EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS  It can take days depending on the severity of a storm and your geographic location, for government, non-profit and private sector services to reach you and your family: You are the help until help arrives. Build an emergency kit for your family, keeping in mind your family's unique needs: fill medications in advance, food, water, non-perishable foods, infant needs, pet needs, keep your vehicle's fuel tank at half a tank or more, document the condition of your property before the storm arrives, gather and store your critical documentation in safe, dry location and gather emergency cash funds in the event critical infrastructure is down. For a comprehensive list to build an emergency kit to sustain your family's needs before, during and after the storm review: https://www.vaemergency.gov/prepare Hurricane Preparedness Hacks & Tips☆☆☆ These are all tips/hacks found on the internet or submitted to us by Facebook users. We cannot guarantee they will all work. Try at your own risk. ☆☆☆ 1. Put ice in a washing machine for a cooler. You won’t have to worry about the water draining as the ice melts. (This is a very temporary hack and be sure to cycle water out in the spin cycle as soon as the power comes on)  2. Fill your bathtubs up with water for a water supply in case the power goes out for toilets , general water usage, etc. Also use a silicone drain cover or silicone pot holder to seal the drain. (Toilets in rural areas require power if they run on wells, so when there isn’t power simply pour water in the top of the toilet to flush.)  3. Strap a head lamp to a gallon jug of water to fill room with ambient light  4. Amplify light with mirrors 5. Freeze ziploc (freezer) bags 3/4 full with water for extra ice to keep freezers and coolers colder longer  6. Turn off and disconnect electronics in case of a power surge 7. Crayons can burn for up to 30 mins like a candle supposedly  8. Solar lights for your yard can be used inside for use when the power goes out at night. Just remember to recharge outside during the day. 9. Fill your cars up now with fuel before the rush, same goes with any supplies. Go sooner than later to get emergency supplies. 10. Put your phone in airplane or battery saver mode to conserve your battery 11. Have your grill ready and propane tanks full to grill any thawing meat for meals 12. Freeze empty 2 liters bottles and clean milk jugs 3/4 full with water. Keeps your freezer / coolers cold or thaw for a water source 13. Keep baby wipes on hand to keep clean 14. Freezing wash cloths beforehand is a handy way to keep cool when the power goes out 15. Take photos of your belongings for insurance purposes “before” the storm hits just in case you have to file a claim. If you do have damage after the storm be sure to take “after” photos also. 16. Keep flashlights in useful places, don’t forget to check the batteries!  17. Store important documents such birth certificates, marriage licenses etc in ziploc bags or in waterproof containers. 18. Disposable plates , cups, and utensils are great during an outage. No washing necessary 19. Fill thick trash bags 1/3 full with water to work like sandbags. It might help with flooding in basements and low lying structures https://ijr.com/the-declaration/2017/09/970221-guys-brilliant-reason-hanging-trash-bags-door-160000-americans-sharing-friends-florida/  20. Minor flooding? Elevate your furniture with paint cans or 5 gallon buckets or put legs of furniture in aluminum pans to shield from water. Putting trash bags on the bottom of the legs of furniture may help also. 21. Don’t forget about your chainsaws! Our area always has trees down. Check those out now before the storm. 22. Review your insurance policies now. Some policies do not include flood insurance with homeowners policy. 23. Back up your computers 24. Store / tie down patio furniture, propane tanks, potted plants, and etc. Don’t forget the garbage cans! Tie them down, put them in a garage, or fill with water to keep them from blowing away. Tie down trampolines (trust me, they will go airborne!!) Put everything (furniture and decorative items) from your back porch and front porch in the crawl space under the house or in the house. 25. Know how to shut off your utilities at home. Have a wrench handy to turn your gas off. 26. Don’t park under trees during or immediately after the storm. The ground will be saturated and trees can fall even after the storm. 27. Turn around, don’t drown, your car is not a boat ! 6 inches of water can knock you down, 1 foot can sweep away your car. Also don’t walk through flooded areas. There may be dangerous debris or downed power lines you cannot see. 28. Refill medications before the storm. Also have a first aid kit ready. 29. Trim any trees or limbs now if you see they might be a problem. 30. Keep cash on hand in case of an outage. Some business’s may only operate on a cash basis during/ after the storm. 31. Turn your refrigerator/freezer to the coldest setting & open only when necessary. If you lose power, food will last longer. 32. Never plug your generator directly into your home outlet. That’s known as “backfeeding” and puts people at risk of electrocution -- especially utility workers trying to reconnect electric power after the storm. 33. Check on family members and neighbors that may live in modular/mobile homes before the storm and see if they have somewhere to go. Also Be sure to check on them after the storm also. Don’t forget about senior citizens!! 34. Make a backup plan now to get a hold of work, family, church members, etc. Cell phones , landlines, and internet may not always be available. 35. Don’t forget about your pets - outside and inside. Make sure they have proper shelter, water, and food. 36. A full freezer stays colder longer. Only open when necessary. 37. Move all valuables to higher levels in your home. 38. Move boats and trailers close to the house. Fill the small boats with water to weigh them down and anchor it to the ground to keep the wind from blowing them around. 39. Don’t forget the little ones! Have plenty of food, formula, and diapers for the babies. 40. Hurricane Prep for horses . Cow ear tags with phone numbers sharpied and braided into their manes using twine. This helps if fencing or barns are damaged and the horses get loose. Also make sure you have plenty of water available for horses.  41. Download the Zello Walkie Talkie app. The app allows you to communicate with friends and family. It runs off of WiFi OR cell service. The app is if one or the other goes our first. If you loose home WiFi the app will run on cell service. If you loose cell service the app will run off of your home WiFi. If you loose both, well your just out of luck. zello.com/ 42.Have playing cards, board games, and toys for the kids to keep boredom at bay. 43. Most importantly in our house, don’t run out of toilet paper! 44. Batteries, Portable radio, A CB or handheld FSR radios like a Motorola are handy. Do not plan on having cell service for a few days. Have extra gas on hand for generators also. 45. If you are evacuating, be sure & empty your icemaker & flip it to the off position so it won't create a mess if the power goes off & the ice melts & water drains out thru the dispenser! (personal experience tip after Hurricane Matthew.) 46. Don’t forget the manual can opener for all of those canned goods!    Food and Supplies for Severe Weather No one wants to think about a hurricane, tornado, or other major storm system visiting your area, but it’s better to be prepared to protect your home and family. With this checklist, you can ensure you have the necessary materials on hand at home. KEY SUPPLIES Water
FOOD Your family needs to accumulate at least a five-day supply of non-perishable food that requires no refrigeration and little preparation. This includes:
If you do lose power, follow this three-step procedure:
OTHER ITEMS
      
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AuthorAiden D. Kirchner is an entrepreneur, creative, and disciplined early riser known as The 4AM Hustler™. As the founder of the 4AM Club and Kirchner Admin Services, he helps individuals and small businesses build momentum through mindset, structure, and consistent execution. Aiden believes success is built in the quiet hours—before excuses wake up and before the world demands your attention. Through his writing, music, and daily discipline, he shares real-life lessons on growth, resilience, and creating a life driven by purpose, not permission. Rise early. Work with intention. Build what lasts. Archives
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