Do you have a drawer with items strictly for emergencies? I don't, but probably should. I saw a picture of one, but could only discern candles and batteries. What do you think should go into an emergency drawer or box, besides batteries, flashlight, candles, matches, etc.? Anyone living in a house that uses fuses rather than electrical breakers probably should include fuses, too.

Well if that's what makes up an emergency drawer I suppose I have one. It has several stick type candles, a box of matches, batteries, and a small flashlight. Plus some other misc junk.

We keep a flashlight and wind-up radio on the top step leading to the basement. And I know right where the candles and matches are because we have candles every Friday night. Batteries are in a third place, but they've been in the same place for five years so we all know where they are.

here there and around. sometimes they get moved but.. always know where my phone is and it has a flashlight app, LOL.

Myra in West Texas

Given the fact that southern MI and northern OH, where I have lived most of my life, is in tornado alley, we call our disaster supplies the tornado kit.

There is a flashlight in our bedroom. But the majority of the stuff is kept in a plastic tub near the egress window in the basement. Reason: we go to the basement when tornadoes approach. This happens a few times every year.

Stuff in the tub includes: batteries, battery-operated radio, a couple of trash bags, first aid kit, a large baggie that holds a few paper plates and plastic flatware, manual can opener, some plastic cups, a spare blanket, a battery-operated lantern, a battery operated water pump if we have to pump water out of the yard (this has happened), extra pairs of socks.

I also have a street map for the county, phone numbers for the utilities, and the handouts that Red Cross / Department of Homeland Security distribute for various disasters that could affect us. ie Hurricane: No. Power plant emergency: yes.

This is not a 72-hour kit as many disaster experts recommend. But it takes care of what we need immediately when the tornado alerts go up.

Much of what we would need if a power outage goes beyond a few hours is double-duty stuff such as the camp stove or ice chest, but it's all easily found if needed. The pantry with canned foods, for example, is only a few feet away.

Need I explain that I also have a reporter "disaster kit"? The laptop computer, cell phone, camera and reporter notebook go with me to the basement when the sirens blow.