Be Prepared it's Hurricane Season!!

Okay, you are asking why someone who lives in the mountains worries about hurricanes, right? Well, it's because I used to live in Florida and lived through several hurricanes and understand the importance of getting the word out to BE PREPARED.

And believe it or not, hurricanes do affect us in the mountains. A few years ago remnants of a hurricane that hit South Carolina caused flooding in our area. So every year around this time, I make sure we stock up on emergency supplies like batteries, flashlights and candles.

I keep my pantry stocked with canned food, freeze dried emergency food and other non-perishable items. We also make sure to have lots water on hand as well.

Because we live in an area where it snows, we also have to be prepared for any big winter storms that might hit our town. Last year we got stuck in our house for 3 days before we could get out onto the roads.

Our emergency preparedness plan not only includes having food and water on hand for at least a week but we have lots of wood on hand. If the power goes out, you want to be sure you have a heat source.

We also have our flashlights and extra batteries. We have a battery operated radio. We also make sure to charge our laptops and phones before a storm comes. We have a handy portable charger as well.

We always make sure both cars are filled with gas. We make sure to have plenty of salt and a shovel to clean the driveway. It is also important to keep an emergency preparedness kit in your car as well.

I am all about being prepared because of my experience with hurricanes. I also lived through a few earthquakes when I lived in Los Angeles. I never took it seriously but now I preach it whenever I can.

You need to start thinking of having a emergency plan if you do not already have one. Let me tell you after living through natural disasters without electricity or water for a few days, I am glad we were smart enough to have the supplies needed to make it through a few days.

I have also learned that in any emergency, you can't count on getting help right away. Sometimes even the government does not have the resources to help everyone. So emergency preparedness and food storage are things everyone should take seriously.

It's never too late to start planning. For more information on what to do during an emergency and what supplies you will need, go to the Department of Homeland Security's site.

Start planning now!