It is always good to be prepared for any emergency. It would help save lives and property. If you live in an area where hurricanes are common, then it is a wise practice to have a hurricane readiness kit. This kit is your life saver that would help you make it through.

• The first in your list should be water and food that would last for at least a week. Place water in water jugs or in gallons because you need to have a lot of this that should last for days just in case. There should be water for drinking, for cleaning and sanitation purposes. Remember to stock a lot of dry foods, canned foods, instant coffee and drinks. Have a manual can opener available. Remember to have extra paper plates and cups, paper napkins and other disposable containers used for eating and cooking. If you have a baby or young children, have a good supply of milk formulas and powdered milk for easier use.

• Remember to have a first aid kit ready complete with a first aid manual. Put pictures of your family into your kit just in case you may have a need for them. Place your medicines in a bag. Keep extra batteries for flashlights. It would be wise to buy a battery operated radio for your use.

• Include matches, plastic garbage bags and extra toiletries. Keep a duct tape for your use to fix and secure things. Keep clothes that would be warm enough for everybody, have extra blankets and sleeping bags. Remember to have disinfectants such as household bleach to keep your areas clean. Keep a good supply of detergents, soaps for bathing, toothpastes and shampoos available for use for several days.

• Have a fire extinguisher ready and make sure to teach everyone how to use it.

• Remember to have dry foods or canned foods for your pets.

• It would be good to have extra cash in small denominations just in case. Remember to keep all your legal documents in a secure area. Keep a local map ready and a list of the contact numbers of your immediate friends and families to keep in touch.

• Make a plan on how to get everything in order just in case there is a need to evacuate from your home. Try to learn about your community’s emergency plan, evacuation and emergency centers. Be sure to check on your electrical wirings, water and gas supplies and identify the potential dangers that these may cause and do immediate fixes to secure them.

• Listen to radio or TV announcements for more updates of the emergency. If you are asked to move out to a safe shelter, make sure to turn off everything in your place.

If there is no need to evacuate, then just secure your place the best you can. Stay indoors and wait for your community’s signal if it would be safe to go out. Stay away from windows and doors; better yet secure these with hard plywood or boards for your safety. Best of all stay focused and don’t panic.

Jonathan Pitts

Copyrighted material; do not reprint without permission.

 

View all articles by Jonathan Pitts