It’s the unofficial launch of the summer road trip season: Each year over Memorial Day weekend, multitudes of Americans pile into their cars and head to vacation spots, family reunions, and destinations TBD. Statistically, it’s one of the most dangerous travel times of the year. If travel by car is in your plans, take a moment for preparedness, and keep the fun factor intact.

We celebrate mothers’ efforts just one day a year, yet they willingly spend countless hours taking precautions, acquiring skills, and applying knowledge to keep their loved ones safe and sound in myriad situations.

No matter the season, even the best travel plans can easily go awry—and travel delays and detours are particularly common during seasons with the most erratic weather. From grounded airplanes to closed highways, travel troubles can take a toll on your physical wellbeing, as well as on your wallet. Taking the time to be a little extra prepared before you leave can help you better handle a disrupted itinerary.

Tax season is upon us. Whether or not you’ve already filled out your forms, you’ll likely agree that preparing a tax return is easier when you’ve taken the time to get organized and prepared ahead of time, and you know where everything is. When you sit down with all that paperwork, it’s less daunting if you break the project down into smaller tasks. The same is true for preparing for emergencies.

Last week we talked about flood preparedness. This week, as National Flood Awareness Week wraps up, we offer some tips and resources for managing what can be a daunting task: cleaning up after your home has been flooded.

National Flood Safety Awareness Week is next week, March 18–22. It’s a fitting time: as soon as the first crocuses and hyacinths sprout after a long winter’s sleep, ice, snowmelt, and rain storms also begin to stir, overwhelming drainage systems and river levels to the point of overflow and flooding. National Flood Awareness Week is the perfect time to learn about how you can Live Ready for flood season.

At Relief Pod, we believe it’s important for people to be prepared every day, no matter where they are. We all spend our time in various places, so it doesn’t really make sense to have all of our emergency supplies in just one place. Whether you’re suddenly stuck by the side of the road with an overheated car engine or have to evacuate your home—or office—in a natural disaster, having a kit easily accessible can literally be a lifesaver. And don’t underestimate the usefulness of having everyday supplies at the ready for minor emergencies, such as a scraped knee or an unexpected rainstorm!

We wrap up our month-long series on extreme cold and power outages with a closer look at portable generators*, which have become an increasingly popular source of alternate power for the home in recent years. Portable models are small but mighty aids in staying safe—and comfortable—during a power outage.

For the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about ways you can Live Ready for extreme cold and power outages. Up this week: how to be prepared when the lights go out. Safety experts now strongly discourage using regular candles as a light source; luckily, there are plenty of safer ways to comfortably illuminate your digs during a blackout.

This week we continue our Extreme Cold series with tips on preparing your kitchen and pantry for a winter storm (or any storm that knocks out electricity). Can you guess which two non-food items you should keep handy? Read on to find out.

Each year, winter doles out several severe storms around the country, bringing on extreme cold and sometimes even knocking out power with strong winds, sleet, and freezing rain. If you aren’t prepared, this can turn a cozy day inside into an in-home emergency, even if the mercury isn’t dropping below freezing. This week we look at heating your home and conserving heat during this type of winter weather event.

Winter flu season is upon us. Different than a stomach bug, harsher than a head cold, and able to dole out symptoms of both these maladies, a powerful flu virus can zap your energy for days—and it can turn serious enough to warrant hospitalization. Use these strategies to maximize your immunity and limit the spread of this winter’s influenza.

Though much has already been said about it, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is such a severe threat, particularly during winter months, that it’s worth periodically reviewing information that can help prevent it. Take these tips to heart and Live Ready to prevent CO poisoning this winter and all year:

As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, winter can require another layer of safety precautions to take—from making sure car tires are properly inflated to account for cold temperatures, to adding weather-appropriate gear to your existing emergency kit. Here are a few further tips to help you move smoothly through winter travel (holiday-related and otherwise).

As the holiday season gets into full swing, stress levels often start to rise. We face concerns about everything from winter weather and potentially dangerous driving conditions to financial issues and tensions at family gatherings. Here are some suggestions to help smooth out the rough spots as you navigate the holidays.