I am a member of the Rayovac Power Bloggers and receive product and compensation for my involvement however, all opinions are my own.
Whether preparing your home for ice that can down power lines in a winter storm, summer thunderstorms whose winds knock down trees and power lines, hurricanes, tornadoes, and all the other things that Mother Nature can throw your way, you can never be too prepared for severe weather. This winter’s crazy fluctuating temperatures (freezing one day, mid 50s the next!) punctuated by snow and ice storms will eventually lead into spring then summer months that come with regular thunderstorms. While we welcome the warmer temperatures and a season without layers and shoveling snow, no really wants to think about the severe seasonal weather that comes with it.
But like a good Scout, I believe that you can never be too prepared. My California upbringing taught me the importance of being prepared for earthquakes that come with no warning. Even though satellite tracking and weather alerts help us pinpoint the timeline of severe weather as it comes our way, it’s always best to be prepared to make it easier to deal with the aftermath.
Here’s a quick list of nine things to do to prepare your family and home for severe weather as you watch, wait, and hope that Mother Nature will spare you.
Do a sweep of your yard
We like to involve the kids in a game of yard cleanup to ensure that their snow shovels don’t get buried underneath inches of snow and yard tools left out from gardening projects won’t fly around in high winds that sometimes come with thunderstorms. It’s a quick thing that takes just a few minutes but can help protect your property. After all, no one wants a garden spade or a full size shovel flying at their home during a tornado or hurricane!
Check your flashlights and portable lanterns
Checking to see that flashlights and portable lanterns have working batteries is key in advance of any storm in the event that you lose power. It’s a good idea to replace batteries and bulbs while you still have power to prevent fumbling around in the dark. Also be sure to put flashlights in places where they’re easy to find when the lights go out, including children’s rooms. Let the kids help decide where to put their flashlight but guide them in selecting an easy to find place near the bed in case they need to get up in the middle of the night.
Assess your battery supply
Check to make sure you have a good supply of various size batteries you need for the different items in your home. If you use rechargeable batteries, now is a great time to take them out and make sure they’re fully charged in advance of the storm.
Review your family disaster plan
Severe weather is scary for kids but one way to make them feel more confident is to prepare them so they know what to do just in case. Take a minute over a family meal just to review your family plan so kids know where to meet.
Protect your files with an automatic backup
like Carbonite that will work to preserve your files in case of a power surge that could fry your machine. Carbonite and other cloud based backup services allow you to restore your data on any computer in the event that severe weather damages yours.
Consider investing in insurance for your mobile devices
When severe weather strikes, it’s even more important to keep lines of communication open and in the event that your phone is lost or damaged because of severe weather, Asurion can typically provide you with next day replacement, saving you hundreds of dollars on a lost, stolen, or damaged device.
Be digitally prepared by preparing your technology for a storm.
If you need additional pre-storm tech advice, read my 7 Tech Savvy Ways to Brace for Severe Storms for more tips.
Check on your neighbors to make sure they’re ready too
If you’re heading out to get supplies, offer to pick up things for them so everyone is ready.
Test other emergency essentials such as weather radios and walkie talkies
For more tips on being severe weather ready, visit Rayovac’s Storm Prep site for specific tips on preparing for each kid of weather emergency such as lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe winter weather. Rayovac is also offering 15% off all lights (excluding bundles) on their website using the promotional code LIGHTS15 and free shipping on all orders over $25.
I worked with Asurion and Carbonite on previously sponsored content but was not required to mention them in this post.
