I'd give up my toothbrush, my pillow and clean socks for _______.

I'd give up my toothbrush, my pillow and clean socks for _______.

How would you fill in the blank? For this discussion, we'll assume you and your family are safe and sound, merely displaced or stranded temporarily from the disaster that blew past your home.  What would you crave?  What would calm you in the midst of chaos?  What yearning would grow in the hours as you wait for things to return to normal?  What one thing could "make everything bearable?"

Chewing gum?  Hot coffee? A ponytail holder? Some hand lotion? Chocolate? A deck of cards? A bible?

Now... how would the rest of your family fill in the black?

A blankie? A teddy bear? Fruit snacks? A video game? A good book? Their music? Candyland? A box of Legos?

For most of us, surviving a disaster will not be a life and death ordeal, but how we feel in uncertain times will certainly be remembered.  You can take steps today to ensure that your heart and mind stay safe after an emergency by adding a few items to your Disaster Kit that will bring hope and warmth and smiles to difficult circumstances.

An Out of Town Emergency Contact Ties It All Together

As you build your Emergency Plan, make designating an out of town emergency contact one of your first priorities.  (Do this immediately after making your detailed list of the people included in your Emergency Plan.) For some of us, the identity of out of town is a "no-brainer."  For others, it may require some thought.  Use these suggestions to help you narrow down the best out of town contact for your family.

They need to be somewhat available. Although this person probably won't need to come rescue you, they may have several people contacting them.  They need to have the time, patience, and availability to communicate with many people, even some that they might not know.

Getting Prepared - "I probably should, but..."

We all know that we ought to prepare at least a little bit for something, right?  If you've watched much  television or Googled disaster preparedness, you know that there are plenty of people out there who seem to be going WAY OVER THE TOP.  That discussion is a whole other post. Today, I hope that I can clarify  the simplest way to get started with the right amount of preparedness for your family and your situation.

Imagine... you can't leave your house for 3 days AND you have no utilities or services (no power, no water, no natural gas, no cable, no phone service, no mail, no deliveries) AND the businesses within walking distance are closed, too.

What would you need?  Where is a flashlight?  Do you have extra batteries? Do you have enough water to drink?  What do you have to eat, will it spoil without power?  How are you going to cook it?  Can you stay warm (or cool) and dry enough?  Is everyone else ok? Do you have enough of your prescription medication?  Enough diapers? Enough chocolate?

Needing a can opener is not just a preparedness cliché!

I know you're thinking you already have a can opener at home. And if it's not electric, you're thinking you are covered. But if your can opener is not directly with your disaster kit, you risk it not being there when you need it most.

This picture highlights my two favorite can openers. The larger black one actually un-crimps the lid from the can leaving no sharp edges. It's not any harder to turn, but it takes a few tries learning how to getting started.

The tiny steel can opener is the type that came with military canned MREs. It's called a P-38, although the jury is still out as to how it got its name. It takes considerably more practice and work to open a can, but it costs less than a dollar and fits on your keychain.

Need a few more ways to open a can?  Your regular ole' electric can opener at home certainly counts as your primary way to open cans.  A hole punch can opener can open a can, but it leaves a billion sharp edges in a star shaped opening.  In this video, a can is opened with a spoon, but I've never tried that. Lifehacker.com gives us this Karate Kid can opening solution (wax on, wax off). And I would be remiss if I didn't mention using a knife to hack a can into submission or using a rock and bashing the lid in. Caution, during an emergency no one wants to see blood over a can of tuna.

From your everyday life, to your disaster kit, you should be planning to meet your family's needs at least four  layers deep. Plan to have four separate ways to open that can of soup from your disaster kit  Note: the simplest solution is to own four manual can openers.  And put at least one can opener IN your disaster kit.  You don't know what you'll face or who you might be able to help with the right supplies.

For everyday tips and tricks to keep your family safe, like Everyday Providence on Facebook and follow @eProvidence on Twitter.

Weathering YOUR Storm

I've been "gone" a long time, I know.  The forecast of Hurricane Sandy encouraged me get back in the groove.  Anticipating the problems and coverage of such a large scale disaster reminded me of the importance of what we do here at Everyday Providence. You can take simple and effective steps today to take care of your loved ones in a disaster or other chaotic times.

I began National Emergency Preparedness Month (September) with a bang, a conference, and a plan.  And then my life went absolutely crazy.  We had been living in tiny (albeit lovely) temporary housing, waiting for a perfect and permanent residence to be available.  My husband called during the conference to announce that we were moving as soon as I got home.  We're now putting the finishing touches on the move, and I wanted to share a few things I learned (or remembered) along the way.

• Don't try so hard to keep things interesting in the kitchen during times of change. Your well-stocked pantry can help keep meals going when life gets hectic.  Pancakes and waffles from a mix, canned soup and crackers, hot and cold breakfast cereal, frozen dinners (bought or made in advance), and easy family favorites can help you put familiar food on the table without the hassle and dishes of complicated meals.
• Give yourself a break! Pick your top priorities and let a few other things go.  We tried to eat somewhat healthy meals (priority #1), but we stopped recycling and we used paper plates occasionally for the few days of the move.  
• There are only 24 hours in a day.  Know that you have to let something go.  We put packing boxes and relaxation (family) time above cleaning.  When we were out of the old place, we gave it a good scrub.  When we were moved into the new place, a once-over cleaning removed a week's worth of dirt.
• It's ok to ask for help.  Twice we invited friends and neighbors to help with moving and unpacking.  A fresh set of legs and a new perspective helped rejuvenate us with the overwhelming task.  I love helping others, knowing that I've made someone's day better.  Let someone else do that for you, too.

I used these concepts when we were new parents (2005), when we lost power three times in six months with small children (2007), and in these weeks as we moved (2012).  Got any tips that make your life easier when the seas get a little rough?  I'd love to hear your ideas, too. Share your story with me here.