emergency preparedness

Fall Back: Home Preparedness Checklist for Time Change Sunday

Posted October 30, 2009 by Cynthia Ewer

Spring forward, Fall back: Time Change Sunday is on the way!

On Sunday, November 1, we come to the end of Daylight Saving Time in most of the United States. With an extra hour in the day--and winter on the way--it's time for a seasonal safety check!

As you circle the house, resetting clocks to Standard Time, make time for this short safety checklist. It'll see you into the winter from a safe--and organized--home:

  • Change the clocks, change the batteries. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors save lives ... if they're powered on by a fresh battery. Safety experts recommend replacing smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries twice a year--so celebrate Time Change Sunday with fresh batteries all around.

    Energy savings hint: don't toss the replaced batteries just yet. While they're likely not fully charged, replaced batteries can still do duty in children's toys, media players or electronic devices. Squeeze the last drop of power out of them before you recycle!


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Safety Checklist for Time Change Sunday

Spring forward, Fall back: Time Change Sunday is on the way!

On Sunday, March 8, Daylight Savings Time will begin in most of the United States. Setting the clock forward means it's time for a seasonal safety check!

As you circle the house, setting clocks ahead, make time for this short safety checklist. It'll see you into Spring from a safe--and organized--home:

  • Change the clocks, change the batteries. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors save lives ... if they're powered on by a fresh battery. Safety experts recommend replacing smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries twice a year--so celebrate Time Change Sunday with fresh batteries all around.

Read more »

Emergency Preparedness Online: Create (and Print!) A Family Disaster Plan

Every family needs a family disaster plan, and that goes double during the volatile hurricane season. Solution? Try this interactive Family Preparedness Plan generator from Weather.com.

To create a plan, jump to the link below. Step-by-step, you'll add personalized information about family members, pets, meeting place and location of emergency supplies.

When finished, the plan generator provides printable identification cards, checklists and forms for your household notebook:

Create a Family Preparedness Plan



Be Prepared: 10 Day Survival Kit

Posted February 14, 2007 by Cynthia Ewer

Jeffrey Yago, of Backwoods Home Magazine, walks you through a list of supplies you will want to keep in your trunk in the event that you are stranded in your vehicle. All items pack up nicely in a small cooler.

Bonus? It makes a great emergency kit to grab during severe weather warnings, or in the need to evacuate.

10 Day Survival Kit