Living in the Maritimes in Canada, It is essential to have a storm survival kit. We tend to get a lot of storms. Tropical Storms, Hurricanes, Wind Storms, and Snow Storms aren’t unusual for us. I’m lucky that I live in the city so realistically my biggest concern is having no power for a few hours; however, I still ensure I have items on hand in case we have a power loss for a couple of days or if the storm causes damage to my property.
Storm Kit List:
I have 2 storm preparedness kits I keep in a storage bench in my office: one for power outages and one for potential damage/securing items.
Power outage kit:
- Flashlights. I have tons of different flashlights. Most of these are purchased from the dollar store. my favourite is this one that I can hang on the towel rack in the bathroom as it makes using the bathroom easier.
- Matches
- Batteries for the flashlights
- Cheap dollar store power banks in that.
I don’t have candles in it because I honestly have candles all over my house. I don’t need to have specific candles for a power outage.
Emergency Storm Kit:
- Zip ties
- Bungie cords
- Duct tape
- Tarp in it
- Rope
I also keep board games, a crib board, cards, and a French press (for coffee if there’s no power in the morning) close to my kits.
Tips for Preparing For a Storm
- Dig out your storm preparedness kits.
- Go outside and ensure there are no items loose that could be carried by the wind. This isn’t just to ensure you don’t lose items, it’s to ensure your items don’t potentially damage property. Use bungee cords or zip ties to secure lawn chairs, tables, etc to the deck. I also secure my bbq and spare propane tank to the deck.
- Charge power banks and devices. We all have our own power banks, and I have a few cheap ones from the dollar store on hand as well.
- Download a couple of movies to your laptop. You can connect your laptop to a tv and have a movie night with the family if the power goes out.
- Stock up on snacks! Since the kids were little, we have always made power outages fun! Comfy pj’s, board games, laptop movies, fuzzy blankets, and tons of junk food.
- Make sure your propane tank is full. Once the storm ends you can use your bbq to make some warm food or boil some water and you can use your French press to make coffee.
- If it’s a snowstorm, make sure you have your shovels stored in the house. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve had to shovel my way out of the house, and nothing is more frustrating than digging them out of a snow bank.
- Hit the ATM up and take out some money. This has only been a necessary step for us once, but it saved us!
Tips for What to do During a Storm
- Get comfy! Comfy clothes, pillows, fuzzy blankets, etc. I like to put the electric fireplace on and light candles to create a cozy atmosphere.
- Make it a family movie night/day (while you still have power). pop some popcorn, eat snacks, and enjoy some family time. If the power goes out, change it to board game night or hook your laptop up to the tv and continue your movie (if you pre-downloaded it).
- Don’t plan on baking or cooking a big meal. If the power goes out mid-baking/cooking, you’ll just end up wasting food.
- If the power goes out do not open your fridge! Everything should be fine, but it needs to be kept closed to keep the cold inside.
- If you have little ones, click here to see how to make power outages fun for them.
What to do After the Storm Ends:
- Assess any damages done to your property
- Pick up any debris that’s now on your property
If you have suggestions for what I should add to my storm survival kit, I would love to hear about them in the comments section!
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