Canned beans (black, pinto, cannellini, etc.)
Canned fruits
Olives (black and green)
Mixed nuts
Dry-roasted chickpeas or edamame
Dried fruits (dates, apricots, etc.)
Peanut butter
Bread
Crackers
Chips
Popped popcorn
Honey
Cereal
Granola bars
Powdered milk
Fruits that don't need refrigeration: apples, oranges, lemons
Tea and coffee
Hot cocoa mix
Juice drinks
Cookies
Instant pudding in individual serving cups
Applesauce in individual serving cups
Dark chocolate
Tools:
Manual can opener
Paper plates
Disposable eating utensils
Paper towels
Drinking cups/mugs
Matches or lighter in waterproof container
Trash bags
Flashlight
Battery powered radio
Extra batteries for all
Dust mask
Toilet paper, moist towelettes, plastic bucket with a tight lid, trash bags and plastic ties for sanitation
Wrench, etc to turn off utilities
Gazetteer and local maps
Utility knife
Nice to have:
Lifestraw
Leatherman
Solar charger
Plastic sheeting, nails, duct tape
Essentials:
1 gallon of water per person per day (at least) x 3 days or more
3 meals per person per day x 3 days or more
First aid kit (see below)
Candles (crayons will burn like candles for 30 minutes; a piece of cotton string in a can of shortening lasts up to 45 days; supervise open flames carefully!)
Solar lantern
Headlamp with extra batteries
Honey
Cereal
Granola bars
Powdered milk
Fruits that don't need refrigeration: apples, oranges, lemons
Tea and coffee
Hot cocoa mix
Juice drinks
Cookies
Instant pudding in individual serving cups
Applesauce in individual serving cups
Dark chocolate
Tools:
Manual can opener
Paper plates
Disposable eating utensils
Paper towels
Drinking cups/mugs
Matches or lighter in waterproof container
Trash bags
Flashlight
Battery powered radio
Extra batteries for all
Dust mask
Toilet paper, moist towelettes, plastic bucket with a tight lid, trash bags and plastic ties for sanitation
Wrench, etc to turn off utilities
Gazetteer and local maps
Utility knife
Nice to have:
Lifestraw
Leatherman
Solar charger
Plastic sheeting, nails, duct tape
Essentials:
1 gallon of water per person per day (at least) x 3 days or more
3 meals per person per day x 3 days or more
First aid kit (see below)
Candles (crayons will burn like candles for 30 minutes; a piece of cotton string in a can of shortening lasts up to 45 days; supervise open flames carefully!)
Solar lantern
Headlamp with extra batteries
All prescription meds
Plain chlorine bleach (not scented, color safe, or cleaners added)
Medicine dropper (9 parts water to 1 part bleach = disinfectant; 16 drops per gallon = emergency drinking water)
Pet supplies: meals and water x 7 or more days, bowls, litter box, scoop, litter, medications, carriers, collars with identification tags, leash, toys, beds
Important family documents: will and health care documents, insurance policies, deeds, stock certificates, bank account numbers, original loan documents, credit card account numbers, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, Social Security card, pet ownership and shot records, photographs and photo albums
Cash
Full tank of gas
Emergency reference materials: first aid, essential phone numbers, family contact numbers
Sleeping bag, blankets, pillows
Towels and washcloths
Complete change of clothing, including sturdy shoes and a long-sleeved shirt
Rain gear
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Fire extinguisher
Personal hygiene items
Paper and pencil
Games, cards, and other pasttimes that don't require electricity
Disinfectant
Dishwashing liquid
Bug Out Kit (in case of evacuation):
Medications
Toiletries essentials
Documents box
Phone
Phone charger
Computer
Power cords
Contact numbers
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Towel
Baby wipes
Complete change of clothes
Jacket
Poncho
Waterproof closed shoes
Sunglasses
Cards
Books
Cat food
Litter box
Litter
First Aid Kit:
Two pairs of latex gloves
Sterile dressing to stop bleeding
Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes
Antibiotic ointment
Burn ointment
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
Eye wash solution
Thermometer
Prescription medications
Prescribed medical supplies such as blood pressure machine, glucose monitoring kit, etc.
Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid
Laxative
Scissors
Tweezers
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Advance Procedures:
Sign up for emergency alerts with FEMA or the Red Cross.
Create an evacuation plan with your family: Where will you meet if you get separated? What's the plan for pets, elderly, children, etc.?
Assess your risk: do your homework about your family's top concerns.
