My son asked me what I would do if there was an emergency situation where the power was off and the stores were out of food. Before he was married with twins who are just a year old, this question would probably never have occurred to him.

This became a chance to hold forth on my experiences as a 26 year old gal stuck in a basement apartment during the Blizzard of ’66. (1966 for those of you who may be confused). There I was, in my basement apartment with only two Mexican TV dinners and a bagel for food, four dollars in cash and no way of exiting the building … my heroic solutions to these problems apparently weren’t as riveting as I thought. And, truth be told, I wasn’t answering his question.

As his eyes glazed over, I told him to use the internet to get a checklist of what to do when such an emergency occurs. The site I recommended was ready.gov/kit. This site, sponsored by FEMA, gives the reader a list of things that should be available if and when there is the kind of emergency where first responders and basic infrastructure are not readily available for 72 hours. Remember that disasters occur to first responders, doctors, nurses, law enforcement, etc. too. If the man who drives the snowplow can’t get to the snowplow …

Hurricane Ian presented such a situation for many in and near Fort Myers. Those who decided to hunker down and ride out the storm on Pine and Sanibel Islands faced the loss of all normal and extraordinary emergency resources for several days.

 Last Sunday, “60 Minutes” featured a segment on rethinking the idea of preparation for all kinds of disasters: climate, global pandemic, civil unrest, weather, etc. The concept that has been the focus of what many consider to be too fringe, too radical, the Prepper movement, “60 Minutes” concludes is, perhaps, not a bad idea for most of us to consider on a less extreme level.

Having an easily available access to things that will allow us to survive should there be some kind of disaster is not a bad idea. Food, water, medicines, shelter options (tents, plastic sheeting, etc.) a way to cook and provide heat or a way to remain cool in oppressive heat, electronic communication devices and power banks, etc. as described on the website listed above are, as the program described, in today’s world, not unreasonable. There are innumerable resources on the internet for how to choose what to gather, how to store and access it quickly. The Red Cross website has an entire section on how to prepare for emergencies.

One resource that the program mentioned is often overlooked, i.e. a safe and easily available collection of your important documents. Birth certificates, marriage licenses, ownership documents for such things as cars, houses businesses, land can be lost or destroyed in emergency situations.

Of course there are personal additions to the list of emergency supplies. My first addition would be my private stash of Moser Roth chocolates, Red Rose Tea, several books that I’ve yet to read, my pillow which has taken me years to fit my neck just right, pictures of my children, grandchildren, grandmother and parents, my Chica and Kiki, pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge, the current herd of cats that occupy our home and my shampoo and curling iron (just in case there is electricity.) Of course, it would be nice if I could take some yarn, some knitting needles and my crochet hooks, a box of Bisquick to make biscuits and pancakes and a truck to carry all this in.

Where I would store this is the biggest problem. Aha! What if I get rid of a lot of my husband’s sundries and stuff in the basement? Then there would be room…yes, that is a plan.

This prepping idea gets better every day.

The idea is that, although our first responders are eminently qualified to do their jobs, sometimes the situation is far greater than the resources available. Being prepared for 72 hours to go it by yourself can be a blessing to overworked medical, police, fire, etc. facilities.

Take care and be safe.

PS: The kitten went with his siblings to Friends Forever and is doing well.