Although we are already into June, one thing that we can all agree with is that weather can be most bizarre. I remember there was one year that I was sitting at a football game in Pennsylvania during the first week of December and having to apply suntan lotion, as it was seventy degrees and sunny as summer. Oddly enough, the next year we were still having snow storms into April and May. While there may be some ways to predict what each season will be like before they hit, it is often a better idea to have a contingency plan in regards to how to handle extreme weather before any of them manage to occur.

I was speaking to a friend earlier and we were remembering a year in elementary school where we were without power for around a week in January in the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania. Naturally, no power also meant no water and no heat. While having the time off of school was wonderful for us, not having many comforts at home put a damper on the impromptu holiday. This was a time before backup generators were readily available, much less at an affordable price. We basically threw a party once the electrical company showed up to repair the lines, especially after so much time living off of cereal and pop-tarts. Coming back to school, many of us were still without water and quite a few ended up with frozen and burst pipes. While I grew up in an area that didn’t have many renters or apartment complexes, thinking back on it makes me realize just what we would do now if a similar situation were to occur.

One of the first things that comes to mind is having a generator. Although I’m not sure how much good it would have done for a whole week, it certainly would have helped for some point of time. Also, making sure that your cupboards are open to prevent bursting is always a good idea. While there is little that can be done to prevent power failure, making sure that your residents have extra blankets and warm clothing is always something that is appreciated. When weather decides to strike hard, humans simply need to ride out the trouble. Finding out what your area needs to be prepared for is always a good idea. We hope you and your residents remain safe through this and every season.