Yet another fire breaks out in Utah. It seems that every day there is at least one. It’s starting to get really scary and there doesn’t seem to be any rain in sight. It has been 35 days since we have had any measurable rain. The forecast says we may get some thunderstorms Thursday. In most areas that would be a relief, usually, in Utah, thunderstorms mean just lots of dry lightning. Add that to the already dry conditions and we are looking at even more fires.
I’ve written several posts about being prepared for emergencies but that was always kind of abstract, nothing that really affected me. The fires are not affecting me but that’s not to say they couldn’t, the possibility is there. So many people have been evacuated already.
Today I started seriously putting together a bag that I could grab at a moments notice. One of the downfalls of being organized is that everything is neatly filed away. I had to go through all the files and pull out the really important stuff. It’s amazing how much stuff is in there that I don’t really have to have, but I keep it anyway.
In a gallon size Ziploc bag I put:
Birth certificates
Social security cards
Rabies certificate and vaccination record for Clementine
The title to my car
Insurance cards, both health and car insurance, and the info for my home owners policy
Those all seemed to be items that I would need right away and have a hard time replacing. It’s important to make sure you have your pets vaccination information, if you have to go to a shelter and you don’t have vaccination records they may not let you in.
Then I put together a toiletry bag. I used Ziploc bags for this as well. I stocked them with hand sanitizer, baby wipes, items for that time of the month, lotion, a hair brush and rubber bands, travel toothbrushes and toothpaste.
There are many other items that could go in there but I wanted something small I could quickly grab on my way out of the house. On the news on couple told how they were awakened by the police knocking at the door and when they tried to go back to get their wallets they were told there was no time.
My bags are by the door, I can grab them quickly. I’ve also put a change of clothes for each of us in the car, a light jacket and a Ziploc bag of dog food.
I feel a little more prepared but still frightened.