The last thing you want to deal with during an emergency is doing without food, power or shelter. This is exactly why taking time to install a whole-home generator is so valuable for staying safe. You’ll also need to put together a few supply kits of batteries, flashlights, bottled water and other vital emergency items. This guide covers everything you need to include in the kits and explains how to keep your generator running smoothly.
Food and Water Supplies
For an emergency kit, it’s best to focus on foods that are nonperishable and calorie dense. Think canned meats, peanut butter, and instant meals that don’t require using a stove. Store at least three 24-packs of bottled water to provide enough for several days. Be sure to include some water flavor packets to pour into the water bottles if you don’t like plain water.
First Aid and Medical Essentials
Your emergency kit needs a storage bag solely devoted to first aid items like bandages, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, and medical tape. If you’re taking medications, keep the kits filled with at least a week’s supply. Just remember to replace the medications every few months, so they won’t expire. A lot of people will keep anti-diarrheal tablets, pain relievers, and thermometers in the kit to help with minor illnesses and injuries during emergencies.
Lighting and Communication Equipment
An emergency becomes all the worse when you can’t see your way around the house. Packing several high-lumen LED flashlights gives you enough lighting to move safely without running into walls and furniture. Don’t forget a few packs of batteries or a solar-powered charging bank. Sliding a battery-operated weather radio in the bag makes it much easier to stay up-to-date with the latest alerts and warnings from local emergency management agencies.
Personal Hygiene and Sanitation Items
If you don’t pack essential toiletries for everyone in the family, it’ll be much harder to stay clean and comfortable until the lights and hot water come back on. Here are the most important hygiene products to throw in each bag.
- Trash bags
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Pads or tampons
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Plastic gloves
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Antibacterial soap
Shelter and Warmth
This is where having a generator installed really shines. When a storm knocks out your power, you can keep the lights and HVAC running with a generator. It’ll also keep the refrigerator going so that none of your stored food ruins. Just make sure to have the generator serviced yearly. If you don’t, it may have a dead battery or fuel system problem that keeps it from activating during an emergency. If you don’t have a generator, your emergency kit should include alternative heating and cooling supplies that are appropriate for your local climate.
The steps you take today to prepare for an emergency will make a huge difference in your safety and comfort during a disaster. Talking with a licensed HVAC technician is the best way to learn about the different types of whole-home generators. With the right amount of preparedness, you’ll feel confident knowing your family can handle prolonged outages. If you live in Mount Holly, NJ or a surrounding area and need generator installation services, make your first call to Raynor Services.
