(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . EMERGENCY PREPARATIONS FOR SANE PEOPLE [1] ['Dan K'] Date: 2026-08-22 Things are getting exciting out there. I wouldn’t call them fun, but we’re all getting an adrenaline boost, from the weather and the wildfires and other things we wish weren’t happening. This is some advice for those of us facing an emergency. I’m not talking about civil wars, government takeovers, zombie apocolypses, or any of the other things the weirdo American community likes to warn us about. I’m talking about the storm that knocks out the electricity for two days, or the flood, where you have to head out for someplace dry. It helps to be prepared. Everything I am recommending can be bought at your nearest box store, or you can get it online. Start with a nice, sturdy metal box. Put all your important papers in it; deeds, titles, birth certificates, marriage license, your will. (You really DO need a will. I have had more friends who have had more grief because somebody didn’t leave a will.) The box will mean that, if you have to evacuate, you can take all your important documents with you. If you can’t take them with you, the box should keep them safe. If someone other than you finds them, they will know that they are important. (A friend kept all her important documents in a shoebox. It got tossed by some well meaning soul, who cleaned her house, while she was being treated for leukemia, from which she died.) Any office supply store will have a selection of metal boxes. So will Target or Walmart. Camp lanterns give off much better light than flashlights. They won’t set your rug on fire, like candles. Any sporting goods store has them, as do the box stores and online retailers. The problem is they eat batteries. You are going to need a lot of them. Speaking of batteries, a battery powered radio will keep you informed, even after the electricity goes out. It will last as long as the batteries do. You won’t have to charge it, which will be a problem if the electricity goes out. There are solar chargers out there. Make sure the one you buy actually works, preferably before you need it. Check reviews. Ask friends. Keep in mind that solar chargers only work if there is sun. If you have pets, keep the carriers where you can get them easily. The minute you know you may have to evacuate, bring the animals in. Shut them in the bathroom, if you have to. So, you won’t have to look for them, when you’re trying to get out, and you won’t have to leave them behind. A camp shower is a big plastic bag, with a shower head. Supposedly, if you leave it in the sun, it will heat the water. Except it won’t. You’ll need to heat the water someplace else. However, it’s a good way to keep clean, if you don’t have running water. When the water heater in my apartment building conked out, and wasn’t replaced for ten days, I used my camp shower. They aren’t expensive. Size varies. But you should be able to clean up with one. A small camp stove, which runs on small cans of propane, will heat food. It’s about the size of two laptops, so it would store easily. Coolers are great for short term, especially if you can get some dry ice. Cover them with blankets or quilts to keep the cold in. A good sleeping bag will keep you warm. I have used mine when the furnace quit in January. (Furnaces never quit in April, have you noticed?) I have seen freeze dried food advertised. I wouldn’t feed it to my sister’s dogs. But it’s there. Canned food keeps too, as does the instant food they sell at the local market, soups, ramen noodles. It’s slightly more edible. I have moral objections to bottled water, when you can get it out of the tap. But it can be useful. Filling a couple of plastic jugs with tap water can be useful too. We are living in interesting times. It’s helpful to be prepared. I sincerely hope you never need to use this information. But if you do, I hope it makes your life a little easier. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/22/800088088/community/emergency-preparations-for-sane-people/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/