Prepare Yourself for the Next Winter Snowstorm Emergency Now

It was crazy seeing all those supermarket shelves emptied, right? Even then, people were buying what they wanted, not what they needed. So let's put together a "get-me-through-a-couple-of-days-cause-it's-bad-but-not-quite-the-zombie-apocalypse-bad-emergency-box."

The key to this box is to leave it sealed. Maybe once a year rotate some of the stuff out, but don't go stealing the lighter or matches just because you can't find your regular one.

Here's the big one: water/and or drinks. It's recommend that you have a gallon per person for three days. However, we're not going to worry about this because we're going to assume this isn't an end-of-times box.

So here are the suggestions:

• 1 Dozen packets of Ramen or cans of soup (most soup has pull tops now)
• 1 Dozen energy bars
• 1 lighter or big box of matches
• 3 large candles
• 1 Flashlight w/extra batteries
• 1 Battery powered radio (save your cellphone for emergency calls)

Okay, that's the bare minimum. Let's look at some other things you could add:

• The aforementioned water and/or drinks
• 1 small first aid kid (bandages/alcohol/tweezers)
• 1 roll of duct tape (you'd be surprised)
• Some of those "Complete Meals" in the tins (You could even eat them cold if you have to)
• Tuna
• Trail Mix
• Crackers/Cookies/Chips
• Sugar packets
• Instant coffee/and or tea
• A coloring book and crayons (vital if you have kids)

Remember, this isn't a dropped-in-the-middle-of-the-desert box; it's just an 'in case I forget to go to the store before the storm box.' Just put it in the corner of your pantry or on a shelf somewhere. We're just talking about keeping your life from being totally unpleasant for a few days. Now, be safe!

Lubbock 2015 blizzard pictures