How to Make a Hurricane Disaster Kit

Hurricane season varies around the world. For those on the Atlantic Ocean, hurricane season begins on June 1st and lasts until November 30th. Those on the Northwest Pacific will find that they are subject to tropical cyclones year round, however the main hurricane season is from July to November. The Northeast Pacific hurricane season begins in June and ends in the beginning of October. Knowing how to prepare for a hurricane, as well as when hurricane season begins, is the best way to ensure that you are fully equipped should disaster strike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Water
• Canned Food
• Non-Perishable Packaged Food
• Manual Can Opener
• Paper Plates and Utensils
• Batteries
• Flashlight
• Baby Wipes
• Battery Powered Radio
• First Aid Kit
• Prescription Medication
• Hygiene Products
• Liquid Hand Sanitizer
• Sleeping Bag
• Change of Clothes
• Lock Box for keys, cash, credit cards
• Identification and Important Documents
• Tool Box with Tools
• Cell Phone with extra battery
• Special Items for Infants and the Elderly

Know Evacuation Routes

1. Know the evacuation routes and if your area has been advised to evacuate do so. Keep a sleeping bag, change of clothes for all family members and a full tank of gas in your vehicle to ensure that you have a way to leave when advised to do so.
2. Get enough water to last each person for seven days. A good rule of thumb is to provide one gallon of water per person for seven days.
3. Select enough food to last up to seven days. Items should be non-perishable and include canned goods and packaged foods that are easy to open and eat. You should also make sure that you have enough food for babies, the elderly and those who are on a special diet. Keep plenty of paper plates and plastic utensils on hand. A manual can opener will ensure that you can open canned goods easily and without electricity.
4. Purchase a flashlight and battery operated radio. Make sure that you have enough spare batteries on hand. The radio will be useful after the storm and will notify you of future weather conditions and any emergency warnings.
5. Add baby wipes and other personal hygiene products to your kit. The baby wipes are excellent for cleaning when access to running water is gone. Using an alcohol based hand sanitizer will also prevent the spread of dangerous germs that tend to increase after hurricanes.
6. Keep a first aid kit well stocked and include any prescription medications as well as physician information in the kit.
7. Seal important documents in a waterproof bag and store in your waterproof locked box. You should also include medical records for pets and keep spare keys to vehicles and your home in the box as well.
8. Get cash or credit cards. Banks may be closed during the aftermath of the hurricane and access to ATM machines might be limited.
9. Use a cell phone and keep it fully charged with an additional spare battery. Landlines may be down after a hurricane and your cell phone will serve as your primary means of communication.
10. Keep a basic tool kit on hand.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have been advised to evacuate do so; never take chances and think that you can outrun the storm.
• Turn the breakers off to your home before evacuating.
• Contact your gas company and ask their recommendations regarding shutting down the gas before evacuating.
• Downed power lines are prevalent after a storm.