You’ll be prepared and ready to leave in a hurry if you have all the supplies you might need assembled in one easy-to-locate area of your home. Here are suggestions in the event that you want to prepare for the worst but hope for the best.
Three-Day Supply
Gather the following in an easy to carry, water resistant container, such as a large plastic trash can or sturdy cardboard box lined with trash bags:
First Aid Kit
- 20 emergency bandages of various sizes
- One 5″ x 9″ sterile dressing
- One roll of self-adhering elastic bandage
- Four various-sized sterile gauze pads
- One roll of 3-inch cohesive bandage
- Alcohol-based sanitizer and wipes
- Medical grade non-latex gloves
- Adhesive tape, 2-inch width
- Anti-bacterial ointment
- Cold pack
- Small scissors
- Tweezers
- CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
- Non-prescription drugs (e.g., aspirin or non-aspirin pain relievers)
- First aid book
Ready-to-eat, non-perishable foods
- Canned meat
- Granola bars
- Instant soup and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Canned or box juices
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Crackers
- Trail mix
- Bread
- Snack foods
- Any special dietary items you and your family need
Baby Supplies
- Formula
- Bottle
- Pacifier
- Soap
- Baby powder
- Clothing
- Blankets
- Baby wipes
- Disposable diapers
- Canned food and juices
Sanitary Items
- Large, plastic trash bags for waste and to use as tarps and rain ponchos
- Large trash cans
- Towelettes
- Bar soap and liquid detergent
- Shampoo
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Feminine hygiene supplies
- Toilet paper
- Household bleach for cleaning
- Rubber gloves
Pet Supplies *
- Food
- Water
- Collar and leash
- Carrier for pets
- Crates
- Blankets
- Medications
- Up-to-date immunization records and ID tags with your cell phone number
* If you plan to go to a shelter, remember that most do not allow pets. Make other plans for your pets (friends, relatives, pet-friendly hotel, veterinarian, boarding facility).
Water
- At least 1 gallon per person per day, in plastic containers, such as soft-drink bottles
- Water purification kit or bleach (use eight drops of regular bleach per gallon of water)
Paperwork
Place in a portable, brightly colored waterproof/airtight bag:
- Driver’s License or Photo ID
- Emergency Contact List or Address Book (even if contacts are stored in a smart phone)
- Insurance Policies (health, home, auto)
- Vital Documents: Birth Certificates, Passports, Wills
- Bank Account Information (account numbers, passwords)
- Photocopy of Credit and Debit cards (front and back)
- Stock Certificates, Investment Information
- Extra Keys (home, safe deposit box, office and car)
Other Essentials
- Essential medications
- Manual can opener
- Blanket or sleeping bag per person
- Pillows
- Battery-powered, portable radio or portable TV and plenty of extra batteries
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Extra pair of eyeglasses
- Extra house and car keys
- Fire extinguisher (ABC-type)
- Cash, change and credit cards
- Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes
- Strong fishing line, duct tape, heavy-duty work gloves, old shower curtains, vinyl table cloths or tarps
- Cell phone, charger, and extra battery
- Laptop and charging cable
- Corded telephone
- Contact lenses
- Cooking tools/fuel
- Toys, books and games
- Tools
14-Day Supply
In addition to the three-day supply kit:
- Disposable plates, cups, utensils
- Plastic garbage bags
- Mosquito repellent
- Cooler
- Ice
- Toiletries
- Detergent for dishes and clothes
- Clothesline and clothespins
- Games, such as cards, and quiet toys
- Duct and masking tape
- Rolls of plastic
- Lantern and fuel (not candles)
- Gloves and goggles
- Small tools
- Cleaning supplies
- Brooms and mops
- Pails and buckets
- Ladders
- Plywood and nails
- Rakes and shovels
- Chain saw, gas and oil
- Wheelbarrow
- Battery-operated clock
- Butane lighter or matches
- Axes, hatchets, pruners
- Rope
Here are important tasks to do before leaving home:
- Trim dead limbs and low-hanging branches from trees and shrubs
- Close windows and board them using screws, not nails
- Put away patio furniture
- Adjust gutters so they flow far away from the foundation of the house
- Check seals on doors and windows
- Run garbage disposal and dishwasher
- Wash and dry laundry
- Vacuum
- Back up computer
- Charge mobile phones
- Use food in freezer
- Get cash from ATMs
- Fill up car with gas
Hopefully, you’ll never need this information, but it is better to be safe than sorry!
Read more information on how to be hurricane ready.
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