Have you ever thought about what you would do in case of emergency. I mean most of us have either experienced one or we know someone who has. This year we experience an unexpected emergency after doing a marriage conference south of Nashville, TN. We were staying at an Airbnb, when shortly after midnight a tornado hit.
Yeah…wow!! We barely made it…as in, we were staying in a separate upstairs apartment, when the home owner knocked on the door. We made it to his basement, as the door literally ripped out of his hand. Yep…kinda like the movies!
Like I said, you’ve probably experienced a few emergencies in your life but what do you do and how do you prepare (if that’s even possible) for them. I’ve been in a bit of “get prepared” stage of life right now. Maybe because 2020 has been kinda like that neighbor you hide from, seriously though, not trying to be a fear monger. My grandparents were always so good at this, they had extra everythings! We have just gotten a little lazy with a store on every corner and Amazon at our fingertips.
10 Things You Need…In Case of Emergency
- Water. Yep…no brainer! Have some for your truck, some for your home. Does your water still work if the electricity goes out? Think through different scenarios for your situation.
- Your I.D. or wallet. This was the first things we grabbed when heading to the basement. I’m so glad we did! We may not have caught our flight without it.
- A coat or blanket. It’s always good to have one or the other depending on where you’re at. An extra blanket for the truck…a light jacket on a trip. It’s handy for a drastic change in weather.
- A flashlight. THIS!!! Yes…my husband has a small one he carries everywhere. The electricity went out immediately while I was still at the top of the stairs in Nashville and it remained off…of coarse…oh hello! It was a tornado! That little flashlight was a life saver!!!
- Your shoes. This sounds like a no brainer right? But actually you should always know where you put your shoes. Boots, tennis shoes…ditch the heels…you can’t run in those babies! I wasted valuable time searching for my boots at our Airbnb. Keep them by the bed or in the same place, even when away.
- Emergency food. This one has been on my mind lately. The reason….ummmm….no baking supplies were on the shelves of our local store during the shut down. I couldn’t find flour, sugar, yeast, oil, etc…etc. Stock up! But don’t hoard…that’s just rude and we all remember the toilet paper ordeal! Also stock up on canned goods and “just add water” instant food. They are good when you don’t have electricity.
- Batteries. Make sure you have the sizes for flashlights or battery operated lanterns.
- Matches. For fires…to either cook a meal or warm you up. Gonna needs some wood as well. We made several meals in our fireplace when our electricity was out for a week, during an ice storm.
- Guns and ammo. I keep mine handy just in case. There’s no way the Sheriff’s Dept. could get to us in time. I practice often with my husband and have my concealed carry. Get training!! You never know when you might need it.
- Medical supplies. A basic first aid kit is great but always keep extra tylenol, advil, hydrogen peroxide, bandages, scissors, benadryl..and any prescribed medications. Hopefully you don’t need them but if you do…well, kudos to you!
TWO Extra Tips! (Just because I love ya)
- A list of important numbers. This one sounds a little strange but if you lose your phone, do you have a few numbers memorized. Try punching in numbers more often then choosing a name. That way you don’t rely solely on your cell phone.
- Important documents. Birth certificates, social security cards, bank information, and anything else you might need. Most of these documents can be replaced these days digitally but it’s a pain in the butt.
Look, none of us like these situations but with a little bit of planning, we may be able to avoid some chaos.
The most important thing, and I will leave you with this. God is always the first one to call. Keep a list of vital, life giving scriptures. Better yet, write them on the tablets of your heart. Memorize God’s Word so that you can always pull it up anytime, anywhere.
Here’s one of my favorites;
Psalm 91
Do you have an emergency tip to share? Please comment below. I’d love to hear from you and thank you for reading!
The Cowboy Pastor’s Wife
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