Consider using Facebook's Safety Check feature so others know you're okay.
Write down important names, numbers, and addresses (so you can access them without power).
Assemble an evacuation kit in case you have to leave: essential clothing, documents, medicines, pet food and supplies, etc.
Document your house's contents and store photos in a safe place (online, safe deposit box, distant family member, etc.).
Consider hurricane shutters for your house's windows.
Storm Prep:
Fill the bathtub with water before it's turned off or contaminated (use that water for bathing and bucket-flushing the toilet).
Learn how to bucket-flush the toilet.
Bring inside or otherwise secure plants, trash cans, outdoor furniture, anything that could blow away or become a projectile.
Plain chlorine bleach (not scented, color safe, or cleaners added)
Medicine dropper (9 parts water to 1 part bleach = disinfectant; 16 drops per gallon = emergency drinking water)
Pet supplies: meals and water x 7 or more days, bowls, litter box, scoop, litter, medications, carriers, collars with identification tags, leash, toys, beds
Important family documents: will and health care documents, insurance policies, deeds, stock certificates, bank account numbers, original loan documents, credit card account numbers, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, Social Security card, pet ownership and shot records, photographs and photo albums
Cash
Full tank of gas
Emergency reference materials: first aid, essential phone numbers, family contact numbers
Sleeping bag, blankets, pillows
Towels and washcloths
Complete change of clothing, including sturdy shoes and a long-sleeved shirt
Rain gear
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Fire extinguisher
Personal hygiene items
Paper and pencil
Games, cards, and other pasttimes that don't require electricity
Disinfectant
Dishwashing liquid
Bug Out Kit (in case of evacuation):
Medications
Toiletries essentials
Documents box
Phone
Phone charger
Computer
Power cords
Contact numbers
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Towel
Baby wipes
Complete change of clothes
Jacket
Poncho
Waterproof closed shoes
Sunglasses
Cards
Books
Cat food
Litter box
Litter
First Aid Kit:
Two pairs of latex gloves
Sterile dressing to stop bleeding
Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes
Antibiotic ointment
Burn ointment
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
Eye wash solution
Thermometer
Prescription medications
Prescribed medical supplies such as blood pressure machine, glucose monitoring kit, etc.
Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid
Laxative
Scissors
Tweezers
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Advance Procedures:
Sign up for emergency alerts with FEMA or the Red Cross.
Create an evacuation plan with your family: Where will you meet if you get separated? What's the plan for pets, elderly, children, etc.?
Assess your risk: do your homework about your family's top concerns.
Consider using Facebook's Safety Check feature so others know you're okay.
Write down important names, numbers, and addresses (so you can access them without power).
Assemble an evacuation kit in case you have to leave: essential clothing, documents, medicines, pet food and supplies, etc.
Document your house's contents and store photos in a safe place (online, safe deposit box, distant family member, etc.).
Consider hurricane shutters for your house's windows.
Storm Prep:
Fill the bathtub with water before it's turned off or contaminated (use that water for bathing and bucket-flushing the toilet).
Learn how to bucket-flush the toilet.
Bring inside or otherwise secure plants, trash cans, outdoor furniture, anything that could blow away or become a projectile.
Trim loose branches and palm fronds.
Pay bills in advance (electricity may be off for a week or more).
Pay bills in advance (electricity may be off for a week or more).
Take photos of inside and outside of house to document pre-storm condition. Upload to a secure site.
Charge all devices and chargers.
Charge all devices and chargers.
Make wacky cake.
Clean the house and do the laundry (because if you lose electricity and water, at least you can start with everything clean).
Make extra ice and fill up the freezer with it (it will stay cold longer if full).
Clean the house and do the laundry (because if you lose electricity and water, at least you can start with everything clean).
Make extra ice and fill up the freezer with it (it will stay cold longer if full).
Make cold coffee for when the power is out.
Fill Nalgene water bottles and freeze. (Fill 3/4 full to allow for expansion.)
Eat up as much perishable food as possible.
Stow most important papers in ziplock bags or waterproof containers.
Eat up as much perishable food as possible.
Stow most important papers in ziplock bags or waterproof containers.
Set up hotspot on phone so laptop can connect (need internet connection to do this).
If you think they could be damaged, turn off the gas, water, and electric at the source; unplug electronics (TV, microwave, computer, etc.).
Follow instructions from emergency management agencies.
Don't leave companion animals home alone! Many shelters now accept pets; research those in advance. Many hotels will waive their no-pet policies in advance of a storm.
