Being in an emergency situation is no fun, especially if it happens to be in a disaster area.  When the power has been out for days, the booze is all gone, and you can’t think of one more damn thing to say to the friends and family members you’re huddling with, things can look pretty dire.  That’s why it’s always important to be prepared in the event of an emergency.  Having lived through a couple of them myself, here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way:

1.   Keep your car full of gas—If you think a disaster might be headed your way, don’t let your car get low on fuel.  When the time comes to evacuate, lines for gasoline get stupid-long.  Hit the road with a full tank instead.

2.  Stock up on alcohol and board games—Once the immediate danger is over, your greatest enemy is boredom.  The best weapons against boredom are booze, games, and a few friends. 

3.  Meet your neighbors—If you don’t already know your neighbors, an emergency is a good time to get acquainted.  It’s important to pitch in together to keep the neighborhood safe and clear from rubble or debris.  Watch each others’ backs and have a good time doing it.

4.  Keep the bathtub full—If water mains break, that toilet is going to fill up fast with waste.  If you get advance warning, fill up your bathtub with water that can be used to flush your toilet.

5.  Keep plenty of flashlights and radios handy—Light and information are crucial in an emergency.  You can never have too many flashlights or radios.  The First Alert SRC 500 Multi Function Storm Light includes both.