How to Make a Hurricane Preparedness Kit

For anyone living along the coast, a hurricane preparedness kit is a home necessity. Putting together items in advance that will keep you and your loved ones safe and sound in the event of a major storm will save you time and worry as a hurricane approaches.

Things You'll Need

• Bottled water and non-perishable food items
• Bedding and clothing
• Standard tool kit and first aid kit
• Household paper and plastic goods and toiletries
• Medications and special needs items
• Important documents and photos
• Flashlights, candles, batteries and matches
• Battery-powered radio and entertainment items

Instructions

1. Assemble non-perishable food and drink items for your kit. When purchasing bottled water, buy at least 1 gallon of water per person in your family for up to 5 days. Assemble enough food for a 5-day period. Common items include canned vegetables, fruits, pastas, soups and canned or non-perishable packaged meats, such as tuna and chicken. Other items include peanut butter, fruit and breakfast bars, bottled juices or juice boxes, bread, crackers and flavored waters. Don't forget food items for infants, such as formula and baby food, or food items for special needs family members, those with specific food allergies, and food for pets.

2. Your hurricane preparedness kit should also include household products such as paper plates, plastic eating utensils, paper towels and baby wipes, plastic drinking cups, trash bags and one-gallon plastic bags, a manual can opener, scissors, toilet paper, hand soap, antibacterial wipes or gel, liquid dishwashing soap, personal hygiene items for men, women and infants, bug spray and disinfectant.

3. In the event of a power outage, your kit should include flashlights and additional AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries, a battery-powered radio, candles and matches. It's a good idea to include entertainment items such as books, toys, and board and card games.

4. Be sure to have a well-stocked first aid kit, necessary medications, a basic tool kit (to include a wrench to serve as a shut-off valve wrench for home gas and water valves), blankets and pillows for all family members, as well as a change of clothes and shoes for all family members. Other suggested items include comfort items for children, such as a favorite toy or doll, $50 in cash and plastic sheeting in the event of window breakage.

5. Items of high personal value and necessary documents should be kept together and be portable in the event of a catastrophic hurricane, hurricane evacuation or flooding. These items should be kept in a watertight bag or other watertight method of storage and should include insurance policies, personal addresses and phone numbers, investment documents, wills, deeds, immunization records, birth certificates, credit card policies, a current inventory of household goods with serial and model numbers, bank account numbers, plus valuable or irreplaceable photos, such as wedding or baby photos.

Tips & Warnings

• Reevaluate your hurricane preparedness kit on an annual basis and replace or add items as needed.

• Do not wait until the day or hours prior to a hurricane to put together a hurricane preparedness kit. It's always best to be prepared.

Resources

• National Hurricane Center Hurricane Supply Kit Checklist
• American Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Information