“Is that… is that SNOW?!”
– Myself when the snow started falling, after reading that a snow storm was gonna hit our city
Almost a year ago, Texas residents like myself were hit with a terrible winter storm we weren’t expecting and weren’t at all prepared for. There were talks that a bad winter storm was coming but… 4-6 feet of snow?! Power outages? Water shortages?I don’t think anyone in the state really prepared for that. As a consequence, a bunch of people were displaced, left hungry, thirsty and dirty and overall in a state of SHOCK. Texans don’t do snow. Especially not the central and southern cities. It was a chilly sh*t show that left myself and thousands of others traumatized.
Right now I don’t care to stress myself out rehashing how Texas politicians (EHEM TED CRUZ) and ERCOT failed us. You can relive that mess here and here. Instead, I want to help other Texans prepare for the next big storm (that the Farmer’s Almanac folks have already predicted) by sharing my list of things I’ve been purchasing in preparation.
Of course if you live in a warmer state and still want to prepare for when climate change decides to play Russian Roulette with your weather, you can keep reading too.
I’ve broken my list into categories for easy reading. Here goes…
Things to do/get in the case of a power outage:
- Flashlights
- Batteries for your flashlights
- Candles
- Lighters
- Power banks to charge your devices
- Small space heaters
- Kerosene and solar powered lamps
- Generator for lights and larger devices
- Blankets for layering
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Hand warmers
- Thick socks
- Dog/cat sweaters to keep your fur babies warm
- Card games, board games, puzzles to quell the boredom!
*** Remember to charge your phone and other devices and try to conserve battery life during a storm in case you need to make emergency calls or check-in with loved ones ***
*** Keep your family in one room! Our bodies generate heat so stick together ***
*** Close your doors to conserve heat within different rooms, especially bathroom and bedroom doors ***
Things to do/get in the case of a water shortage:
- Large jugs of drinking water to last your family at least a week
- Paper plates and plastic cups for eating instead of filling sink with dirty dishes
- Waterless toothbrushes (I know that sounds crazy but these are a thing! I’ve seen them at Dollar Tree)
- Mouthwash
- Baby wipes, Honey Pot wipes – for cleaning yourself if water isn’t an option
- Hand sanitizer
*** Fill up your tub or buckets in the shower to use for bathing and flushing your toilet ***
*** Only flush after #2s to conserve water ***
Things to do/get in the case of heavy snowfall:
- Large snow shovel
- Bags of salt for driveway and front door
- Towels to wrap outdoor pipes
- Some snow boots (if you can find them in stores) or waterproof shoes that will keep your feet warm if you have to venture outside
*** As tempting as it is, avoid excessive time in the snow to avoid getting sick ***
*** If you’re a homeowner, wrap all outdoor pipes with a towel and plastic bag to reduce the risk of them bursting ***
*** Bring in any outdoor furniture and potted plants ***
Food to stock up on:
These are foods that have long shelf lives and can be eaten with no/minimal preparation. You can stock up on these in case you’re stuck indoors for a few days.
- Cereal
- Crackers
- Tuna packets (ready to eat)
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Dried fruits
- Pickles
- Nuts
- Honey
- Ramen
- Apple sauce
- Powdered milk
- Peanut butter
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Canned soup
- Juice boxes
- Chips
- Granola bars
- Rice cakes
- Pop tarts
Just in case items to have/stock up on:
- First aid kit
- Pads and tampons
- Electric kettle
- Baby formula
- Disinfectant wipes
- Extra gas
—- FIN! —-
Lastly, if you need to relocate for your safety… DO THAT! And early as possible too! Especially if your current living conditions are unstable. See if you can spend a few days with your family or friends. There are also shelters all over Texas that opened their doors earlier this year to people who were displaced so reach out to a shelter if you need to!
Please share this list with your family and friends in Texas to help them prepare as well so we’re not caught off guard by the next storm.
Am I now a doomsdayer? Lol. I’m halfway there but do you blame me? Stay warm/safe y’all!
* These are my own personal suggestions. Please do your own independent research and prepare according to what is best for your own family. *
Alliana Says 