How to Prepare for a Tornado with Multiples

After last year's tornado episode, I decided that it would be prudent to get some things ready just in case. And since we are currently under a major severe storm warning with possible tornadoes, it's a good thing I started getting this ready last week!

Here is how we prepare for a tornado with multiples!

Last Monday, a friend came over to help with the kids. When they went down for their morning nap, I recruited her to help me clear out part of the basement and set the "baby cage" up.

We set up the play yard after sweeping and mopping the floor (it was scary how grimmy that floor was!). I draped an old comforter over the side so that I can throw it down quickly if the tornado sirens start going off. I may have mopped, but there is no point putting it on the floor unless it's necessary! I also have a radio on the bookshelf. Not sure it will pick up a signal in the basement, but hey! At least, I have one! And the way I see it, if the house blows away, I won't need a radio to tell me that it's happening anyway.

Then I got together the supplies for our tornado box. I did this last year, so most of what went in the box was a repeat of that. I did add a few new things since I had extra time to think about it this year.

What's included in our tornado box?

• Diaper Wipes
• Diapers-Size 2 for Abby and Ellie
• Diapers-Size 3 for Elijah and Caleb
• Box of Tissue
• Flashlight
• A set of PJs for each kid
• A set of day clothes for each kid
• A jacket for each kid
• Wiggles DVD (and yes, I do realize that the DVD player won't work if the power goes out, but at least it will entertain them until then!)
• Baby Van Gogh DVD
• Bucket of Toys
• Four Burp Rags
• Four Bibs
• Small Container of Hand Sanitizer
• Baby Spoon for Cereal and Baby Food (all of the jarred baby food is already stored in the basement)
• Box of Nutri-Grain Bars (got on sale!)
• Box of Rice Cereal
• 2 Cans of Alimentum Formula
• 4 Bottles
• Airtight Container of Cheerios
• Bag of Goldfish Crackers
• 4 Lightweight Blankets

The idea is to have two days worth of supplies for the kids already in the basement in case the house blows away. I figure that gives us enough time to make it to a shelter or Walmart to replenish our supplies.

Is this overkill? I don't think so. Overkill is wanting an Oreo and then eating the whole row. Ooo! I should add Oreos to my kit...for me, of course!

Anyhow, back to tornado prep. The kids played quietly until I started picking toys out of their toy box. I didn't take many, but they all wanted to see what I was doing at that point. Ellie ducked down right before I took this photo, but the expression on Elijah's face is a hoot! 

As soon as I get the kids down to the basement, and if I have time, then I will run back upstairs and grab the things on my important list:

We can get along without these things, but I would really like to bring them to the basement with us if possible. Most of the items are pretty self-explanatory. Sean told me that I can upload all of our photos from my laptop and back-up drive to the Google Cloud, so that would eliminate two things, but since I haven't done that yet, I left them on the list. Theoretically, if I use a laundry basket, I can grab everything in under two minutes and make it back downstairs.

Speaking of laundry baskets, I got this idea from the Triplets Plus of Kansas City group. If I'm alone and need to get the kids downstairs, I can load them into a laundry basket! I can't lift it with all of the kids in there, but I'm sure they would enjoy sledding down three half flights of stairs to make it to the basement! :)

"Yep! We all fit!"

Abby, Caleb, Elijah, and Ellie

So that's the plan! Hopefully, I never have to move everyone downstairs by myself, but in case of an emergency, I at least have an idea of how to get my kids to a safe place quickly.

Am I the only one who makes preparations like this? I'd love it if you'd leave a comment below (on our blog) with how you prepare for bad weather. Maybe I can pick up a tip from you that would be helpful over here!

After last year's tornado episode, I decided that it would be prudent to get some things ready just in case. And since we are currently under a major severe storm warning with possible tornadoes, it's a good thing I started getting this ready last week!

Here is how we prepare for a tornado with multiples!

Last Monday, a friend came over to help with the kids. When they went down for their morning nap, I recruited her to help me clear out part of the basement and set the "baby cage" up.

We set up the play yard after sweeping and mopping the floor (it was scary how grimmy that floor was!). I draped an old comforter over the side so that I can throw it down quickly if the tornado sirens start going off. I may have mopped, but there is no point putting it on the floor unless it's necessary! I also have a radio on the bookshelf. Not sure it will pick up a signal in the basement, but hey! At least, I have one! And the way I see it, if the house blows away, I won't need a radio to tell me that it's happening anyway.

Then I got together the supplies for our tornado box. I did this last year, so most of what went in the box was a repeat of that. I did add a few new things since I had extra time to think about it this year.

What's included in our tornado box?

• Diaper Wipes
• Diapers-Size 2 for Abby and Ellie
• Diapers-Size 3 for Elijah and Caleb
• Box of Tissue
• Flashlight
• A set of PJs for each kid
• A set of day clothes for each kid
• A jacket for each kid
• Wiggles DVD (and yes, I do realize that the DVD player won't work if the power goes out, but at least it will entertain them until then!)
• Baby Van Gogh DVD
• Bucket of Toys
• Four Burp Rags
• Four Bibs
• Small Container of Hand Sanitizer
• Baby Spoon for Cereal and Baby Food (all of the jarred baby food is already stored in the basement)
• Box of Nutri-Grain Bars (got on sale!)
• Box of Rice Cereal
• 2 Cans of Alimentum Formula
• 4 Bottles
• Airtight Container of Cheerios
• Bag of Goldfish Crackers
• 4 Lightweight Blankets

The idea is to have two days worth of supplies for the kids already in the basement in case the house blows away. I figure that gives us enough time to make it to a shelter or Walmart to replenish our supplies.

Is this overkill? I don't think so. Overkill is wanting an Oreo and then eating the whole row. Ooo! I should add Oreos to my kit...for me, of course!

Anyhow, back to tornado prep. The kids played quietly until I started picking toys out of their toy box. I didn't take many, but they all wanted to see what I was doing at that point. Ellie ducked down right before I took this photo, but the expression on Elijah's face is a hoot! 

As soon as I get the kids down to the basement, and if I have time, then I will run back upstairs and grab the things on my important list:

We can get along without these things, but I would really like to bring them to the basement with us if possible. Most of the items are pretty self-explanatory. Sean told me that I can upload all of our photos from my laptop and back-up drive to the Google Cloud, so that would eliminate two things, but since I haven't done that yet, I left them on the list. Theoretically, if I use a laundry basket, I can grab everything in under two minutes and make it back downstairs.

Speaking of laundry baskets, I got this idea from the Triplets Plus of Kansas City group. If I'm alone and need to get the kids downstairs, I can load them into a laundry basket! I can't lift it with all of the kids in there, but I'm sure they would enjoy sledding down three half flights of stairs to make it to the basement! :)

"Yep! We all fit!"

Abby, Caleb, Elijah, and Ellie

So that's the plan! Hopefully, I never have to move everyone downstairs by myself, but in case of an emergency, I at least have an idea of how to get my kids to a safe place quickly.

Am I the only one who makes preparations like this? I'd love it if you'd leave a comment below (on our blog) with how you prepare for bad weather. Maybe I can pick up a tip from you that would be helpful over here!