Hurricane season is a great time for everyone to check on their emergency supplies. Even if you don't live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, there is no telling how the weather associated with a hurricane could impact your life. This article from accuweather.com points out that while the hurricane will likely hit the Southeastern United States, there is a potential for widespread flash flooding all along the Atlantic seaboard.
Since we are in the midst of hurricane season and Hurricane Irene is poised to hit the Southeastern United States by the end of the week, I thought the five tips that one of our readers had to share would be particularly helpful and could serve as a great reminder for any of you that live in the path of Hurricane Irene.
Preparing for a Hurricane
1. Prepare as much as you can now. You will be surprised how hard it is to get things like gasoline and groceries when a disaster is coming or has hit. Preparation can save you a lot of time waiting in lines with people who are stressed and hurried. Make a plan and take steps to prepare your family. Before the hurricane hit, I waited in line with my infant to buy gas. The credit machines were not functioning properly. Having cash on hand in small bills saved time and stress. (Not needing gas in the first place would have been even better!) People were flocking to the stores to buy bread, water, and food that could be easily heated and eaten. After the storm, stores had less employees working and people had to wait in line to have a turn to go in. The frozen food section was blocked off with caution tape, and the convenience foods had still not been replenished. Have ample food stored ahead of time and be sure it is food you are comfortable preparing and like to eat.
2. Have a way to heat your food. Sure, you can eat it straight from the can, but your family is already under stress, and it is so much nicer if you can make things as close to normal as possible. Having a way to prepare simple foods, such as a camp stove, gas stove (if your gas hasn’t been turned off), solar oven, or other method of cooking will be invaluable.
3. Water storage is a must. After the hurricane, the quality of the water was not yet determined to be completely safe. But since we had water storage, I could make bottles for my infant without concern.
4. Have some forms of entertainment that don’t need to be plugged in. A loss of electrical power will be just plain boring and stressful if you don’t have some means of keeping yourself, and your children, entertained while you wait for things to get back to normal, especially if your husband is gone helping with the clean up efforts. Having games, coloring books, and means of occupying your children that don’t require electricity will go a long way to help everyone stay happy – and you may even Replace that you enjoy the break from other distractions.
5. Have medications on hand. This is an obvious one, but very important. A disaster is not the time to be attempting to contact your doctor or pharmacist. Have extra medications, as well as medicine for general ailments, stored safely away from where children can reach them, and have enough to get you through at least a few days to a week.
The approaching hurricane season is a good time to take an inventory and see how prepared you are for any dangerous weather that may come your way. Any steps you can take beforehand, any amount of time and money you can afford to spend now, will be well spent.
-- Coleen, TX
If you have any other tips that you have learned through dealing with hurricanes, please leave them in the comments section! We would love to hear from everyone who has experienced a hurricane of any size.
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15 comments
Nikki
Hi Sarah,
I think you missed Lynn's main point, which I would like to elaborate on.
You said, "…I still keep formula (and water to make it) on hand because – in any emergency…"
Lynn said, "…keep in mind that powdered infant formula is inherently unsterile….So if you don't nurse, please store liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formulas for those more vulnerable babies."
The point I would like to elaborate on is the why—- if you are wanting to store alternative food for you baby, powdered formula is not considered the first choice. In an emergency situation, studies have shown that powdered formula may actually increase the infant's risk of death.
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/pif_guidelines.pdf
HTH
Sarah
I think Lynn left great advice but I feel that nursing mothers should still be prepared with formula for their babies. Even though I nurse I still keep formula (and water to make it) on hand because – in any emergency – you just never know what will happen. Mom and baby may be separated. Mom may go into shock or have some sort of injury that prevents nursing. Worst case scenario is that mom is killed – then what about that baby who has nothing to eat because "mom was nursing?" Breastfeeding is FANTASTIC but we still need to prepare a plan for our most vulnerable family members – and then pray that we never need it.
Toni
I live in IL. and obviously do not have to worry about preparing for a hurricane, although there are sooooo many other scary things to prepare for (flooding,drought,etc.)! I think all of this information would be helpful to different people for different situations. My prayers are with all those going through the hurricanes. I am a person who wants to be prepared for anything but I am unsure how much is ever enough to make you feel secure?
Darlene
Instead of spending $100 or more for a Potty in a box, buy a Port-a-potty.
I just Googled "camping porta-potty" And the one I bought in 1984 now costs about $70.00.
