Evacuate? OMG...Never Thought I'd Have to R e a l l y Evacuate!

Hurricane, Tornado, Earthquake, crazy spouse...Okay, okay...relax and calm down. If you are prepared for the unexpected, there is nothing to worry about, right! The problem is that the unexpected just happens without you being ready.

Preparing for an unexpected emergency in which you have less than five minutes to leave your home may feel overwhelming, but actually requires very little effort. Situations like these feel overwhelming because of the sentimental things that you may want to take with you, but can't. The pictures, furniture, the food you just purchased and cooked, the table centerpiece you recently arranged, the cabinets it took years to strip and finish. When you are in a situation that requires you to quickly leave, a person's mind can be all over the place. In the end, most people usually decide to take too many clothes, bulky picture albums, and some other things that may be meaningful, but not necessary.

In order to prepare yourself for life's unexpected, it is good to have a grab-and-go bag. A grab-and-go Bag is a bag prepared with basic supplies that can be easily carried and allow you to be as hands free as possible. This bag should be kept in an accessible and convenient place. Some ideas for things to put in such a bag are:

1. Dried fruit – All kinds of fruit are dried and packaged for purchase at many grocery stores. Dried Mango Slices are a suggested favorite that can be found at Trader Joe's for $2.99.

2. Jerky – The world of Jerky has made some improvements. In addition to Beef Jerky, there is also Chicken and Veggie Jerky. Whether chicken, beef, or veggie, Jerky comes in many different flavors. While most stores carry these different kinds of Jerky, Veggie Jerky tends to be found in health food stores.

3. One pair of long pants, long shirt, sport socks, and sport shoes. Even if it is warm, it may be in your best interest to have long ware and sport wear. This may cover more body parts and protect you against the rough components of nature that can irritate and infect your delicate skin.

4. A small hand towel or face towel will help you save space and can ultimately complete all necessary tasks.

5. Investing in an 8oz bottle of Dr. Bonner's Magic Peppermint Soap can help your mouth, hair, body, and clothes stay as fresh as possible depending on the emergency situation. This mild biodegradable soap is cheaper when purchased at a health food store. This soap can be used as a mouthwash so forget about packing a toothbrush and save the room for small cans of easy to open food. To use the soap for oral cleaning, squeeze a little on your finger and let your finger be your toothbrush. (Ugh!!! Get over it, the cave men didn't have a tooth brush.) You can also poor a small amount into your hand or towel to wash various body parts. Even if you do not have access to water for rinsing off, you can still use the soap as normal because there is no sticky residue leftover to make you uncomfortable. However, if you are near water worth using, you can bath as normal and rinse as normal. Having access to water can allow you to use this soap to wash your clothes before hanging them to dry on anything possible just as past civilizations have before washers, dryers, and clothing lines were available. In other words hang it on a nearby rock or across dry ground. Desperate times, don't allow for glamor.

Having a grab-and-go bag is still useful, even if you do not have to flee, but are faced with having to live without electricity, gas, and other things that storms can leave you without. The contents of such a bag are useful when some force of nature causes you to be home bound. If you are lucky enough to stay safely in your home, here are additional things you can do to prepare for your cabin stay:

1. Create a water supply. Fill your bathtub, large pots and pans, thick plastic storage containers, drinking bottles and thermoses with water. (You may want to use the thermoses to keep the hot water for your instant coffee and tea...or whatever...). These water filled containers can be used for things that include bathing, flushing the toilet, and washing dishes.

2. Don't go buy ice. Prepare your own ice. Take some zip-locked bags, fill them with water and freeze them. Go on an ice-cube-a-thon. Make all the ice cubes you can and keep them in a bowl that can be kept in the freezer. The zip lock ice bags and the ice cubes should allow you to keep refrigerated items safe to eat.

3. Cook all food and refrigerate it in food containers that will allow you to eat them without additional cooking. Cold food may not be preferable, but it is edible and capable of reaching room temperature for a more enjoyable consumption.

Well, I hope these suggestions have been helpful. Even if these suggestions seem uncomfortable, they will prove to be a better choice than having to run from your house hungry and butt-naked in a long torn shirt showing body parts you wish you could bath but can not. However, in actuality, there are emergencies that despite your preparation, can still leave you hungry and butt-naked in a long torn shirt showing body parts you wish you could bath but can not. But...at least you still have your LIFE!