The North-East monsoons have descended to the city. Every other day Chennai is receiving ample rainfall. While rains herald a slight change in weather and offer respite from heat, this year they are also evoking floodgates of memories from last year’s deluge. Many people are wary of the rains and there is a certain fear that has crept in the minds of most Chennaiites. It is not possible to gauge whether the city will witness torrential and heavy rains this year as well. But one can definitely be ‘rain-ready’. Here we share a list of items you need to keep at your disposal:

Grocery and veggies

Ensure that you have extra stock of rice, atta, pulses and basic veggies like potato, onion and tomato. In addition, do Purchase packs of instant noodles, upma and poha. Most of the times grocery stores run out of staples during natural disasters. Not to mention, the price of most of them rises exorbitantly. So spend a little more when you visit the departmental store over the weekend and keep a separate stock to deal with the floods.

Medicines

Another absolute must in your list. You do not want to get stranded at home without basic medicines. Buy medicines for fever, stomach upset and painkillers. Also ensure that your first-aid box is amply stocked with ointments, bandages and antiseptic.

Fuel for Vehicles

Last year, petrol and diesel became a rare commodity. Most petrol stations ran out of it within first two days. It became difficult to travel for most vehicle owners and they were stuck at home. This time, keep extra can of fuel ready for emergency situation. You might need it!

Candles, matchbox, torch and batteries

There is no need to elaborate on this one. During the floods, electricity will definitely be cut-off. While many of you have power back-ups, they might also fail to last very long. In such circumstances, having a torch or candle handy is essential. Ensure that you have boxes of matchsticks, loads of candles and batteries for the torch.

Spare SIM cards

During the deluge most Mobile Networks including Airtel and Vodafone stopped working completely. It was difficult to even talk to near and dear ones and to know their whereabouts. This led to a lot of panic. But certain mobile networks like Idea and BSNL were operational in certain parts of the city. So if possible, purchase SIMs of different networks, apart from the ones you already possess.

Spare gas cylinder

This one is absolutely must. If you happen to run out of gas, no food can be prepared at home and most eateries shut shop. You don’t want to end up eating raw stuff! Just purchase a spare cylinder and keep it ready.