Food Supplies Get enough nonperishable foods now for two weeks. Then put them in a box and leave them alone. Don’t buy foods that are salty or dry or high in fat or protein; they’ll make you thirsty. - Water: 2 qts. to 1 gal. per person (get a week’s supply)
- Ice
- Packaged juice and milk boxes
- Canned and powdered milk
- Beverages (powdered or canned,
- Fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)
- Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, packaged pudding)
- Canned vegetables and fruits
- Dried fruits
- Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts)
- Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly)
- Cereals
- Raw vegetables
- Sugar, salt, pepper
- Bread
- Dry and canned pet food
- Extra formula, baby food
Baby Needs - Disposable diapers
- Wipes
- Diaper-rash ointment, petroleum jelly
- Baby medicines (pain, cold, cough)
- Medicine dropper
- Extra formula, baby food
Kitchen Supplies - Manual can opener
- Bottle opener
- Matches in a plastic bag
- Pocket knife (preferably Swiss Army-style)
- Camp stove or other cooking device and plenty of fuel. Use canned fuel, not charcoal or gas
- Ice chests or coolers
- Paper plates, napkins
- Plastic cups, knives, forks, spoons
Emergency Toilet - Small can or garbage can with tight lid
- Plastic bags for liners
- Disinfectant or bleach
- Deodorizer
Health & Medical Needs - Drugstores will be mobbed just before a storm and closed for days after. Keep a 2-week supply of prescription drugs.
- Medic Alert tags
- Insect repellent sprays and candles
- Feminine hygiene items
- Insect bite lotion
- Sunscreen
- Soap
- First-aid kit
- First-aid handbook
- Extra over-the-counter medicine (for colds, allergies)
- Children’s medicines
- Aspirin
- Diarrhea medication
- Bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Cotton-tipped swabs
- Antiseptic solution
- Sterile rolls, bandages
- Tweezers
- Needles
- Disinfectant
- Plastic bags, jugs or containers (to store water and ice)
- Water purification tablets
- Plastic to line bathtub
Hardware - Hand tools - hammer, screwdrivers to use now, shovel and pickax for after the storm
- Power screwdriver
- 4x8 ft sheets of plywood 3/8 inch to 12 inch thick to put over your windows. Make sure you ask for exterior plywood.
- 1/4 inch machine screw sockets and screws
- Plastic sheeting to cover furniture
- Rope
- Sturdy working gloves
- Duct tape to waterproof items. (Masking tape isn’t strong enough.)
Hardware continued - Canvas tarps
- Nails. There are many kinds, so look over your home now and determine what you will need. A nail too small, the wrong shape or hammered in wrong will fail, and that will give the storm the breach it needs to get into your home.
Hurricane Kit Assemble this now. Put aside in a special box in garage. Keep heat-sensitive items inside home and rotate stock throughout season. Batteries can go in refrigerator. - Flashlights and extra bulbs
- Battery-operated TV or Radio
- Fully charged battery-operated lanterns. Don’t get candles and kerosene lanterns. (They are fire hazards.)
- Extra batteries
- Matches
- Clock (wind-up or battery- operated)
- Plastic garbage bags
- Working fire extinguishers
- Scissors
- Toilet paper
- Clean change of clothes, rain gear, sturdy swamp boots you won’t mind throwing away later
- An inexpensive rabbit-ears television antenna to use when cable goes out *Note: Portatble TV’s will not work after the Feb. 17, 2009 DTV conversion. Please log on to www.abcactionnews.com/dtv for more information on how you can be prepared next year.
- Map of the area
- List of phone numbers
- Copy of insurance policy
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