4Patriots

Living near the beach means beautiful views and salty air. It also means a real risk: flooding. Tides don’t always behave like you expect. Even a short burst of heavy rain can flood streets and yards near the coast. Planning ahead can give you peace of mind, even if you feel far from the water. Keeping emergency food kits and other supplies on hand can help you feel ready if flooding affects your home. There are many ways to handle a short-term flood with less stress. What Happens When the Tides Get Too High? High tides can do more harm than most people think. Cliffsides near the water wear away over time. Homes near the shore can flood within hours. Things inside a home endure water damage. Basements and garages near the shore often flood alongside streets and driveways. This can trap cars and slow down emergency services. You don’t have to live right on the sand to feel the impact either. Even outside the flood zone, you can still be affected by unexpected storms. The Impact on Hom...

Car camping is adventure made simple. For weekend trips, it’s often a matter of packing some key items in the car and going. Enjoying your adventures is even easier with some emergency preparedness essentials. Many of them can even replace your typical camping gear. Here are 4 versatile items we think you’ll love as soon as you try them. Shelf-Stable Food for the Road Dried and canned foods are the way to go for car camping. Items like pasta, beans, rice, and canned meats don’t need a cooler. That means you have more room in the cooler for any fresh food. To make preparation easy, pack a few emergency food kits . You can find breakfast, lunch, and dinner items that are made to last up to 25 years in proper storage conditions. This makes them easy to store and take with you on the road. Solar Power Solutions If you’re camping for more than a few days, you may want a portable solar generator for camping . A solar generator can even power a small camping fridge. This is han...

You don’t need to wait for an emergency to enjoy tasty emergency food . These are nonperishable options that you can enjoy anytime. Do you have freeze-dried foods, dry mixes, or other staples stored at home? Enjoy them during your favorite summer events.  Emergency foods are convenient, easy to prepare and portable. They’re great for breakfast, lunch or dinner on a fun-filled summer day. Try these delicious emergency foods on your next camping trip. Or take them on a road trip or hiking adventure. You can even use them for your next backyard barbecue. Backyard Barbecue Summer is prime time for hosting or attending a barbecue. Making use of emergency food staples like meats and sides is smart. You can whip up a protein-packed beef burger using freeze-dried beef. Add your favorite toppings, and you’ll have a mouthwatering meal! But don’t stop there. Don’t forget about delicious mac and cheese that your family and friends will love! The best part is, your emergency fo...

Mother’s Day is the second Sunday of May. This holiday is all about celebrating the wonderful woman who raised you. Did your mom teach you how to catch fish? Did she teach you how to bake the world’s best chocolate chip cookies? Did she teach you how to mend a torn pair of pants? We learn a lot of valuable lessons from our moms. You probably appreciate her advice even more as an adult, especially if you value emergency preparedness. You might be celebrating your mom in person this May. Or maybe you’re honoring her memory. Whether you get to talk to your mom or remember her legacy, you’ll appreciate these 3 pieces of classic Mom advice that can boost your emergency preparedness. Mind Your P’s and Q’s This great piece of Mom advice reminds us to be respectful and thoughtful. Mom might have nudged you with this tip when you forgot to say thank you as a kid. Maybe she said this to you on your first day at a new school. But good manners can play a big role in emergency prep...

Tornadoes are unpredictable. There’s often minimal time to think or act when a tornado touches down. Having a dedicated tornado emergency kit and a portable solar generator is essential. This is especially true if you live in the region of the country known as Tornado Alley. Here are 10 items you should include in your tornado emergency kit: 1. Water Water is 1 of the most important emergency essentials. You’ll want to aim to have at least 1 gallon of water per person per day. More is better. You can find water bricks that hold a 2-week supply of water. Conveniently store them in a tornado shelter. Or put them in your car during an evacuation. Be sure to include enough water for your pets, too. Water Bricks 2. Emergency Food Tornadoes often disrupt utilities like electricity, gas, and water. This presents some challenges for cooking. You can stock up on tasty, ready-to-eat meals and energy bars for emergencies. Do you have a solar generator? You can use a generator...

Is your family prepared to respond to an emergency in the blink of an eye? You should be ready to grab your go-bags and evacuate with little notice. This is why preparing before emergencies happen is so important. Maybe you’ve even practiced fire or tornado drills with your family. Here are 4 more times when a family evacuation plan is a good idea. Floods Getting to higher ground quickly and safely during a flood is important. If you have an evacuation route prepared and it’s safe, stick to it. Along the way, remember these safety tips when navigating flooded conditions: Don’t drive through flood water. Even a small amount of water can carry your car away. Shallow water can be dangerous to walk through because of strong currents. Avoid crossing bridges over fast-moving water. Always follow evacuation orders from authorities, even if they mean adapting your plan. During a flood, you should: Quickly grab emergency food and evacuate if you are told to. If you get stuck in your c...

September is National Preparedness Month. While you should be ready for emergencies 24/7, this is a good opportunity to review your readiness. Over the course of September, you can take stock of your survival gear . That way, you have peace of mind for the rest of the year. There’s a lot to look over. Make it easier on yourself by breaking it up by week. Here’s the gear you should check each week of National Preparedness Month. Emergency Food Kits Week 1: Food and Water As September starts, begin by reviewing your most important survival supplies. That means food and water. If you lose access to either of these in an emergency, you’ll be glad you have a backup plan. First, make sure you have enough emergency supply food for every person in your family. A minimum recommendation is about 4 weeks of meals for each person. But the more, the better. You could even buy a year’s worth of emergency food. Remember to inspect any food kits you already have. Double-check the packaging. Make ...