Write or record funny storm stories. Take pictures of guys looking "macho" with their storm shutter tools, lifting heavy patio furniture and add them to the scrapbook.

HURRICANE PREP PARTY

Host a "Hurricane or Storm Prep Party". Encourage guests to bring plastic containers and supply materials to decorate them to create evacuation kits. This would be a good time to test emergency stoves and lighting as well.

MAKE DRILLS FUN

Make drills for hurricanes, severe thunder storms and tornados a fun family game. Time each family member and the fastest and safest one gets a prize.

If you have children, ask them for ideas making it fun. Play this game at least once a month.

ITEMS FOR EVACUATION KIT

Water Caddy: The National Hurricane Center website recommends that we stock a 3-7 day supply of water at home. Be Ready Bear recommends three liters (Bear Bottles) for the Water Caddy part of your evac kit, since it needs to be portable.
 

Giant Lunch Box: The NHC also recommends a three day supply of food that needs no refrigeration or cooking. Be Ready Bear says that three days worth can be carried, if packed well.

Several snacks can be combined into meals, such as small cans of fruit and vegetables and packaged crackers. Find whole grain and use nuts, canned cheese and meat so your brain will be nourished by protein.
 

GoBag: The NHC also recommends toiletries, flashlight and batteries, radio, cell phone, keys, cash (at least $100.00, including a 10 dollar roll of quarters) -- Toys, books and games for all family members, and clean, comfortable clothing.

DECORATE YOUR EVAC KIT

Decorate your evacuation kit. The Evac Kit has three parts. The first part - the Giant Lunch Box -- is the three day supply of food that does not need to be refrigerated.

The Giant Lunch Box does need to be a plastic container to keep the food fresh and the water out, but it doesn't have to be boring.

Color coordinate it or use fabric pens/iron on appliqu"s to decorate a cloth which can be glued to it.

You can also use fabric pens to decorate your GoBag, which holds your clothes, medicine, and important papers, and your Water Caddy, which holds Bear Bottles of water.

SPECIAL NEEDS EVAC KITS

Infants and some physically/mentally challenged adults will need evac kits made for them. Toddlers and small children can participate.

If you have pets, make evac kits for them too. For more details on the content of evac kits, look on the back of this brochure.

STORM PREP GAMES

Take a small table and large pieces of paper, preferable prepared on an easel, decorated with siding, solid colored panels complete with windows and doors and have them hang down from the sides of the table to create a play house.

One set of papers will create an intact house and one set will depict a storm-damaged one.

Encourage children to make wind and thunder noises and rustle the intact panels, and then replace them with the storm damaged ones.

Encourage children to talk about how to make houses safer from a storm, such as improved roof designs, fasteners, and using shutters or impact resistant glass.

Useful links (for information only, not endoresed by Be Ready Bear):

A NICE RAINCOAT

If the weather is lousy, as least you can look good. Find a nice raincoat and pants. A blowing wind will not allow you to use an umbrella.

Make sure your rain outfit fits you well and actually keeps you dry, because sometimes you have to put up shutters, put away lawn furniture and or prepare sand bags at the last minute.

Emergency situations create unexpected social situations, so you want to look your best. Look for sales and check websites for deals.