Are you the type of person that goes outside to watch the storm roll by? Are you the one making sure that your kids’ car seats are in the basement, flashlights are handy, batteries, matches, candles, snacks, jackets, boots, suitcase, etc. are ready?! Check out this post to get you and your family ready ahead of time, and in the moment.
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My Views have Changed
I can tell you that my thoughts have changed after having kids. My husband and I used to sit on the porch, crack a cold one, and wait for the storm to pass. Now I am a bit more focused on what I need to do to make sure the kids are comfortable in case the power goes out, what we will need for tomorrow, and how I can make sure the animals (just our dog, ducks, and rooster) are alright. I’m going to go through a QUICK checklist to help you be prepared when the severe weather is upon you, and you don’t have time to read a long article. You will want this info in an easy place to check things off to make sure you’re set. What you might need will largely depend on what time of the year it is, so I’m separating that out into two separate posts, so check back here for tips on preparing for severe winter storms.
Severe Weather in the Midwest
Severe weather in Iowa consists of hail, wind, tornados, derechos, rain, strong winds, oh, and wind. I would say this generally happens in the spring, summer and fall, but there was recently a tornado in December in 2022 around the Des Moines area…so, any weather can happen any time, and Mother Nature can say, “hold my beer.”
In case you didn’t know, the word derecho is a straight line wind storm of hurricane/tornado force along with heavy rain and flash floods (extending more than 240 miles, and winds of 58 mph or greater). The first time I had heard about a derecho was when I was living in Tama County in 2008. Another hit the area where my parents still live in 2020. It is sickening. In my opinion it’s worse than a tornado because the damage is just as destructive for longer spans. The wind will literally crumple up grain bins and toss them miles away, as if they are giant sized pop cans.
During the colder months (generally) there are possibilities of 70-140 mile per hour winds, -40 degrees Fahrenheit (or colder), ice storms, snow, and the occasional tornado.
Weather is WILD!
Anyway, let’s get into the basics of what you might want to think about having ready during severe weather.
Prep a Storm Kit for Severe Weather
We tend to order a lot of stuff from Amazon, however, I would highly encourage you to look around and find what is the best price, and has the best reviews, and figure out what will work the best for you and your family.
I highly recommend putting a storm kit together, and having it in the safest place in your house, around from windows and doors. You will want all of the essentials all together in one place, ready to grab and go. I highly recommend putting it in something bright, in a stand out color so you can send a child to get it if need be, and show them where it is AHEAD of time.
Severe Weather Kit Checklist
- Battery operated candles-get outdoor and weatherproof rated ones so if they get wet it’s not going to ruin them!
- AA and AAA batteries (rechargeable ones is a great idea)
- Candles
- I only like to use actual candles with kids around if I know they cannot reach it, they won’t get tipped over, and I’ll actually remember to blow them out, but it’s good to have a backup light source in case all of your batteries run out.
- Matches in a plastic jar (to keep them dry)
- Long handled lighter
- Weather radio with the appropriate batteries to run it
- First aid kit. There are a couple of great lists out there to provide ideas of what you might want in your kit:
- Waterproof box-to put your first aid items in
- Hand sanitizer
- Towels-this is really an overlooked item. Sure, you can use towels to clean up a mess, but there’s more! It can also be used to stop bleeding, secure a broken bone, and can be ripped pretty easily into strips to fashion a tourniquet, if need be.
Warm Weather Prep Checklist
Once it starts getting warm out I think it’s important to start thinking ahead to potential bad weather, and get some extra things ready for a pop up storm.
- I have found that a lot of storms come in the evening, right when I’m getting home from work, need to get the kids fed and ready for bed. For this reason I like to keep a few ready to eat things on hand, or things that take minimal watching to make and/or for the kids eat:
- Packages of hot dogs and buns on hand
- Cut them up to the appropriate sized pieces for your kiddos (and yourself), if you’re like me, you’ll be running around trying to eat while doing other things!
- Sliced bread or crackers and lunchmeat, cheese or peanut butter and jelly
- Squeezable applesauce/yogurt
- Frozen, steamable vegetables
- Baby carrots
- Frozen waffles/pancakes
- Hard boiled eggs
- Packages of hot dogs and buns on hand
- Drinking water storage/filled with drinking water
- Generally speaking, you need one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and food prep
- Water bricks – WaterBrick 3.5 Gallon BPA Free Portable and Stackable – 10 Pack
- I love these because they stack really nicely under the stairs!
- WaterBrick – WB-0001 – Ventless Spigot Assembly – Blue
- Or bottled water
- Water bricks – WaterBrick 3.5 Gallon BPA Free Portable and Stackable – 10 Pack
- Generally speaking, you need one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and food prep
- Rechargeable light bulbs
- Sunco Lighting Rechargeable Emergency Light Bulbs for Power Outage, A21 LED Battery Backup Light Bulb with Hanging Hook 8W, 800 LM, 3000K Soft White E26 Base Indoor Outdoor Portable Flashlight 6 Pack
- These are a game changer! Have these on hand both upstairs and downstairs in your normal light fixtures. By having them in your normal light fixtures they are always charged up and ready to go. During a power outage, take them out and use them as flashlights, or hang them for room light.
