Different and surprising weather patterns of cold winter weather and storms like typhoons or hurricanes do not occur at every duty station a military family can live in, making it difficult to prepare for. The key with every move is to be aware of the weather patterns at the new duty station so you can prepare before arrival as much as possible. Move with as many of these items as you can so you can be prepared for power outages or emergencies as you travel. Keeping them in a tote or bin makes it easy to travel with and easily accessible in your home once you arrive. Moving during the summer limits concern for snow or ice storms – unless you are heading to Alaska – but hurricanes and thunderstorms can lead to power outages in the summer moving season.
What should you keep in a tote ready to for storm prep when at home or while actively PCSing?
- Flashlight – Flashlights always needed for any power outages, and perfect for forts in the car, or in your new house.
- Batteries – this is something to have on hand for flashlights, battery-operated radios
- First Aid Kit – especially as you PCS, keeping a first aid kit in the car is important. Keeping a first aid kit that is stocked and ready for emergencies during winter weather and storms is key.
- Candles – While not for use in the car, or in most hotels, traveling with small candles is smart so you are ready in your home if a power outage happens within the first couple of days of arriving at your new home. A power outage within four hours of moving into a new home has happened to this author. I’ll repeat – do not uses open flames inside your car or while staying in hotels.
- Matches or a lighter – this is certainly something we don’t necessarily remember or travel with, but having a small lighter on hand for Irish pendants on uniforms is never a bad thing to have on hand if weather presents a need to use candles
- Canned Soup – look for those cans that have a lid that does not require a can opener. Remember to get ones packed with beans or vegetables so you fill up with healthier options in canned items.
- Chicken or Tuna packets – Especially those that have a spoon within them are perfect storm prep foods for power outages and for on the road travel. Bonus that it is protein and comes in a variety of flavors to please even the pickiest of palates.
- Personal files in a container – birth certificates, passports, pertinent medical records, insurance policies, marriage certificates, home or property management records, etc. Keeping a condensed version of the necessary paperwork is important to have on hand while you move so nothing is lost in case something happens to your shipment. Keeping the files in a plastic bin also protects them from water or weather.
What do you PCS with to be prepared for weather or power outages while moving? What is in your emergency weather kit in your home? Let us know!
