Please let what's happening in New Orleans spur you to get your own emergency kit together!

Things you really need:

Canned and bagged food to last a week. And a can opener that doesn't need electricity or all cans need pop tops.

Water to last three weeks. You don't need to buy commercial bottled water. I save milk cartons, wash them, and fill them with tap water. I have 25 bottles lined up in the garage in time order, and recycle the oldest as I add a new one. Or you can empty them and re-fill on your birthday every year.

Cash to last a while. ATMs might not work for several days.

A crank ...