Coronavirus & Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Supplies to Store in Shed

If you’re like most New Englanders right now, you’re probably more than a little freaked out about the Coronavirus. In a matter of days most stores were sold out of items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and produce. Would you have believed a month prior that there would be a “one package per customer” limit on toilet paper at your local grocery store? What about the number of schools and workplaces that have closed?

It’s a harsh wake up call and reminder that your access to emergency supplies is a crucial consideration to take before disaster strikes. If you were caught off guard by the Coronavirus, review the following emergency preparedness checklist sooner rather than later.

Purchase meals with a long shelf life

Ready to Eat Meals – A.K.A. MREs – are pre-portioned self contained meals that were designed for the military to consume in combat or field conditions. While not exactly known for their flavor, MREs can be stored for three years at a minimum without refrigeration and require no prep.

It’s illegal to buy official MREs but there are a wide range of similar products available for purchase online. Enter “emergency survival rations” into Amazon or your favorite search engine and you’ll find there’s no shortage of options.

Pick up the essentials

Toilet paper doesn’t exactly count as a necessity for survival, but it’s one people clearly value and seek out when trouble is on the horizon. Collect the following emergency supplies in addition to nice-to-have items like TP:

Water purifying tablets
Bottled water
Hand crank or battery powered radio
Hand crank or battery powered flashlight
Batteries
First aid supplies
Whistle
Respirators
Hand sanitizer
Thermometer
Tweezers
Scissors
Medications
Candles
Blanket
Basic toolset
Cash
Trash bags
Matches
Flares
Battery or solar powered phone charger
Manual can opener
Tarp
Duct tape
Keep supplies organized

Feeling pretty good about the emergency supplies you’ve gathered? Keep your shed organized as supplies are added so they are easy to find should you need them. Combining like items in separate bags that fit into one large bin would be best in an emergency situation – you could simply place the bin in your vehicle and go. A sturdy lock on your shed’s door isn’t a bad idea either.

Infographic source: CDC.gov

Create and review a household emergency plan

Imagine there was a powerful electro-magnetic pulse that wiped out all electronics. Not fun to think of, but wise to plan for just in case. How would you and your loved ones communicate? Have you established a meeting place and evacuation route? You may want to take a look at this sample plan provided by FEMA and customize it to your needs.

For more information on the Coronavirus Disease and how to prepare your family, please review this message from the CDC. That’s it for this week. Stay safe and healthy New England!