If You Stay:
Prepare a place away from windows where you can weather the storm.
Each person should have on them: flashlight, whistle, identification.
Add blankets, snacks, etc. to make the refuge comfortable.
Pets may be safest and most comfortable in carriers. Use your own judgment on this. If flooding is expected, provide access to higher places such as countertops.
Stay calm and speak to your family and animals in a soothing voice.
If things look really bad, write your name on your forearm to make identification easier.
Afterwards:
Stay inside until the storm has passed.
If you have evacuated, only return when you are sure it is safe to do so; roads may be blocked, eroded, flooded, or unsafe.
Look carefully for downed power lines and other hazards before going outside.
Inspect the exterior of your house for downed power cables, damaged gas lines, cracks in foundation or beams, trees fallen or ready to fall.
Note sounds and odors; if you smell gas or hear a hissing noise, call the fire department.
Use a flashlight (not a candle!) to assess interior damage.
Inspect small appliances for frayed cords, exposed wires, or loose connections.
Larger appliances should be checked by a service company before restarting, if exposed to the elements.
Take pictures of all damage and make notes for insurance claims before clean-up.
Kitchen Strategy Afterwards:
Only open the fridge and freezer when absolutely necessary, to help them stay cold longer.
Eat refrigerated fresh food first, on day one, because it will spoil quickly: leftovers and other home-cooked food, anything open that says "refrigerate after opening," milk, butter, anything else with animal products.
Next: moderately perishable food such as leafy greens.
After that: firm, hard, or uncut vegetables.
A huge stir-fry will work to bring things together, or do a big grill meal, or a soup or stew; share with your neighbors.
On day two, use up the freezer food: start with the most expensive items, but anything that thaws has to be cooked immediately or thrown out.
Keep a record of everything you have to throw away, because insurance may cover it.
Try and include a protein (meat or beans) with every meal, plus vegetables and fruit.
On day three without power, toss whatever's left in the fridge and freezer; that ship has sailed.
Adapted from Good Housekeeping magazine, Aug. 2016, p. 67, and various sources.
If you think they could be damaged, turn off the gas, water, and electric at the source; unplug electronics (TV, microwave, computer, etc.).
Follow instructions from emergency management agencies.
Don't leave companion animals home alone! Many shelters now accept pets; research those in advance. Many hotels will waive their no-pet policies in advance of a storm.
If You Stay:
Prepare a place away from windows where you can weather the storm.
Each person should have on them: flashlight, whistle, identification.
Add blankets, snacks, etc. to make the refuge comfortable.
Pets may be safest and most comfortable in carriers. Use your own judgment on this. If flooding is expected, provide access to higher places such as countertops.
Stay calm and speak to your family and animals in a soothing voice.
If things look really bad, write your name on your forearm to make identification easier.
Afterwards:
Stay inside until the storm has passed.
If you have evacuated, only return when you are sure it is safe to do so; roads may be blocked, eroded, flooded, or unsafe.
Look carefully for downed power lines and other hazards before going outside.
Inspect the exterior of your house for downed power cables, damaged gas lines, cracks in foundation or beams, trees fallen or ready to fall.
Note sounds and odors; if you smell gas or hear a hissing noise, call the fire department.
Use a flashlight (not a candle!) to assess interior damage.
Inspect small appliances for frayed cords, exposed wires, or loose connections.
Larger appliances should be checked by a service company before restarting, if exposed to the elements.
Take pictures of all damage and make notes for insurance claims before clean-up.
Kitchen Strategy Afterwards:
Only open the fridge and freezer when absolutely necessary, to help them stay cold longer.
Eat refrigerated fresh food first, on day one, because it will spoil quickly: leftovers and other home-cooked food, anything open that says "refrigerate after opening," milk, butter, anything else with animal products.
Next: moderately perishable food such as leafy greens.
After that: firm, hard, or uncut vegetables.
A huge stir-fry will work to bring things together, or do a big grill meal, or a soup or stew; share with your neighbors.
On day two, use up the freezer food: start with the most expensive items, but anything that thaws has to be cooked immediately or thrown out.
Keep a record of everything you have to throw away, because insurance may cover it.
Try and include a protein (meat or beans) with every meal, plus vegetables and fruit.
On day three without power, toss whatever's left in the fridge and freezer; that ship has sailed.
Adapted from Good Housekeeping magazine, Aug. 2016, p. 67, and various sources.
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