- Sunco Lighting Rechargeable Emergency Light Bulbs for Power Outage, A21 LED Battery Backup Light Bulb with Hanging Hook 8W, 800 LM, 3000K Soft White E26 Base Indoor Outdoor Portable Flashlight 6 Pack
- Gas cans
- This gas can is expensive, but very well thought out and durable. If you’re only going to buy one can, buy this one. SureCan 5 Gallon Type-II Safety Gasoline Container, the One Can for Work, Home, and Play, has a Flexible Rotating Spout, Self-Venting, Safety Fill Cap, Total Flow Control, Spill-Free Design, 5-gallon gas can, Easy to Use, 3-Year Warranty, Red
- Gas cans due to government regulations, all cans come with a safety spout. Throw it away and get this – EZ-POUR B06WRRXG1X Gas Can Spout Replacement – Deluxe Gas Can 5 Gallon Hi-Flo System with Gas Can Nozzle, Flexible Gas Can Spout, Vent Kit, Water Jug Update Your Old Jerry Can spout
- This gas can is expensive, but very well thought out and durable. If you’re only going to buy one can, buy this one. SureCan 5 Gallon Type-II Safety Gasoline Container, the One Can for Work, Home, and Play, has a Flexible Rotating Spout, Self-Venting, Safety Fill Cap, Total Flow Control, Spill-Free Design, 5-gallon gas can, Easy to Use, 3-Year Warranty, Red
- Generator
- I would say almost everything else besides a fridge/freezer can wait to be plugged in at some point. This will be especially important in the summer to keep your food safe
- This largely depends on the size of your fridge/freezer
- Find of your amperage and wattage of what you are going to be plugging in and starting and running
- This largely depends on the size of your fridge/freezer
- I would say almost everything else besides a fridge/freezer can wait to be plugged in at some point. This will be especially important in the summer to keep your food safe
- Keep your fridge and freezer organized. So you can open and close the fridge/freezer quickly and keep the temperature cool
- Get a battery pack to be able to charge phones and other devices
- Limited-time deal: Anker 337 Power Bank (PowerCore 26K) Portable Charger, 26800mAh External Battery with Dual Input Port and Double-Speed Recharging, 3 USB Ports for iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Android and Other Devices
- Anker Portable Charger, 313 Power Bank (PowerCore Slim 10K) 10000mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Recharge Only) for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and More
- Save gallon milk jugs or well rinsed detergent bottles. You will want this to fill with water to flush your toilet
- Yes, I know they take up a lot of room, however, when a storm is coming, you want to know you have your poop in a group, or know where it’ll be going (and not into a bucket on your back porch…although, that would work too!)
- You can keep this in a corner of a garage, shed, under the porch, or wherever you have room.
- Generally speaking, you need at least a gallon of water to flush the toilet bowl. If you’re anything like our family, we’re pretty regular people. We figure about eight gallons per day (for four people), and abiding by the “unwritten rule,” if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down
- Yes, I know they take up a lot of room, however, when a storm is coming, you want to know you have your poop in a group, or know where it’ll be going (and not into a bucket on your back porch…although, that would work too!)
You see the Storm Checklist
Checklist of what to get ready when a severe storm is on your tail:
- Double check that those batteries are charged!
- Flashlights
- Blankets
- Sweatshirt/Rain coat
- Rain boots
- Tennis shoes
- My mom always told us to have shoes on when going to the basement for severe weather. My mom is a smart lady. That makes so much sense, because if everything else blows away, those shoes you have on your feet are probably still going to be on your feet, then you don’t have to worry about cutting your feet open on metal, glass, nails, etc. when going through the storm damage debris.
- Battery packs to charge your devices are charged up
- Water to flush toilet
- Car seats for the kids
- I would say, if you have a child under two years of age, the safest place for them is in their carseat. They are going to stay where you put them (buckled into their carseat), and their body is going to be mostly protected –
- Your stocked diaper bag-pack it as if you were leaving for five days
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Bottle
- Formula
- A couple changes of clothes
Severe Weather Checklist for the Kids (if there is time)
Here are a couple of other things to think about for your kids, if you have time to get it rounded up
- Kindle with kids movies downloaded and charged
- You can download movies from Hulu, Disney+ (then you don’t have to have internet access to watch)
- Easy to carry and pick up entertainment-like Barbies, dolls, books with multiple stories, string cards, playing cards, checkers
- Pajamas
- Hairbrush/hair ties
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Vitamins
Severe Weather Checklist for your Dog
We have an inside/outside dog. Remember to get them ready for the storm too!
- Put your dog on a leash, or in a kennel in the basement. This is the only way you can have more control of your animal, force them to be where you want them to be, and keep you all together
- Bring a water bowl to the area you are in that isn’t going to tip over easily
- Bring a Nylabone type bone (this is our dog’s favorite) that you know they enjoy and/or get a toy/bone for them to use while you’re in a stressed state worrying about the kids. Maybe even grab a Kong and throw some peanut butter in it!
- Thunder shirt
- Practice putting this on from time to time and see how it works for your dog. It’s probably not going to calm them the first time you put it on them.
You’re through the storm…What to do next
If your power has been out check out some of these resources:
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