Five Emergency Backups Every Home Should Have

According to the International Disaster Database, the number of natural disasters reported between 1900 and 2011 has steadily increased, as well as the number of people affected. While this should seem natural with rising populations, the interesting fact is the number of deaths from natural disasters has declined sharply in the last 50 years. This is due, in part, to better education and preparedness. Whether you’re outfitting your first home, or are just concerned about your emergency preparedness, there are supplies every home should have.

Lighting

If the electricity goes out, you’ll still need light to make your way around the house safely. Candles are a good option, but can be a fire hazard. It’s best to keep several good flashlights and plenty of batteries on hand. If you live in an area with frequent outages, investing in a battery-powered camping lantern to give you hands-free light for hours. Some models also come equipped with red LED lights and a mode to flash as an emergency beacon.

Heating

Though preventative maintenance is often the best way to combat heating problems, outages do happen. New Jersey heating repair companies like Team Electric, Plumbing & Air, warn that without proper heat, pipes could freeze and cause water damage. While you’re waiting a heating repair service to arrive, you will want to keep yourself and the family toasty. An electric blanket and a small space heater are both excellent, as long as you are careful with them to avoid fires. A hot water bottle is another great idea for keeping you warm in a pinch.

Cooling

For those who live in areas with intense heat, the breakdown of a home’s cooling system can be deadly. This is especially true for babies, the elderly, and any pets in the home. Even if you have whole-house air conditioning, you should still have enough fans to keep the air moving, and help everyone keep cool. If you live close to a source of ice, such as a gas station or grocery store, you may want to keep a homemade swamp cooler around, too, just in case of a cooling outage.

Food

Even a mild snowstorm often throws people into a panic when they can’t go out and fill the pantry. In an emergency, your family will need plenty of calories for healing any injuries, cleaning up in the aftermath, and staying healthy. Stock your pantry with shelf-stable supplies like granola bars, cereals, canned meat, and other ready-to-eat foods. If anyone in the family has a restricted diet, make sure you have emergency foods that respect the restriction.

Water

A heavy rain can overtake a municipal water systems and make tap water unfit for human consumption, as can many other disasters. Keep several gallons of water available in your house, and don’t forget about any pets or livestock you have.

Being prepared for an emergency is an important facet of having a well-stocked household. These tips will help you be ready for whatever nature throws your way.