Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Be Prepared during Hurricane Season

Hurricane Kit

  1. Flashlights, extra batteries and bulbs
  2. Portable, battery-operated radio
  3. Fully charged battery-operated lanterns
  4. Do not get candles and kerosene lan-terns (they are a fire hazard)
  5. Clock (wind-up or battery-operated)
  6. Plastic garbage bags
  7. Working fire extinguisher
  8. Scissors
  9. Clean change of clothes, rain gear, sturdy swamp boots
  10. Sleeping bags and extra blankets/pillows

House Checklist

Gather all supplies early

  1. Store or secure all loose patio items.
  2. Fill gas tanks of cars and park cars in a safe area.
  3. Remove all valuables from floor (furniture, area rugs, etc).
  4. Place important documents in a waterproof con-tainer.
  5. Get extra cash (ATMs may lose power).
  6. Fully-charged cell phone with chargers
  7. Make sure your renters insurance is up to date

Food and Water

Have at least a three-day supply on hand.

  1. Bottled water-Estimate on a gallon of drinking water per day per person.
  2. Canned milk and juices
  3. Prepared foods (canned soups, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, fruit cocktail, puddings, canned fruits and vegetables)
  4. Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)
  5. High energy foods, including peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, trail mix
  6. Food for infants, the elderly or people on special diets
  7. Can opener (non-electric)

Medical Needs

  1. Medical-alert tags
  2. Insect repellent sprays
  3. Feminine hygiene items
  4. Sunscreen
  5. Soap
  6. First-aid kit and first-aid handbook
  7. Two-week supply of prescrip-tion medications
  8. Extra over-the-counter medica-tions (aspirin, allergies, cough syrup)

Pet Essentials

  1. Carriers, crates, leashes, shot records, food, litter, blankets, and I.D. tags for your pets
  2. Make sure your pet is up to date with all shots
  3. Attach the address/phone num-ber of your evacuation site to your pet's crate

Family Planning

Have a family meeting and discuss the following:

  1. What to do about power outages
  2. How to deal with personal injuries
  3. What to do if you have to evacuate
  4. Where to meet and whom to contact if you get separated
  5. Have emergency telephone numbers posted by the telephones in your apartment
  6. Teach children how and when to call 911 for help
  7. Learn basic first aid and CPR.