Hurricane season, a term no one enjoys hearing. Nonetheless, Mother Nature strikes during the months of June through November with the possibility of the impending hurricane threats that can hit your region. Surprisingly, most households don’t have an emergency plan in place, let alone stocked with supplies. If you endure the hurricane season new casts, it is in your best interest to invest in a hurricane preparedness kit.
Hurricane Preparation
Hurricanes form with enough time for meteorologists to prepare spaghetti plots of all the possible routes it may take. You can never really predict where it can turn and hit the hardest. In expecting the unexpected, why take the risk of being left at home without the proper supplies? Taking a proactive approach to natural disasters may just prove worthwhile.
What Should I Pack?
For some families, supplies you need to pack may vary a bit depending on if you have young children, pets, or someone who requires medical assistance. In this case, your kit should include items such as diapers, formula, pet food, medications, medical documents, and county licenses. If you plan to evacuate, a three-day supply of food and water should be adequate, but if you’re hunkering down at home, be sure to have a two-week supply handy.
- Water – as a guideline, ensure you have at least one gallon of water per person per day.
- Food – preparing with non-perishable food items such as canned food, boxed food, and evaporated milk.
- A radio – whether hand-crank or battery, a radio will be useful to keep up with weather updates in the power lines are down.
- Flashlights and batteries – the power may go out, but you will still need to see and make your way around without getting hurt. Keep extra batteries in your emergency hurricane kit; you may find yourself using these to power portable phone chargers, flashlights, or radio.
- Candles and matches or lighters – extra light is always handy.
- Important documents – a binder or folder with your vital documents such as birth certificates, insurance forms, the deed or lease to your home, medical records, social security cards, driver’s license or passports, and a list of emergency contacts. Look up your home’s evacuation sone and flood zone, include a printout in your kit. These zones usually provide you with the closest shelter to your home.
- Gasoline – either for car use intended for evacuation or at home generator use. Gas stations may run low or even shut down with the impending weather.
- Personal hygiene items – toilet paper, wipes, soap, menstruation items, extra towels, hand sanitizer, paper towel.
- First aid kit and medicine – a first aid kit has many supplies for you to treat any potential wounds. If you have any medical issues, a seven-day supply of your daily medications should also be prepared.
- Cell phones and chargers – while you may not be able to charge your phone in the outlet, invest in a portable charger so you can reach help, loved ones, and keep current on hurricane updates.
- Tools – having some tools in your kit may prove valuable. A multi-purpose knife duct tape, scissors, gloves, face masks.
Additional Items to Consider
Maybe you want to toss in some additional items? Ponchos, rain boots, blankets, extra clothes, trash bags, and cash are some other items to consider. Many of us rely on our debit and credit cards, but these may not be useful if power lines are down, and this would mean ATMs are inoperable. If you can, either withdraw some money ahead of time or keep an emergency stash at home. Preparing now can save you later! If anything, give yourself the relief of knowing you are well equipped for what’s to come.
