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
Take your family to watch birds of prey fly right over your head, macaws speak the English language and much more at the WOW! Amazing Animal Show at the World Bird Sanctuary. Every program showcases different animals so each day is a new experience.
Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.
Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.
Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.
