Sheltering at Home or on Your own Property

(Excerpt from the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" post.)

Many of us would strongly elect to remain in our home, or at least on our own property in the event of a disaster. The key point: Is it safe?

A natural disaster or man-caused event could make us feel it is unsafe to leave our home unattended.  If it comes to a choice between safe-guarding your life or well-being, or protecting your home, please protect yourself. 

We could also be mandated to remain at home as happened with COVID. 

How do we prepare to Shelter at Home?  Here is a simple strategy for building home storage:  For a week or two, notice what you use and consume regularly.  Do the same for your pets.

Make sure you have enough of those items on-hand for two weeks, then three, then a month, then 3 months, then 6 months.  It is common to do this gradually, but with regularity.  Do not store food you won’t eat.  Make you regular meals from your storage and then replace what you use. 

Do you have sufficient food staples and ingredients on-hand to make meals you enjoy?  Do you have electrolyte replacement drinks or electrolyte products to add to water?  How about treats and snacks you enjoy?  

Do you have enough medications on hand?  See Medications section in the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" article on this blog.

If you have an On-Foot evacuation emergency kit, or an Auto evacuation kit, you can always “borrow” items from them to augment your Home Sheltering items.  Important note:  Replace the items you “borrow.”

Some events that would cause us to shelter at home would not affect our utilities -- but a home sheltering event could also be accompanied by a breakdown of utilities.  No preparation for home sheltering is complete without a toileting strategy in case the sewer system is down. 

Kathryn McMullin, of the Utah Department of Emergency Management is an expert in alternative toileting for home sheltering.  Visit this link at “BeReadyUtah.gov” for more information on this topic.  

Safe drinking water is a must.  Stock up now.  If your community has treated municipal water, you can put water directly from the tap into CLEAN glass bottles or 2-liter soda bottles or any other PEET 1 plastic container.  DO NOT USE PLASTIC MILK BOTTLES/JUGS; they are not safe for water storage.

Do you have enough hand, dish and laundry soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizer and other hygiene products in your home supplies? How about batteries?  Check those packages of batteries now and again as well as the items in which you have placed batteries. It is an unwelcome surprise to need an item, only to find the batteries are dead. Batteries will last longer if you keep them next to the item they power, rather than inside the item.

How about paper products?  Toilet paper, paper towels, strong tissue.  

Family Finances:  Could you manage with a temporary interruption in paychecks or benefit checks not getting deposited?  Do you have autopay for all or some of your bills?  Do the accounts from which you pay your obligations have a safety buffer of emergency funds?  If not, can you transfer from savings at home to cover your predicted expenses when needed?  

Do you have the kind of relationship with your bank or credit union manager or loan officer that you could call and arrange a temporary loan to see you through an emergency?  

If preparing for emergency financial matters is confusing, or overwhelming, talk this over with an adult child or other trusted loved one or advisor who can help you get them in order.  Finances can quickly become a secondary emergency.