Getting nervous about hurricane season?! At the end of this post I have included a FREE printable checklist to make sure you are prepared!
Go Bags
It’s a good idea to keep backpacks or hiking bags stocked and ready to go in case of an emergency requiring you to leave your house. If you need to get out of town fast due to an attack or other reason, you want your bags ready!
During the Baton Rouge flood of 2016 many people’s homes were flooded anywhere from inches to feet. People were rescued by boats or military vehicles and brought to shelters.
Several of my friends were in shelters with limited resources. They were glad for the things that they were able to bring with them at the last minute.
It’s also great to know that if a storm happens, if there is a boil water advisory, or if you lose power unexpectedly, you have a basic kit to keep you going!
The kit I assembled is divided into wet and dry items simply to make sure liquids don’t leak. Wet items include castile soap, toothpaste, and bottles of water.
Dry items include basic medications, first aid supplies, small tools, and, of course, a physical Bible. You don’t know if you will have power to charge a phone for your usual apps and resources or even a cell phone network to use.
Do not rely on technology for your emergency preparedness.
Clothing and Electronics Bag
In a separate bag I keep a change of clothes and electronics (such as portable battery power banks). I also save room for last minute items. This is great to have even if you are quickly leaving to a family member’s house due to high waters or prolonged power outage.
Nonperishable 2 week supply Food Bin
I keep a food bin with basic staples that would get us through 2 weeks without power after a hurricane. First we would cook whatever perishables we could on our camping stove and then move on to the food bin resources.
As we all saw with the pandemic, the grocery stores might not be well stocked in an unanticipated natural disaster, biological threat, or attack.
Having the food bin means even if you can’t get to the store, your family will have basic needs met. Make a reminder on your calendar so you don’t forget to rotate the items out before they expire.
We all know now that we need to keep our stock of toilet paper and disinfecting wipes replenished year round!
Important documents folder
Most important documents are available on the internet nowadays. However remembering usernames, passwords, and security question answers might be difficult due to stress. Also, again, there might not be internet or power to look these documents up.
You don’t want to have to wait for the internet to come back before you can file an insurance claim or access other important information.
Before the storm prep
Before a hurricane it’s always good to make sure you have some tarps and brick for any leaks in the roof from damage to shingles. Invest in a ladder if you don’t already have one.
We were caught off guard with a leak in our bedroom during Hurricane Isaac in 2011. Fortunately, I had my kit ready to go and we were able to put a tarp in place until the roof could be repaired.
A few days before the storm everyone will be scrambling to prepare. Since I keep my kit stocked all year, I just have to grab a few last minute items before securing the house.
Prepping the home
It’s a huge pain, but necessary, to put away the kids’ toys, lawn furniture, and cut down dead or loose branches.
Allow enough time before the storm hits to charge up all of your electronics! Then turn down the air conditioning and the temperature of your fridge/freezer.
A great tip to tell how much your freezer defrosted is to place a coin on top of a clear frozen cup of water in the freezer. If it sinks all the way to the bottom then you know the freezer fully thawed.
Then it is time to get cozy with the family and hunker down for the storm. Or if you are a healthcare worker like me, sometimes one must leave the family safe at home and ride out the storm at the hospital.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Pray for us!
