Merrimack Valley CU
Auto & Personal Credit Card Mortgage & Home Equity Undergraduate, Graduate, & Refi Commercial Loans & Lines

Online Banking

Forgot Username?

Forgot Password?

Register

Need Help?

Online Banking

Forgot Username?

Forgot Password?

Register

Need Help?

MVCU, emergency, preparations
Home / News & Financial Education / Emergency Preparations for Your Family
Emergency Preparations for Your Family on 1/1/2021

Emergency Preparations for Your Family

Winter sometimes brings us whopper snowstorms, and occasionally the wind, ice and snow knocks out power. If an emergency such as this hit your home, would your family be ready? An emergency could involve your family having no power, no heat, no water, and possibly no ability to travel outside the home. Below are some tips to prepare your family for an emergency.

Stock up on Necessities

  • Make sure you have a few days-worth of simple foods that don’t need refrigeration, like canned tuna, peanut butter and crackers, granola bars, and healthy cereals that could be eaten dry.
  • Be sure you have food for your pets for a few days.
  • Keep 3 gallons of water on hand per person, as well as extra water for pets in case it’s needed
  • If someone in your family currently takes medication, make sure you have enough medicine on hand to last a few days. You may also want to have some general pain relievers available such as Advil, Tylenol, Aspirin, or Naproxen.
  • Stop by the credit union to take out a small amount of cash in case you aren’t able to use credit cards or ATM machines during an emergency.
  • If you know a storm may be coming, try to fill up your cars with gas ahead of time, and fill portable gas containers if you might need them for a generator.

Organize Emergency Supplies

In addition to the necessities, you’ll also want to stock an emergency kit in a place you can quickly and easily find in your home.  Here are some ideas of what to include:

  • A variety of bandages, antibacterial ointment, and rubbing alcohol
  • A few flashlights and extra batteries for them
  • An old fashioned, battery-controlled radio with extra batteries
  • Hand sanitizer and baby wipes in case they are needed for personal sanitation
  • A small amount of cash in case of emergencies where it may not be possible to use your credit cards or ATM machines.

Plan Ahead & Educate Your Family

  • Talk with your family about what to do in emergency situations, and make sure everyone knows where the emergency supplies are located in your home.
  • For emergencies where you may need to quickly exit your home (such as a fire), make sure your family knows the safest way to exit each part of the home, and where your family will meet outside.
  • Teenagers and adults should review how to shut off the home’s utilities such as water, electric, and gas.
  • It’s helpful if at least one family member can attend a first aid and CPR class to gain those additional skills.

Emergency phone numbers

Make sure your family has a written list of important phone numbers, including the numbers of family members and friends.  Even if you have all these numbers programmed into your phone, you may not be able to access them if your phone battery dies and you don’t have power.

Stay informed

Whatever the emergency may be, stay up-to-date with the latest news with your TV or radio.  In some types of emergencies, your cell phone, internet, and TV might not be working.  It’s a good idea to have an old fashioned, battery controlled radio for emergency use.

Once a storm or emergency situation has begun, if you still have power and you decide to go to a store or the credit union, please check to see if that location is open before risking icy, snowy, or dangerous conditions.

Helpful links for More Information:

While we never want damage to occur, it's always better to be safe than sorry.  Review your homeowner's insurance and compare it to other plans to make sure you have the right coverage for your home for the right price.

Learn More

  • Share:

Category: Our Community



« Return to "Blog"

You may also like:

MVCU, taxes, filing
1/14/2021

What You Need To Know About Filing Your Taxes This Year

It’s tax season again!  Do you dread filing your taxes each year? We don’t have any secrets for making the process more fun, but we do have some tips that will hopefully make it a bit easier. 

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, money, facts
4/1/2022

Fun Money Facts to Share With Your Kids

April is National Credit Union Youth Month. Let’s encourage kids to develop healthy saving habits by making savings fun and exciting! Do you talk about money in a positive way with your children? Here are some fun facts that can be conversation starters:

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, charitable, contributions
12/8/2021

10 Tips for Making Smart Charitable Contributions

The holiday season is here, and many people are swept up in the wonderful  spirit of giving to others.  If you plan to donate to charitable organizations this year, here are some tips to help you make sure your end-of-the-year contributions are the most effective:

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, charity, giving back
11/12/2021

10 Ways to Give Back

Looking for ways to give back?  Here are 10 ideas to get you started! 1.  Provide Food – Donate canned goods or funds to your local food bank or pantry.  You could also volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, such as Neighbors in Need.

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, Halloween, costume, saving
10/14/2021

Save Money with Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas

It’s that time of year again, when the weather starts getting cooler, and kids start getting excited about trick-or-treating for Halloween!  Have you noticed the specialty Halloween stores  popping up nearby your community?  Have no fear– you can make your own Halloween costumes and save some money in the process!

