Hurricane Season Preparedness

Be Informed, Make a Plan, Building an Emergency Kit

Know the Difference

Hurricane Watch - Hurricane conditions are a threat within 48 hours. Review your hurricane plans. Get ready to act if a warning is issue, and stay informed. 

Hurricane Warning - Hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities. 

Make an evacuation plan & make sure all family members know where to meet and what to do.

An emergency supplies kit is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.

Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. You may have to evacuate at a moment's notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them.

You may need to survive on your own after an emergency. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least 72 hours. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours or it might take days.

Additionally, basic services such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones may be cut off for days or even a week, or longer. Your supplies kit should contain items to help you manage during these outages. 

Emergency Supply Kit

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries
  
  for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items:

• Prescription medications and glasses
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler's checks and change
• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification, and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
  
• Emergency reference material such as a first aid book
• Sleeping bag or blanket for each person.
• Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes.
• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper - When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 8 drops or 1/8 tsp of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach per gallon of water
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels, and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles, and other activities for children

First Aid Kit Supplies

• Two pairs of latex or sterile gloves if you are allergic to latex
  
• Sterile dressings
• Cleansing soap and antibiotic towelettes
• Antibiotic ointment
• Burn ointment
• Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
• Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontamination
• Thermometer
• Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine, and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates. 
• Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment supplies

Non-Prescription drugs:

• Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid
• Laxative 

Other first aid supplies:

• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Petroleum jelly