Storm Season

Hurricane season is here and snow storm season is close behind it. If you haven't already done it, you should consider pulling together your 72 hour emergency kit. You can find out what should be in it here. It's one of those things you always think about doing, but don't always get around too... but if you needed it one day, you would be really glad you took the time.

With a small child in the house I am much more conscious of ensuring we have a stash of food, water, and other necessities if the power were out or if roads were inaccessible from fallen trees and such. I have heard that Newfoundland, as an island, is vulnerable because if ships and planes were unable to deliver food there would only be enough food on the island to supply the population for a few days. Labradorians on the coast are well aware of how it feels when the supplies can't get in due to broken down ferries or ice blocked harbours. I am not paranoid, but I am a firm believer in 'better safe than sorry.'

Having been through an earthquake while on my honeymoon (no jokes please) in a place susceptible to tsunamis, I can honestly say that I don't know how I would have handled it with a small child. It was incredibly frightening even though everything was fine in the end. It put in perspective how a little preparedness could make the difference in a difficult situation.  I am sure people who went through Igor in some of the more impacted parts of the province have put emergency preparedness higher on their priority list too.

As a child I loved power outages and snow storms because school was closed, we played board games by candlelight, and ate junk food because the stove didn't work. I think a little preparedness could help make the best of a bad situation.