Storm Tips to Keep You Sane When Bad Weather Strikes

Hurricane Sandy has come and gone. As I write this, many of those along the path of Hurricane Sandy have already began to get back to the norm. We know about having extra batteries and a small stockpile of food, but here are a few other tips to keep you safe when nature attacks.

De-Clutter Your Surroundings

If you know a storm is on the way, take some time to clean your home. Why? When the lights go out there is less instances of injury if pathways are cleared of Legos, book bags, purses and other odds and ends that typically get strewn about in our daily lives.

Charge Your Devices

Keep cell phones and laptops charged. While your laptop’s WiFi may go down during a power outage, your cell phone’s network connection should be good to go. If you have a plan that includes tethering, your cell phone can act as a WiFi hotspot, allowing you to use your computer to communicate with friends and family.

It is equally important that your cell phone is charged in order to reach emergency services, should you need them.

Unplug Home Appliances

If you lose power, you should physically unplug all your home devices such as refrigerator, television, desktop computer, etc. Why? When electricity is restored, the sudden surge of electricity, could damage your appliance. You want to ease your appliances back into operation, one at a time.

If you appliances are on a surge protector, you need not unplug each one. Turning off just the surge protector will do the trick.

Stock Up on Kitty Litter

When bad weather strikes, we do not instantly become Neanderthals, reduced to prehistoric habits. However, I saw this tip on The Today Show this morning and felt the urge to share.

In case of a storm where plumbing systems go awry and indoor plumbing becomes troublesome, you will still need to do your business. Grab a bucket and some kitty litter to assist you with your bathroom needs. The kitty litter will trap smells and you can dispose of waste in a plastic bag, in an air tight trash receptacle until plumbing is restored.

When Mother Nature unleashes hell and fury, being prepared is the best way to avoid panicking and creating a worse situation.

Do you have any weird, outlandish storm safety tips that you follow? Feel free to share. We would love to hear!