Yep, lately I’m living a homesteader’s version of the unofficial USPS motto:
“Neither snow nor rain, hail nor sleet, tornado nor flooding stays a farmgirl from the swift completion of her appointed rounds.”
Oh yes, this month has been a doozy, but let me back up…
Sunny April…bouquets of violets, sweet purple pansies, and cheery tulips all bring the assurance warm weather will soon be here. And none too soon! Most of us are doing a happy dance after a winter of record snow, ice, and hail storms. So many of us found resolve to get through days of power outages, used muscle to wield a chainsaw and clear fallen tree limbs, and had the grit to pull on boots and begin clean up of homes flooded from melting snow. And just when we thought we were caught up, somehow we had to rustle up that farmgirl fortitude and do it all over again.
But surely, all of that is past us…it’s April, and time to dream of summer gardens! And so last week I settled into a cozy spot to plan for future sunny days. With a snoozing dog curled up beside me and stacks of favorite gardening books, soon I was jotting down all of my garden wishes. This year I’d plant a sunny spot with catmint for the barn cats to frolic in, and maybe I’d build an old-fashioned hot box with the vintage 9-over-9 windows I found discarded by a roadside. I also have my eye on an abandoned corn crib that I’d love to turn into a cornzebo if I can find the owner and they’re willing to part with it!
A pause in all my list-making found me glancing out the window…it was snowing. That’s okay, a little snow in spring is expected. I kept working on my wish list, but also kept an eye on the window. Hmmm; this snow wasn’t stopping, and it was now being blown horizontal by a wind that had quickly picked up speed. I decided I’d better venture outside and close the chicken coop door that had been slightly propped open earlier. That was the easy part, because before I could make it back to the house, I was caught in a blinding snowstorm making it impossible to see even a few feet in front of me.
I wholeheartedly agree with Mark Twain’s whimsical observation:
”In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”
It was all short-lived, and the next day the snow was nearly gone. Then, three days later, it was 77 degrees. The temperature had increased nearly 50 degrees, and here in the Midwest we know that with sudden temperature swings like that, it’s time to prepare for severe weather. Later that day we heard thunder, the skies were ominous, and we knew what the wise farmers around us would say: there’s a storm brewing.
By evening, tornado sirens were sounding and cell phones were sending alerts: a tornado had been spotted 7 miles away. Quickly gathering supplies, we were off to the basement. Along with us came a cat, two kittens, and a very anxious dog who had to be coaxed downstairs with her favorite treats. Once settled in, we looked around wondering just how sturdy the basement of a 162-year old house could be…you may remember it has several trees as support beams. Then, deciding it had weathered many storms over it’s long life, we settled in and listened to the weather report. The local station was predicting hail the size of an egg! An hour later the sirens stopped and it was safe to look around. We were relieved to see the old maple trees surrounding the farmhouse had stood strong – always a concern. And while there were branches to pick up, a few sections of metal roofing to retrieve from a nearby field, and a compost bin to bring home (it had rolled away!) those were easy to clean up. However; the door arbor by the garden went from this:
to this:
Beyond repair, I felt badly about it. The old doors had been taken from a dusty corner in the barn several years ago, a sort of “search & rescue.” I love to give found items a second chance, and knowing that they had once been a part of the farmhouse made them even more special. Sigh…nothing to be done – I’ll save the old hardware and see if I can find a new use for it. And truly, this was minor compared to the many homes and barns that had severe wind and fallen tree damage.
So, after all that “excitement,” I thought this month I’d share some emergency preparedness tips we rely on as Spring brings us into tornado season. There are oodles of ideas to be found online, along with checklists to download, and depending on where you live, your needs will be a little different from mine. Please, share what you do to prepare…we’d love to hear as we all learn from each other.
For me, it all begins when a Tornado Watch is issued…meaning the conditions are right for a possible tornado. Knowing the weather can change quite quickly, I gather supplies, close all windows, listen to a weather channel, and look to the skies. If I see the sky has become greenish or if hail begins, I know it’s time to go to the basement immediately, whether I’ve heard an official tornado siren or not. And if I hear the loud roaring of wind, a rumble similar to a freight train, that tornado is probably only a mile away, so danger is imminent. Several years ago a tornado was spotted in the field across from the farmhouse (with no warning alarms) and so when I see or hear the signs, I never drag my feet.
