How to Create a Disaster Preparedness Kit

How to Create a Disaster Preparedness Kit

It’s close to that time of the year when people begin planning vacations. But here in the South, there’s something else that people should prepare for: hurricane season. People who have lived in the region for years may think, “Aw, I got this. I know what to do. I have time.” However, there are reasons that they may have it less under control than they think. Let’s not be remiss. Having a disaster emergency kit is a good idea for everyone no matter where he/she lives. So, let’s talk. And frankly, maintaining a disaster plan and kit is a smart idea to have all year around.

Approximately four years ago, the world broke. Yeah, a little thing called a pandemic ran amuck and changed life as most of us knew it. At first, many of us thought we’d be held up for a week or two. Then that turned into months, and the months lagged into years. So, here we are, and many things haven’t returned to normal. Sure, the great toilet paper crisis is over, but there are still shortages. And not only that, goods are far more expensive than they were four years ago. Thus, running to the store to stock up on essentials a day before a storm comes ashore may no longer be possible.

So, what should be included in this disaster preparedness kit?

Three-day supply of food and water per person. It is best to have foods that do not require cooking or refrigeration. Don’t forget to include snacks. If you prepare your emergency kits far in advance, be sure to check the expiration dates on canned goods that have been stored for a while.It’s a good idea to have extra water for bathing and flushing toilets should there be a loss of water pressure or an issue of water pollution.Flashlights, lanterns, candles, matches.Backup generator.An emergency battery-powered radio to keep abreast of changing weather conditions and important news.Medications. This includes prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC). Don’t forget items such as glasses, extra contacts and contact solution, dentures, and adaptive equipment (e.g., contour pillows, arthritis creams, and special shampoos and lotions, etc.)First aid kid. (Check to ensure nothing contained in it has expired.)Three days’ worth of clothes and undergarmentsCordless chargers for cell phones, tablets, and laptops. Having more than one is beneficial, especially if several devices require charging. Remember, the power may be out for days or weeks. Be sure to charge the portable chargers in advance. They are useless if they aren’t.Extra batteries in all sizes. Don’t be caught not having enough or the right size batteries or batteries that have previously been used and don’t have a lot of juice left in them. As the saying goes: It is better to have and not need than to need and not have.Grooming and toiletries (e.g., deodorant, toothpaste, brush/comb, soap, shampoo, razors, feminine hygiene products, etc.)Emergency contact information and insurance cards/phone numbers. It is okay to have these things on your phone or on your computer but having an old-fashioned hard copy is wise. During Katrina, people were without power for weeks. People needed to conserve their computer and phone batteries as much as possible. Hunting through a contact list for a number uses battery power, provided that one still has juice in his/her phone. But no problem. Just charge it up in the car, right? Well, only if the car is electric or will charge without turning on the motor. Because during Katrina, there also was no gas.Cash. Many times, storms pass over, but when they don’t and leave destruction in their path, it may take days, weeks, or months to get back to semi-normal. This may lead to the closure of banks or an inability to use ATM machines. Shortly after Katrina, many businesses found themselves having to only accept cash payments because their cash registers and debit card readers were not functioning.Babie supplies (e.g., diapers, formula, teething rings, diaper rash cream, etc.)Furbabies supplies (e.g., food, bowls, leashes, crates, etc.)Garbage bags with ties. It is surprising how often this item is forgotten or overlooked. But one will be amazed at how much trash can accumulate in a few hours of being cooped up.Ziplock bags with seals. This may sound like a strange item to include but can be extremely useful if one finds himself/herself in an area where water or flooding is a problem. Ziplock bags can be used to protect items such as important documents, matches, or medications.Entertainment. This is especially important if you will be sheltering with children. You don’t want them bored because that will be a quick way to add gray hairs to your head and elevate your blood pressure. Board games and books are excellent because they do not require a power source.Pillows and blankets. This may not be an item everyone needs to include. However, if relocating to a safe area such as a basement, emergency shelter, or family or friend’s home to ride out the storm, one may feel more comfortable having items from home.Propane, charcoal, lighter fluid. If power is lost for a significant amount of time, foods in refrigerators and freezers may spoil. To prevent having to throw it all away, toss it on the grill or in a deep fryer.Gas. This isn’t something that you can put in your kit but is very important. Be sure to fill up your tank before any storm hits. Fuel shortages are not uncommon after natural disasters.Sentimental items. One thing frequently heard after a natural disaster is people expressing sadness of having lost items that are irreplaceable such as photos or tokens given to them by loved ones. Not everything can be put in a disaster preparedness kit, but do include those things that mean the most.

Honorable mentions:

Toilet paper. I was told by several colleagues to include this, and I think everyone can guess what prompted this.Backpacks. Backpacks are an excellent way to store all these items and keep them organized.Baking soda. This is a personal preference. If there was one thing that I learned from Katrina is that you do not want any food (especially poultry) to spoil in your refrigerator or freezer. Getting that odor out is terrible. There wasn’t a single box of baking soda to be found in the parish. To me, this is a must-have.Bug spray. With flood waters and rotting food comes an influx of pests (e.g., gnats, mosquitos, flies, maggots, roaches, etc.) And in the case of Katrina, it occurred right around the time the lovebugs were hatching or whatever it is that lovebugs do.Bug repellent. Not only will one want to exterminate pests, but having them not feast off your body is great, too.

And that’s all that I have. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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