I purchased one for about $50 years ago. It's seen me through potty-training/traveling with kids, no well/no water/no septic tank on the property I lived on. Not to mention the hurricanes that are fairly common in FL.
And it was one of the more expensive ones that has two containers in it. The top container holds clean water for "flushing" and the bottom container holds the "black water". It has a regular seat ring that lifts with a lid that will open and close. The bottom holds about 5 gallons of refuse. It has a pour spout with an air release so it doesn't spatter when emptying it. I used this for about 8 years before I had water/septic on the land. I'd go out and dig a hole about 4' deep and about 3' around, empty the container and fill the dirt back in.
It's been a great investment.
(No association with any company, just years of experience using one.)
Anonymous
i think everything has been covered a few timnes here except one most crucial and importat item. WATER FOR FLUSHING TOILET DEBRIS!!! Go to sam's and buy the toilet in a box $100. (At Lowes closer to $300+)
1.1 gallon to flush yellow and 2.1. to flush brown. normal is near 3/5 depending on age of toilet gallon to flush the average toilet.
Now taht I have your attentin. Know anyone with a cat that uses kitty litter? Good. I usually buy 40 pound buckets for my three and ran out. so off to the local grocer. Hmmm what do we have here. Kitty litter in a jug? which when empty will hold over three liquid gallons. lined up in the bottom of my linen closet which no one even knows exists I have stored 18 gallons of flush water. (btw this is also drinkable water)
Doesn't sound like much but I can assure you if you follow this rule your water will stretch further then even you can imagine. "If its yellow let it mellow if its brown send it down". No there is no built up oder with a lid down. Please rembemer this guys. unless brown, once a day, 1.1 gallon of water is used and THaT IS DONE JUST BEFORE LIGHTS OUT. (IF YOU HAve them)No one knows what is in the bottome of their closets. SO How about storing up 20 gallon per person in each closet.
I live in the mountains. No shortage of water. Springs abound. Free too:) But having lived in the city and had no water for over a week due to a ruptured water main that was older then George Burns, Well I learned.
Now I looked out the window and it is raining like the floods of Noah. Gee I wonder if the cat wants to go out:)
Joi in WV
Ruby
Salted nuts or pretzels, or even Pringles, become very important during the cleanup because you sweat so very much more than usual. For the same reason, every working-age person should have a cotton sweatband for his or her head.
When I had small children, I stocked apple juice and packets of Kool Aid to color/flavor them. I also stocked bottled water, to thin the flavored apple juice to a healthier consistency for heavily sweating kids.
Shake-powered flashlights rust out quickly in humid climates. Get at least one crank-powered flashlight for the kids and one for an adult.
Look for the crank-up flashlights that will also power your cell phone. After Katrina, Sprint was useless but our cell phones worked just fine.
Own a large tarp and a roll of duct tape before the storm comes. When blue roofs freckle your city, those tarps become as valuable as they are rare.
Lunch-box sized boxes of milk are just the right size to doctor up a bowl of cereal.
topogigio
I would like to thank this CO. and all of you that have posted some wonderful ideas!I will consider much of this info. Topogigio
Matzmaw
We spent 11 miserable days without power after IKE in 2008. I filled the tubs with water so we could flush the toilets, had plenty of bottled water (although we didn't lose our water), canned goods, and MRE's, so we didn't starve.
The greatest thing we had was a small Sterno stove that burned canned liquid fuel. I was able to cook food from the fridge and freezer before it spoiled, and we could have our morning coffee (instant, yuk, but better than nothing), and evening tea. Such a small thing that meant so much
I also had plenty of batteries which powered my small tv, and radio. Also, had a plug in phone that didn't require electricity so we weren't cut off from the world. I have now purchased a DTV with rechargeable battery, and both my cell phone and tv have car chargers.
I hope we NEVER have to experience another IKE, but if we do, we'll be prepared. I have replenished my MRE supplies from your wonderful company, and the ones I have tried are delicious!!
I love this website! Thanks for all the preparedness tips!!
MikeL
I've been through several hurricanes and FloridaBelle has the answer. You should have as much cash or credit cards from national banks that will work everywhere. If you have to evacuate, have pictures or videos of your belongings and your insurance papers. After Katrina, they wouldn't accept checks from small credit unions located in New Orleans.
