How to Build a Hurricane Survival Kit

Hurricanes are dangerous situations that catch many people unprepared. Hurricane survival kits have all the necessary items needed to make it through the initial trauma of a hurricane. Prepare now so you and your family make it safely through the next hurricane.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Trunk or large storage container
• Food, manual can opener
• Water
• Repair supplies to include duct tape, pocket knife, tools and nails
• First aid kit, prescription medications and copies of prescriptions
• Portable radio, batteries
• Flashlight, candles, matches, lighter
• Games or cards
• Ice chest with any available ice
• Lock box with personal documents and computer back up files
• Sheets of plastic or plastic bags
• Rain slickers
• Whistle
• Small gas camp stove with fuel

1. Find a large storage container for the kit. Choose as many containers as you need to fit all of the supplies.
2. Collect canned food for the kit. Include soups, peanut butter, beans, crackers, vegetables and other food that does not spoil without refrigeration. Add enough food to sustain your entire family for at least two weeks. Remember to pack a manual can opener.
3. Purchase bottled water and place in the kit. Have enough to supply your family for two weeks. Each person needs 2 liters of water every day. Prepare to have extra water for hygiene and for washing dishes.
4. Place repair supplies into the hurricane survival kit. Gather together sheets of plastic, tools, nails, duct tape and paint.
5. Make a first aid kit. Include adhesive bandages, bug repellent, burn cream, aspirin, pain relievers, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and two weeks worth of any required prescription medications.
6. Buy plenty of candles and flashlights. Each family member requires their own flashlight. Include dry matches, a lighter and extra batteries.
7. Place a portable self-generating radio in the survival kit. This provides you updated information during the hurricane. If you don't get a radio that can be hand-cranked or can run on solar power, buy at least seven sets of batteries for the kit. This should keep the radio and flashlights running for two weeks.
8. Make a small bag with toiletries for the family. Include games, cards, books and toys.
9. Find a large ice chest. Place any food from the refrigerator or freezer into the chest. If you have access to ice, dump ice over the food to keep it as cool as possible.
10. Prepare for an evacuation. Every hurricane survival kit needs a fire or lock box. Keep important documentation and computer back-up files in the protected box. Have rain slickers available for the family to wear during the evacuation. Talk with the family about what to do in case of an emergency. Have an escape route and a rallying point.
11. Tell the family where the survival kits are located in the house. Make it someone's personal responsibility to grab the kit if your family has to evacuate the house.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove any food not used every year and replace with new food.
• Blow a whistle to attract the attention to your location.
• Use paint to mark your house as occupied.