My power finally came on after the Fourth of July fireworks at 11 pm. Never was I so grateful to see my porch light welcoming me home.

Here is the most important take home message.

BE PREPARED!

1. Make sure you have enough food supplies and drinkable water for several days  for every family member (including pets).

2. Ensure that your health records (or copies) are on hand.

3. Have all available medications in a safe place. In terms of insulin, your

current vials or pens do not need to be refrigerated (35.6 ̊F – 46.4 ̊F), but can be stored for one month at room temperature up to 84 ̊F (a problem this last week since temperatures were higher than 100 degrees farenheight). Your diabetes-related supplies should be on hand at all times including insulin vials, syringes, pens, pen needles, glucose meter, strips, glucagon, lancets, glucose tablets, and extra batteries.

4. Have extra medication and supplies available in the workplace, at school, daycare, and if possible, in other family members’ or neighbors’ homes.

5. Keep labels on all prescriptions.

6. Program the phone number of your healthcare team into your cell phone

or have the number immediately available.

7. Inform all family members of a potential meeting place outside of the

devastated area in advance.

8. Provide a contact phone number outside the area code (even another

state) to inform others that you are safe or need help.

9. Make sure that you have supplies in your car. Make sure you refresh your supplies and that you do not become complacent.

10. Consider a generator (and know how to use it).

11. Think ahead of time what to do in case of the unexpected.

And be prepared to act.