Hurricane Kits
Natural disaster safety kits
Every year, families all over the United States get inconvenienced or stranded by hurricanes. Notwithstanding the fact that hurricanes can be dangerous, they can also leave you and your family without power, running water or the ability to get supplies. The effects of Hurricane Katrina, perhaps the worst hurricane in recent history, continue to leave many people without the basic amenities that we take for granted every day.
There are two types of hurricane kits available to help you and your family prepare for a violent storm. Hurricane emergency kits (or hurricane survival kits) are designed to help you and your family members sustain yourselves after the storm has hit. Hurricane safety kits are geared more toward protecting yourself, your family and your home from damage from the storm, like flooding.
Hurricane Emergency Kits
Hurricane emergency kits should contain at least one gallon of bottled water per person for at least seven days; enough non-perishable food to last three to seven days; blankets and clothing; toiletries and special hygiene items (these can include diapers and other items for a baby or medication for the sick and elderly); and a first aid kit. Many people also include sunscreen and bug spray in their hurricane survival kits, as exposure to the elements and to insects after a hurricane can make you very sick. Shovels are another helpful item, should you find yourself blocked in by landslides.
Hurricane Safety Kits
Hurricane safety kits are separate from hurricane survival kits, but are also important. A hurricane safety kit should include flares, an ax to chop out of a blocked house, sand bags to block your home against a flood and proper clothing to protect you against the elements, such as rain gear and a thermal blanket.
Many people also include a generator and a battery-powered radio or TV to keep current on hurricane watch updates if the power goes out. Another good idea is to secure important documents in a strong box or safe so they won’t be destroyed during the hurricane.
The best thing you can do for your family in advance of a storm is to practice hurricane safety. Have a plan in place for when severe weather approaches and practice drills so that your family knows what to do in a real emergency. If you are prepared for a natural disaster, you have a better chance of coming out of it safely.
