This week, I hope to look through our emergency bin in the storage room and make sure it’s up-to-date and complete. I’ll also open the impossibly-sealed super-duper flashlight that we have in there. (Who wants to be searching for a pair of scissors in the middle of a blackout?) And add some nutritious food to our boxes of cereal and cans of soup. (If I remember correctly, I have a box of Reeses Puffs in there; my reasoning at the time was that it would be a fun treat in the midst of any emergency!)

A simple checklist:

* 3 gallons of water per person

* 3-day supply of non-perishable food

* first aid kit and medications

* extra clothing (including diapers for little ones)

* flashlight with batteries

* radio/weather radio

* family documents

* a Bible, a good book, and games

If you don’t have an emergency kit, consider using one of those big plastic bins on wheels; it’s easily moved from one place to another and could fit in the trunk of your car. Also, I think it’s wise to have a backpack ready, too, just in case you can’t lug the bin with you.

And Jesus arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. – Mark 4:39