Stay ready for the next storm

In many areas of the country it’s been a harsh winter. Snow, ice, wind, flooding ... we’ve seen it all, sometimes several of those at the same time. We need to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

The first step is to know what’s coming, and when. While the local news and weather can be your trusted source, having other options can’t hurt. I like Wunderground (also known as Weather Underground) for the way it can target my area and provide a wide variety of information. Keep www.wunderground.com as one of the bookmarks in your computer or get the app for your phone at the App store or Google Play.

Keep your devices charged up. A neighbor loaned me a handy charging gadget that stores enough battery “juice” to charge up a phone. I’ve since purchased one of my own.

Keep an eye on your prescriptions and know when you’ll run out. Ask your pharmacist if you can get your refill a bit early, ahead of the next storm. How early you can do this will vary by state.

Have a list of contact numbers, written and taped to the inside of a kitchen cabinet door. Don’t trust important numbers to only your phone.

Have at least three days of water and food on hand, things that don’t need to be cooked if your power goes out. The same goes for your pets: Make sure you have enough of their food. Don’t wait until the last minute to put gas in your car. Invest in a small battery-operated radio and little camp lights. Have enough batteries on hand.

And perhaps most importantly, arrange to stay in communication with a few others if you have a nasty storm.

For more ideas, go to the AARP disaster preparation page at AARP.org/disasterprep.