CRAFTconditioned

A [franken]storm’s brewing, which means it’s time to prepare to hunker down, assuming a worst case scenario. Preparing over the last week has been a two-step process. First, I needed to customize my emergency plans for the new house, then I needed to make sure I’m ready for this particular event — hurricane with possible flooding and power outage. I’ve discovered that brewing supplies have come in handy when preparing for emergencies.

Disclosure: In addition to coming from a family of worriers, I’ve done work for the American Red Cross over the last few years, so I have a particular interest in preparedness.

Since I moved this summer, I haven’t taken the time to update my emergency plan and supplies for the new location. Hurricane Sandy was good motivation. I’ve had a nagging to-do list in the back of my head since September, National Preparedness Month, so it’s just been a matter of taking the time to get stuff done.  This involves

•  Building a kit: I refreshed the supplies in my first aid kit and my “go bag”, including cash and updated copies of important documents.
•  Making a plan: I customized my plan with new evacuation routes from both my home and my neighborhood. I also updated my contact plan, coordinated with my housemate, family, and friends.
• Staying informed: I signed up to receive emergency alerts through email/SMS and pulled out my crank-powered emergency radio.

Since I expect to be hunkering down at home for this event, I made sure to have the supplies I might need on hand. I now live in an fairly wealthy, urban area where storms are seldom debilitating and the neighbors’ idea of preparing is apparently stocking up on gourmet cupcakes and wine. I didn’t see the run on standard groceries and supplies that are more common in the suburbs. This stage is where brewing supplies particularly come in handy.

• Potable water: Not only does a good emergency kit include a 3-day supply of water (1 gallon per person per day), an emergency water supply is also important for drinking and cooking, or even bathing and flushing toilets, should the main water supply get disrupted or contaminated. I’ve found that unused carboys or fermentation buckets are great for storage purposes. I made sure to fill a few in advance of the storm.
• Beer supply: Water is important, but having beer (or wine or booze) on hand provides another hydration source and helps to calm nerves. Booze can also be used to sanitize in a pinch. My homebrew supply has been depleted since the move, so I made sure to pick up a few commercial beers.
• Food supply: I usually have a kitchen full of ingredients. But it’s important to have some fast, non-perishable, no-cook foods on hand in emergency situations. Items high in protein are particularly important. For this event, I stocked up on instant-y meals, soups, chili, peanut butter, protein bars, soy milk & cereals, etc. Even if I don’t need these foods for this storm, they also come in handy for quick lunches at work or when I’m sick.

Now that I’m ready and just waiting on the storm to hit, there’s nothing left to do but kill some time brewing the first batch of beer in the new house! I’ll report back after the storm clears.