What a wild and stormy week!
Last week I went to work to find an entire tree laying on its side in the parking lot, and came home that next morning to a dusting of snow in my driveway. And we thought that spring had arrived early! Maybe it did – but it looks like winter isn’t quite done with us yet. The wind storm yesterday had me wondering if one of my own trees might end up blowing over. According to PGE there were some 20,000 people across multiple counties without power. Wind gusts were recorded at over 70 mph.
Storms like the one we had yesterday just remind me how vulnerable we are. Oregon does have wild weather from time to time.
- Remember the Christmas snow storm we had in 2008? I had 18″ of the stuff on my deck and was grounded for a week.
- Remember the Vernonia flooding in 2007? I work with a gal who is still recovering from that one.
- And then there’s the infamous Columbus Day storm of 1962. That one was comparable to a Category 3 Hurricane – only in Oregon! Many were without power for several weeks.
It can happen. And it does happen.
So are you prepared? Could you live without power for several weeks?
I know many of us take our electricity for granted. We expect it to always be there. And – honestly – we don’t quite know how to react when it’s not. I remember one winter morning right after we had moved here, we had an early morning power outage. As I was starting a fire in the fireplace, and my wife was lighting candles and our hurricane lantern, I heard my then middle school daughter screaming upstairs, “My hair dryer’s not working! How am I supposed to go to school?” Ah – hair dryers – priorities – and expectations. The power will always be there.
In fact, there are many things that we expect to always be there……hair dryers that turn on at a flip of a switch, toilets that flush, fresh water that comes out of the tap, food shelves fully stocked at our local Safeway, cheap gasoline in our cars to go get it……
Admit it – we are spoiled. And why not? Do we not deserve these luxuries of life? We pay the bills – we are entitled to have these things if we pay for them…..right?
But again – my question – what if we simply don’t have an option. What if a devestating flood or earthquake (they still say we are due for the big one) hits our area? What do we do then? What will we do when Safeway runs out of food during that emergency? What then? What will we do when gasoline hits $10/gallon. What then? Notice I said ‘when’ and not ‘if’. Our days of cheap gasoline are over. Better get used to that.
Life could get a little more difficult in The Grove if disaster ever strikes. And the only thing we can do about it – is to prepare.
Am I being a bit paranoid? Maybe. But isn’t it always better to be safe, than sorry? One commenter noted how several of her neighbors asked to borrow food during the last snow storm. She was prepared………..obviously they were not. So if you take anything at all out of all my ramblings here…..prepare yourselves – just in case. Hey it can’t hurt, can it? Next time you buy a roll of TP, buy a spare. Can of soup? Make it two.
Here’s a partial list of items everyone should have on hand – just in case.
You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it might take days. In addition, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days, or even a week or longer.
- A good working flashlight.
- Batteries! Always have extra – all sizes
- Candles
- Matches / Bic Lighter / Zippo
- At the very least – a 3 day supply of extra food – per person. Peanut Butter, canned tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, crackers. Anything non-perishable.
- One gallon of water – per person – per day. Again, at least a 3 day supply
- A first aid kit.
- A hand powered can opener
- Trash bags, twist ties, pre-moistened towels, paper towels, toilet paper
- Cell phone – for as long as the service is available.
- If you’re separated from your loved ones, a plan on where to meet, who is to pick up whom, etc.
- Extra meds – if it’s important to keep you alive – you may want to stock up on extras.
- A good sleeping bag or thick blanket
- Pet food and extra water (can’t forget Fido)
- An extra change of clothes (in case you’re not home), at the very least an extra rain jacket, sweater, or coat stashed in the car.
- Maybe an extra pair of tennis shoes. Ladies – you will not want to walk anywhere in heels.
- Cash – ATMs may not be working.
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