Lynn
I understand that sometimes things don't work out the way we want, but please, please do whatever you can to breastfeed if you are pregnant or the mother of an infant. Then you don't have to give a second thought to safely preparing formula or even safe foods for older babies, because they can just nurse. Also keep in mind that powdered infant formula is inherently unsterile (because of the spray-drying process) and should not be fed to babies who are younger than 4 weeks old, or to premies or otherwise compromised babies. So if you don't nurse, please store liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formulas for those more vulnerable babies.
FloridaBelle
Having lived in Florida all of my life, I have been through numerous hurricanes.
The first and most important thing to keep in mind is: Don't Panic, Prepare, Pay Attention and do NOT go outside when the eye passes over..
Make sure someone in family who lives outside of the state has all of your personal contact information including cell phone numbers, address of home and work, and e-mail addresses.
Make sure your emergency contacts have your updated and current local emergency phone numbers for the sheriff’s department, police department, red cross, church office, local hospitals, etc..
Make sure your vehicles gas tanks; oil, brake fluid and transmission fluids are full.
Make sure your cell phones are completely charged before the storm hits, have a fully charged battery backup and a hand crank charger.
Make sure your battery operated radios work so you can listen to storm updates.
Have your Bug Out Bags checked, filled and ready to go in case you need to evacuate. Make sure emergency contact information is correct, family pictures, and medical information are up to date
Make sure you have enough food, water and snacks to last at least 5 days.
Fill your coolers with ice. You can store insulin, food, fruit in zip lock backs in the iced cooler.
If you have a freezer fill 1 and 2 liter bottles 3/4 full with water and use to fill the empty spaces of your freezer to help prevent rapid thawing should power be lost.
If don’t have a generator and can afford to buy a power inverter and a deep cycle marine battery buy them. You can run a fridge or freezer to maintain the temperatures by rotating time between a fridge or freezer. You can alternate running a fan, lap top or medical equipment such as nebulizers, Oxygen concentrators, CPAP equipment using a power inverter with a deep charge marine battery.
Do NOT use gas grills, charcoal grills or wood fueled grills inside your home during storm conditions, Carbon Monoxide poisoning or a structure fire is the last thing you need to worry about or deal with.
Make sure your tools are easily accessible to you in case you’re stuck inside after the storm..
Tarps, enough to cover your roofs surface in case you lose the roof or debris has done damage to the roof or your home…
Know how to turn your gas, water and electricity off at the mains.
Do NOT allow children to wonder outside after the storm due to, power lines down, snakes, debris, scared animal roaming..
Do NOT allow children to play in any standing or pooled water..
DO have enough batteries to keep the kids hand held games powered up, their MP3 powered up, make sure your portable DVD players are charged up, have playing cards, crayons, markers, and play dough on hand…
Let your kids help you put together a kids entertainment and survival kit..
Make sure you kids have their security bear/doll/shirt/hat and backups available.
Make sure your flash lights and lanterns are working and that you have enough batteries.
Have 30 gallon or larger Glad Contractors garbage bags on hand for many different uses. These bags are great Garbage, ponchos, debris, etc.
Make sure your yard is free and clear of debris.
Stow and store planters, yard tools and decorations in the garage.
Throw, sink and stow your lawn / patio furniture in your pool.
Cover your windows with plywood. Make sure you have at least one peep hole, 8 x2 inch opening , cut into 1 plywood window cover for each side of the house.
Make sure all pets are inside…
LDSMom
Been thru a couple of hurricanes in Tx. Candles and or flashlights are a must with a back up supply of batteries. We always have an extra propane canister for our barbecue filled on hand just in case. lots of firewood outside too so we can cook camp style if necessary. Food storage is a must. One thing you can do to prepare for the water storage is fill up your sinks and tubs with water so you will have some available to flush toilets with. Wet wipes come in real handy too. Books to read and board or card games to play with the kids is also good.
Anonymous
Although we not been through a hurricane ourselves we are faced with many of the same problems living in Alaska. For medicinal purposes hard to beat vinegar for cuts,burns,scrapes and cleaning and is not poisenous for animals or humans. I keep a bottle of half vinegar and water at all times in my kitchen for cuts and cleaning.
Kris Watson
A five gallon bucket and a roll of trash bags to line it with ought to be in the prep closet as well, as well as as much toilet paper as possible.
millenniumfly
While I've never been through a hurricane (and certainly wouldn't want to) I would imagine that a few other supplies such as a source of lighting (flashlights, lanterns, etc) as well as an ample first aid kit—besides meds—would be beneficial as well. Otherwise, these are all great suggestions for any disaster. Thanks.