HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS
photo courtesy of NOAA
Hurricane season is upon us once again. Here are a few tips to help you prepare to take care of your family:
- Keep cash on hand. During power outages, ATMs and cash registers may not be working. It is a good idea to have cash on hand to buy emergency items.$100.00 is a good start.
- Monitor your routine medications. Refill your routine meds at least a week ahead of schedule since you may not be able to refill them in the event of a storm.
- fill at least a 33 gallon trash can with water to use for sponge baths, to help flush toilets, etc.
- keep a loaf of bread and a package of tortillas in the freezer. supplies disappear at the stores quickly
- stock up on canned goods such as tuna fish, spam, crackers, peanut butter, etc. that can be eaten without cooking.
- stock up on bottled water. I like to have 2 - 3 cases on the floor at all times during hurricane season.
- stock up on flashlight batteries. I also like to have a hurricane lamp or two available.
- keep your cell phone charged
- clean up around the outside of your house. If there is a chance of a hurricane, you don't want anything out there that could become a missile. You also don't want to wait for the hurricane warnings to begin this preparation.
- group your important papers together in a water tight box: insurance papers, birth certificates, animal records, etc.
- make sure your coolers are cleaned and ready for use
- make sure you have batteries for your radio
- keep your gas tank at least half full. gasoline becomes a rationed commodity during an emergency
Can you think of something not listed here that you do in preparation? You are encouraged to leave a comment with your list. We will update this list as required.
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