Hurricane Preparation

It's almost hurricane season...again! Time to stock up on hurricane preparedness supplies. But just what should you store? Here are a few items you may want to consider adding to your hurricane preparation stockpile.

Remember, if you stay at your home during a hurricane, and it turns out to be bad, it may be days before federal help will be able to rescue you or provide you with food and water. At a minimum, you should have at least three days worth of food, water, and other supplies for each person in your household stored away.

MREs, which are Meals Ready to Eat, have long been a wonderful food storage source for hurricane preparation. Why? Because they are an all in one kit. One MRE provides enough food for one person for one meal (and in a pinch, for an entire day). They are individually bagged in a waterproof package, and contain their own heating source. Plus they do not take up a lot of storage space, and last for years.

Consider adding a case or two of MREs to your hurricane preparedness stockpile.

Here is a list of other things you should have available:

• Water – at least one gallon of water, per person, per day, for 3-7 days
• Food – enough food to last each person 3-7 days

• --MREs Meals Ready to Eat- one per person per day

• --Canned Meats, Cheeses, Fruits

• --Non-Perishable or Dehydrated Foods

• --Infant Formula/Food, if needed

• --Manual (non-electric) Can Opener

• --Disposable Paper Plates, Utensils

• --Trash Bags or Plastic Garbage Bags

• --Cooking Fuel or Source (if not using MREs) such as Camp Stove

• --Cooler

• --Dish Soap

• --Ice

• Bleach

• --Use this to purify stagnant water in case of emergency.

• Medical

• --First Aid Kit

• --OTC Medications

• --Filled Prescription Medications

• --Bug Spray

• Clothing and Bedding

• --Rain Gear/Boots

• --Blankets and Bedding for Each Person

• --Clean Clothing

• --Laundry Soap

• --Coat or Jackets for Each Person

• --Clothesline and Clothes Pins

• Full Tank of Gasoline
• Cash
• Personal Hygiene

• --Toilet Paper

• --Paper Towels

• --Feminine Products

• --Baby Diapers (if needed)

• --Baby Wipes or Wet Wipes (even if you don't have a baby)

• --Toiletries

• Emergency Equipment

• --Flashlight

• --Portable Radio or TV

• --Extra Batteries

• --Again....EXTRA BATTERIES

• -Lantern & Fuel

• --Candles

• --Fire Extinguisher

• --Duct Tape

• --Tool Box (keep handy during storm)

• --Small Hatchet or Axe

• --Shovel

• --Lighter or Matches

• --Battery Operated Clock

• Pet Items

• --Pet Food

• --Water for Pet

• --Medications

• --Pet Immunization Records

• --Collar (very important! You may get separated during the storm; make sure you have your pet's name and your contact information on your pet. You may want to have an out-of-state family member's contact information on your pet's tag for extra safety.)

• --Cage

• --Leash or Muzzle

• Boredom Materials

• --Toys

• --Books

• --Board Games

• --Deck of Cards

• Important Documents

• --Waterproof Container or Ziplock Baggies (keep all your important documents waterproof; make sure you have insurance and banking info handy)

• Generator
• --Optional