Sunday 21 July 2013

Folks Should Put Together A Hurricane Kit

By Eric Holm


Nowadays the threat of a hurricane seems more prevalent than ever. One possible explanation for this is the phenomenon of global warming. Regardless of cause, the prospect of getting caught up in a category four or five hurricane unprepared is a grim one indeed. As such, for those living in vulnerable areas, it would be prudent to have a hurricane kit on hand. In fact it would be wise to be prepared no matter where one lives.

The huge loss of properties and lives from hurricanes Katrina and Rita have made a lot of people realize that planning is as important as having hurricane preparedness and kits. