Be Hurricane Ready

Our family here at CH Kadels is always looking for ways to help keep your families safe and always prepared for any situation. We know how important your family’s safety is and it’s just as important to us, too. One particular emergency situation that comes to mind that it is of the utmost importance for you to be prepared for is – Hurricane Season.

Hurricane Season comes every year and runs, in the United States, from June 1 through November 30. Some areas like coastal regions are affected more than others but a hurricane’s reach can be far, so, don’t underestimate it. The most unlikely areas have been put through hardships because of the damage of a hurricane. Our families here at CH Kadels are prepared for the worst. Are you?
Here are some top items our employees have given their seal of approval to and have in their own homes to keep them prepared for the event of a hurricane. These are items that will fit the bill for what FEMA suggests you have in your emergency supply kit.

One of the first things you have to consider is making sure that you have safe drinking water for your family. After a hurricane, because of flooding, it may seem like, “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.” That’s why you need to make sure that you have a clean, reliable source of water or either a way to make the water onhand safe to consume. Sometimes power outages can last a few days and this can be another hindrance to having water to drink. You can find other sources of water like your hot water tank or even a nearby river or lake, as long as you purify it before giving it to your family to drink. One of our favorite water filtration and purification system is the Lifestraw Family Water Purifier. It can easily filter up to 18,000 liters of water and requires no electricity or batteries to operate. Also, don’t forget to have just a simple Five Gallon Water Container in your home.

The second thing that FEMA recommends you have is a three-day food supply for your household. Now, most of us have quite a stock of canned goods in our homes. So, generally, if the power goes out for a length of time, we can survive on what we’ve got in the pantry. But there are those of you out there who are literally chased from your homes by a hurricane and have to leave it all behind. Then, you either end up in a makeshift shelter or stuck on a congested highway. Wouldn’t it be just a relief to be able to grab something quickly that will sustain you until you get to a more permanent residence or a hotel? Our employees think that our MREs 12 Pack (Meals Ready to Eat) are really the best solution in a grab and go situation. These are just open and eat entrees that don’t need water added or to be heated up, which if you are stuck on the road in a vehicle, can come in very, very handy. If, however, you know that you will be going to a temporary shelter where you will have access to hot water, I recommend the Wise Grab and Go Gourmet Food Kit because it really is at the top of the food chain when it comes to emergency meals. This kit comes in a convenient to carry container with handle and will feed four adults for a week. But, remember, you do need access to hot water to reconstitute the meal pouches.

The next thing that you need is a good weather radio so that you know where the worst of the storm will be and when it will be there. Having real-time information is important to keep your family safe because you need to know if you need to evacuate and how long you may have before the hurricane hits. We recommend just having a weather radio in your home, regardless of the weather situation, is a good investment. Other weather conditions like tornados and thunderstorms can be just as dangerous. One of the top brands in radios is Midland and it has two great items that our employees would recommend. The Midland AM/FM Programmable Weather Alert Radio is their tried and true system that has been the most popular. It has an alarm clock with snooze so it can function as more or less a clock radio, too. Now, the Midland Portable Weather Radio is built so that you can take it with you wherever you go and it comes with a charger base. Both of the weather radios will send you alerts specifically for the area you are in directly from the National Weather Service. The difference is that the portable radio has a home and a travel mode.

FEMA suggests that you have a first aid kit as part of your hurricane preparedness kit but I really think you should always have a first aid kit in your home, vehicle and camping or hiking gear. Having the supplies that you need, all in one place, when you have a medical emergency, is one sure way to take care of your family. The Elite First Aid Kit 16 has enough supplies to assist a group of 16 people. It has a variety of first aid creams, wipes, scissors, tweezers, ice pack, safety pins, gauzes and bandages, eye wash and a first aid book. This is all neatly stored in a sturdy plastic case that you can take with you anywhere.