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, fall, cleanup, yardwork
10/1/2021

Fall Clean Up Before the Holiday Rush

Fall is finally here, and now that the kids are back to school, the holidays are coming right around the corner! Here are some ideas of things you can clean up and clear out now before the holiday rush:

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, Community, Irish
3/2/2021

Irish History in the Merrimack Valley

In celebration of Irish-American Heritage Month, we’d like to pay respect to the Irish immigrants who paved the way for the growth of the Merrimack Valley.

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, emergency, preparations
1/1/2021

Emergency Preparations for Your Family

Winter sometimes brings us whopper snowstorms, and occasionally the wind, ice and snow knocks out power. If an emergency such as this hit your home, would your family be ready? An emergency could involve your family having no power, no heat, no water, and possibly no ability to travel outside the home. Below are some tips to prepare your family for an emergency.

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, back to school, savings
7/24/2020

10 Money Saving Tips for Back to School Shopping

School shopping might look a little different this year, but here are some timeless tips for how to save money during the “back to school” shopping season.

Read more

Our Community
mvcu
2/9/2020

Take Advantage of Your Member Rewards!

Did you know that there are special rewards available to you as a member of Merrimack Valley Credit Union?  Here are some of the fabulous benefits our members enjoy:

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, high school, senior, college
6/6/2021

Summer Checklist for High School Seniors

This is the big summer, the last one of your high school career! At this time next year, you’ll have graduated and will be on your way to the next phase of your life. Life will change quite a bit, whether you go to college or trade school, take a gap year to volunteer or travel, join the military, or jump right into your career. Are you ready? Probably not, but there’s still time!

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, student, school
8/26/2019

It’s Never Too Late to go “Back to School”

Did you know it’s truly never too late to go “back to school” and learn something new? There are options in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and even online for adults who are ready to expand their knowledge! 

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, local, apple, pumpkin
9/21/2021

Local Apple & Pumpkin Picking

Although some farms aren’t offering pick-your-own (PYO) options this year, these tried-and-true community favorites are open and could provide a fun outing for you and your family or friends! 

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, winter, fun
1/24/2021

Family Ideas for Winter Fun

This is a great time of year to live in New England! There are lots of options for family fun! Whether you choose to stay close to home or take a scenic drive, explore the outdoors or stay cozy inside, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy. Best of all, many of the activities are inexpensive or even free.

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, financials, theft, fraud
8/29/2022

Shred-It or Not?

By shredding old documents, you’re protecting your private, personal information from identity thieves. What documents should you consider shredding?  Anything that has a signature, account number, social security number, or medical or legal information that you no longer need to retain. If you’re not sure if you should keep or shred a document, keep it somewhere safe.

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, senior, high school, college
6/15/2021

You CRUSHED Senior Year… Now What?

You could spend this summer between high school and college vegging out, or you could use the next few months to get ahead. Here are some quick tips for making the most of this special summer:

Read more

Our Community
Broccoli Salad
8/30/2018

Staff Favorite Recipe: Broccoli Salad

Yes, it’s really yummy…people went back for seconds! At a recent staff potluck, this recipe by Laureen Hume stole the show.  Who would have thought something with BROCCOLI would get more comments than goodies and cake?  So many staff members asked for the recipe that we thought we’d share it with our members, too.

Read more

Our Community
MVCU, community
9/22/2022

National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15 throughout the United States.  This year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation” and it’s a month where we recognize the cultural contributions and achievements made by our fellow Americans of Hispanic culture. Hispanic Heritage month has been celebrated across the nation through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gathering, and more.

Read more

By merrimackOur Community
MVCU, Community
1/18/2023

People Helping People

Living the Credit Union motto of “People Helping People” is important to the team at MVCU.

Read more

By merrimackOur Community
MVCU, community, business, financial goals,
3/29/2024

Highlighting the Achievements of Women in Our Community

MVCU is proud to highlight the achievements of small business owners in our community. Meet Evelyn, owner of Hair’s Evelyn Salon in Waltham, MA.

Read more

By merrimackOur Community
MVCU, credit cards, credit score, credit, credit union,
7/1/2024

Does Paying Off Credit Cards Every Month Improve Your Credit Score?

When it comes to high-interest credit card debt and other monthly financial obligations, pay your bills on time, and strive to pay off your entire balance at the end of each billing cycle.

Read more

By Jean ChatzkyOur Community
Calendar, Calendar Contest, Community,
7/25/2024

2025 Calendar Contest Winners!

Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo to our contest, and to all of you who voted for your favorites! Our 2025 calendar theme is: “Best in Show.” This year, we celebrated the diverse and beloved pets that bring joy to our lives. We were excited to see so many proud pet parents showcasing what makes their companions truly special.

Read more

By merrimackOur Community