Here are the most important things I have prepared:
1 – Emergency Kit
I have an emergency kit that stays in the basement. In the kit I keep a crank radio, first-aid kit, wipes, hand sanitizer, candles, waterproof matches, and a crank flashlight. There are also battery-operated flashlights, spare batteries, and a fire extinguisher is always handy. I add rubber gloves, work gloves, and sanitation items as well.
2 – Food Storage
Just like an old homestead pantry, extra food is stored in the basement (food that doesn’t need refrigerated) along with pet food, a manual can opener, paper plates, bowls, napkins, cups, and silverware. I keep it simple…cans and jars that are easy to open and foods I know my family will eat. I’ve always laughed that in an emergency we won’t be enjoying a gourmet meal, but it will be food to sustain us!
3 – Water
Without city water on the farm, no power here means the well’s water pump won’t run, so no water! I keep two large tanks in the basement – one 60-gallon and one 30-gallon, both filled with water. I also keep 7 smaller, 5-gallon tanks of water on the basement steps. Even if you have city water, there may be pipelines that break or water that becomes contaminated, so keeping some spare water on hand is a good idea. The general rule is store one gallon per person, per day for drinking and sanitation.
4 – Important Documents
All important documents are in one place, so when I know a storm is coming, I put that file at the top of the basement stairs ready to take with me. From birth certificates to passports, family photos, or sentimental jewelry, you can pack anything in a weather-resistant pouch.
5 – Warmth and Protection
Blankets and pillows are stored at the top of the basement steps, not only for comfort and warmth, but for protection from possible debris.
5 – Cell phone and Chargers
Phones, spare chargers, and cords are key in case we need to make emergency calls, or call to check on family, friends, and neighbors.
6 – Pets
We keep spare pet food in the basement, but also blanket-lined crates. When the winds rattle the windows in this old house, animals can become very anxious. Having a place they can curl up in (if it’s not under a blanket with us!) helps reduce their anxiety.
7 – Heat/cooking –
Fire starters, matches, small propane tanks, and extra firewood are kept on hand. Once the storm is over, if we lose power, those items will make it easy to prepare meals in the fireplace, on the camp stove, or on a grill. We can also boil water for instant soup, pasta, tea, hot chocolate, or emergency meals.
8 – A generator –
While we don’t have a whole-house generator, we do have a gas-powered portable one. We keep extra cans of fuel on hand, and start it up monthly to make sure it’s in good working order. A generator will give us reliable backup power for the refrigerator, freezer, and other small appliances.
9 – For Littles
When the kids were small, I would have a backpack just for them. It would be filled with coloring books, crayons, story books, small games, snacks, and water bottles. A favorite stuffed animal and blanket also came along. Small items such as these help bring comfort and pass the time while sitting in a basement waiting for a scary storm to be over.
There are many more things that can be done, do what works best for you and your family. Some families will add spare clothes to an emergency kit, along with inhalers, epinephrine injectors, and prescription medications. And if you have very young children, you’ll also want to include diapers, wipes, baby formula/food. When all of the daily needs are stored in a handy grab bag, you don’t even have to think twice.
On this rainy April day, once again I have my eye to the skies as thunder can heard in the distance. However; there are also thoughts of warm breezes, fragrant flowers, and the scent of freshly-cut grass, all reminders of what there is to love about the changing of seasons. Before long it will be time for apple blossoms in May and fireflies in June…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If I had Aladdin’s lamp and the usual three wishes,
the first would always be,
‘Give me the first day of June.'”
-Gladys Taber, The Book of Stillmeadow
Thanks for letting me share a few of the ways that this old house preps for spring and summer storms. Let me know how you and your family prepare. That’s one of the best things about chatting here…we can share ideas on what works, maybe what didn’t work so well, and brainstorm new ideas. Truly, a sisterhood of girlfriends across the miles!
Take care Sisters, I’ll see you next month, with more “tails” from the farm!
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