Daylight saving time begins March 13: Use the reminder to check your emergency supplies

It’s just three months into the calendar year, and the federal government has already made eight major disaster declarations. From severe weather and storms to flooding and mud flows, such events show that you can never really be sure when the worst will happen.

That’s why it’s so important that you have emergency supplies ready year-round — before a disaster occurs. When you’re sitting in the dark without power or can’t wash your hands because the water is out, you’re going to be thankful for those supplies that you’ve set aside.

It’s a message that’s often repeated, especially by us here at the Get Ready campaign. But if you’re like a lot of people, you may not have gotten around to putting your stockpile together. Or even if you have, you may not have checked on it lately to make sure your batteries are still fresh, or that your food hasn’t gone bad. A friendly little reminder would help, right?

Luckily, that’s where the Get Ready campaign comes in. Twice a year, when it comes time to change the clocks for daylight saving time, the Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks campaign is here to remind you to pay attention to your stockpile. To help you out, we’ve created free materials that tell you why you need a stockpile, what to include in your supplies and more.

Visit the Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks webpage to download the info, available in both English and Spanish, and follow these tips to get started:

• Set aside a three-day supply of food and water at home for emergencies, and don’t touch it. For water, you will need at least one gallon per person per day.

• Make sure your stockpile has all the basics, including flashlights, batteries, a radio, first aid supplies and a manual can opener. Battery-operated lanterns and cell phone chargers are a plus.

• To stockpile on a budget, pick up one or two items each time you go to the store. Or visit a bulk grocery store and split your supplies with a preparedness buddy.

• Don’t forget your pets when creating your stockpile. They will need their own food and water supplies.

And since we are doling out the reminders, one last one before we go: After you’ve reset your clocks and checked your emergency supplies — and reminded your friends and family to do so as well — don’t forget to check and change the batteries in your smoke detectors.

Read APHA's press release on the importance of replenishing emergency stockpiles when you spring forward for Daylight Savings Time