Preparing for a Hurricane or Other Emergency

Hurricane season is underway, with destructive and deadly  storms like Hurricane Helene and now Milton.  It’s important to be ready for an emergency because sometimes you have just minutes to evacuate safely.

Pack a Grab & Go Bag now so you are ready for storms, fire, or even a family emergency that requires immediate travel.

Preparation is the difference between panic and being calm and collected, even the difference between life and death..

This list of must have items is from sources including FEMA and the NYC Dept. of Emergency Management, and it applies to anywhere you live that might be in the path of a hurricane, flash flood or tornado, so you can be ready in moment to grab and go.  

See Also

Why You Need Travel Insurance

Auto Rental Insurance Do’s and Don’ts

What to Pack in a Grab & Go Emergency Bag

Avoid Buying a Water-Damaged Vehicle

FEMA Suggests

• One gallon of water per person per day, including for pets.
• Three-day supply of non-perishable food per person and per pet, including infant formula and diapers

Copies of Your Important Documents

Pack these in a waterproof container.  This should include insurance cards, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.

• Make those copies now, before you need them in an emergency.
• Take photos of important documents on your smartphone, and put them in a folder, to have them handy.
• Put copies of important documents on a portable jump drive, to put in your emergency bag, in case your phone gets wet or runs out of power

Extra Set of House Keys and Car Keys or Fob

• Ditto, make that spare set of keys now, before you need them in an emergency.
• Get a spare car fob, just for your emergency bag.

Printed Maps

• If there’s no power, you can’t use Google Maps or Waze for an escape route, so you’ll need a gold old-fashioned paper map.

Cash and Credit and ATM Cards

• If the power is out, ATM machines won’t work.  And even if they did, they are likely to have run out of cash before you get there.
• Keep at least $50-$100 on hand, especially in small denominations.  Plus a few dollars in coins, especially quarters.

Bottled Water and Non-Perishable foods

• Have a supply of energy or granola bars, and high-protein foods such as canned sardines.
• Also pack utensils and plates.

Flashlight

• Traditional flashlight bulbs have limited lifespans, and batteries can be heavy.
• Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlights are more durable and last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.

Battery-Operated AM/FM Radio and Extra Batteries

• Fully charge your phone and other electronics before the storm, in case the power goes out.
• Also pack a portable device charger – make sure it’s fully charged before you pack it.
• Solar chargers are a great idea if there’s no electricity

List of Medications Each Member of Your Household Takes

• The list should include why they take them, and their dosages.
• Include both brand names and generic equivalents.
• If you store extra medication in a pre-packed Go Bag, be sure to refill it before it expires.

First Aid Kit

• Either a store-bought, pre-packaged kit, or one you put together yourself.
• First aid kits should contain – at the minimum – bandages and gauze, antiseptic lotion or wipes, even bug repellent for those annoying creatures who love humid weather.

Meeting Place Information

• Old-fashioned paper maps won’t drain precious juice from your phone or tablet.

Child Care Supplies or Other Special Care Items

• A several-day supply of diapers and baby food, and a change of clothing.

Video Content of Your Home

• Do a walk-through of your home to take video of its contents.
• If your home is destroyed, this will be valuable information for your insurance company to see what was lost.

Packing Your Emergency Grab & Go Bag

A Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy, easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels, and it should be easy to find, grab and go if you have to leave your home in a hurry.

• A Go Bag should be ready to go at all times of the year.

Let’s hope you don’t need it.  But it always pays to be prepared.

This article was posted originally in Sept. 2017, when Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Maria were in the headlines, and is updated annually for each subsequent annual hurricane season, including 2024.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as the president of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) and is editor of the outdoor sports website Seniors Skiing.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter