
There must be something genetic about a fascination with summer storms. Both my boys will stay glued to YouTube tornado videos for hours, and their cousin just finished a college course that involved driving across the Midwest chasing tornados. Yes, that’s right – her parents’ tuition dollars, hard at work.
I don’t share their fascination, but having lived in Missouri 11 years, I totally respect that storms around here have the power to knock down 70-foot trees in my yard, take out power to hundreds of thousands in a single pass, and trigger the sirens that drag us from our snuggly beds into the dusty basement at all hours of the night.
No one would ever call me a survivalist, but those 11 years here have taught me a few things about being prepared. We have a gas generator in the basement, and we test it monthly. My important files are backed up to Dropbox, as my bank recommends. I have plenty of food in the basement, just in case – along with a couple of chairs and a makeshift sleeping area for the kids.
We don’t bring much along when we head for the basement, but we always grab the smartphone and the iPad because of their capability to:
In fact, the apps my family has are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to emergency preparedness. A short list includes apps that help you:
None of these apps gives you much power against Mother Nature, of course, but I’ve found they do add peace of mind. And when you’re cowering in the basement with two tired, cranky, frightened-but-pretending-not-to-be kids, peace of mind is priceless.
By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting
Amy De La Hunt is a journalist and editor who lives in the St. Louis metro area and works across the country as a writer, copy editor, project manager and editorial consultant on everything from fiction books to monthly magazines to blog posts. When she's not chauffeuring her teenage sons to activities, Amy is an enthusiastic amateur cook, landscaper, Latin dancer and traveler. Follow Amy on Instagram @amy_in_words
The Whitaker Music Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is a beloved summer tradition that presents free Wednesday evening concerts under the stars.
Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.
Join the Missouri History Museum for free family fun in June and July at the Summer Family Fun Series! Enjoy a variety of free family activities, including crafts, performances, and scavenger hunts, all are tied into Museum exhibits and centered on a different theme each week. Learn about Caribbean, Latin American, and German cultures in STL, discover Missouri’s trains, planes and other forms of transportation innovation, celebrate the 10th anniversary of the History Clubhouse, and more!
Is it time to potty train your toddler? The St. Louis County Library is offering Potty Training 101 to parents of children ages 2-3. This free workshop for parent and child includes a potty-themed storytime, and parents & caregivers will receive information to get them started on the potty training process. Attendees will also receive a potty seat, step stool, training pants and a potty-themed board book.
Your baby can paint and scribble with other babies and create a big fun mess at the Baby Art Crawl. This free, one-hour event is sponsored by the St. Louis County Library.