JP's List for your Hurricane/Severe Storm Survival Kit!

Howdy folks! I trust that everyone enjoyed every last minute of the past few mild summer months. As we bid farewell to the warm weather and transition into fall, things tend to get crazy. During these in-between season days, we experience falling leaves, apple picking, Indian Summer, Halloween and my least favorite, hurricane season!

Having spent my early teenage through college years here in ole' New England, I am no stranger to the high tides, coastal flooding, forceful winds, and the destruction that each of these storms bring. Sandy, Irene, Katrina, Hugo, Belle, Andrew to name a few in recent history.

James A. Judge, from the American Red Cross says, “You only need to be prepared for three days of really roughing it. By then,emergency crews and workers usually have reached homes and isolated areas. Thanks James, I have a much more conservative approach. I think you should have enough supplies on-hand to last five days. We were without electricity for five days post-Sandy!

As my family camped out in our basement rec room last year during Sandy, it occurred to me how important it is to be ready for anything. You don't need squirrel traps or a solar generator to take care of your family in a storm. You may however want to check out this list.

Water:

Keep at least one gallon of water on hand per person per day. As an alternative to the expense of bottled water, fill large jugs from the tap at the first storm warnings. You can never have too much!

Food:

Buy enough food items to last for a few days, keeping in mind that canned ravioli may quickly lose its appeal. Tuna, dried fruit, crackers, peanut butter, cereal, nutritional bars, even candy all make great survival foods. A camping stove, manual can opener, and matches stored in a water tight bag round out your food stash! Make sure you include food and water for your pets! Set up alerts on your calendar so that you eat and replace any stash before it goes stale. As a bonus, plan a fun family dinner to discuss your emergency plan and eat your storm “rations!” An ounce of prevention...!

Flashlights:

From experience, kids do not like the dark, especially in an emergency situation. In addition to a few flashlights, buy a few battery-powered lanterns which will illuminate a room-helpful for games and other activities. Other options are headlamps (amazon.com from $7) and glow sticks. If you have to evacuate in the dark, a glow stick can make it easy to help you keep track of your group. Also they work great on pets!

Batteries:

Two or three twenty-packs of AA or DD, or whatever size your flashlights, lanterns, or other devices many use should be kept on hand, and replenished every few years. This is what we have Costco for!

First-Aid Kit and Meds:

A fresh first-aid kit and over-the-counter drugs, like acetaminophen, Benadryl, and hydro-cortisone cream with pain killer in it should suffice. Make sure you refill any prescriptions so you have at least a weeks worth on hand. A few extra bandages, insulated work gloves and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide for cleaning any skin surface scratches comes in handy if you experience any home damage.

Cash:

Cash is King! In an emergency situation, you may not rely on finding an ATM that is working. Keep at least $50 to $100 in small bills for urgent purchases. Withdraw from the closest ATM on your way home at the first storm warning.

Important Documents:

In your emergency kit, keep copies of your insurance policies, driver's licenses, passports, credit cards, bank account records, birth certificates, and your will. Recent photos of your family will also help in the event you need to evacuate and you are separated from each other. Keep these inside of a watertight, airtight plastic bag. This will really make a difference if you need to be evacuated.

Entertainment:

Newsflash! Without power, your electronic devices won't operate. Pack a few new, age appropriate coloring or activity books, crayons, markers, board games and no-battery toys. You will want to keep your kids occupied!

NOAA radio receiver:

Regular AM/FM radios can't pick up the frequencies and alerts that the National Weather Service uses as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the event of a regional power outage, your favorite radio station may not be broadcasting. Visit Radio Shack for this item, tell them JP sent you!

Keep all of these items in an easy to access area, like the garage, basement, or a closet in your home. Put them into a watertight plastic container. Something with handles makes it grab and go easy to transport if you need to evacuate.

Lastly, have a well thought-out plan for what to do in the event of a severe storm. Know where the closest emergency centers are. Make sure you put gas in your car at the first storm warnings, power effects the pumps too. And talk to your kids, they will be less afraid, and more cooperative if you share your safety plan with them before the emergency happens!

Hopefully, we will be hurricane free this season! Please be safe and please be kind to each other!

JP