How to Prepare for Hurricanes and Other Disasters

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least SEVEN DAYS.

Disaster Preparedness - Hurricanes / Floods

If you choose to stay while under mandatory evacuation, understand that there will be no official assistance available until wind speeds drop beneath 45 miles per hour. Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist below.

If your location is under a mandatory evacuation, locate a shelter and leave the area. Hurricanes are unpredictable and can increase intensity quickly. The jump from a category 3 storm to a category 4 or 5 is very possible and can be catastrophic. Evacuation maps for your area can be found online. Please heed the warnings of local authorities.

Should you choose to stay, or are unable to evacuate, understand that there will be no official assistance available until wind speeds drop beneath 45 miles per hour. Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist below. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life. Once you take a look at the basic items, consider what unique needs your family might have. After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for at least SEVEN DAYS. To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit into easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or duffel bags.

The Basics

Things to Have On Hand:

• Water - one gallon of water per person per day for at least seven days, for drinking and sanitation Food - at least a seven day supply of non-perishable food requiring minimal preparation water or cooking.

• Shelf-stable (no refrigeration necessary) canned meals, canned protein, MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), granola bars, protein bars trail mix, etc.

• Manual can opener

• Ice

• Extra batteries / external battery for cell phone

• Handwritten list of important phone numbers

• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert

• Flashlights + lots of batteries - at least one per person including children

• Battery operated fan

• Battery operated lanterns or candles - no wax candles or propane lanterns inside the house

• Cash (small denominations)

• Credit card

• Identification for re-entry to your neighborhood

• Bleach + eyedropper or water purification tablets

Things to Do:

• Turn Freezer to highest setting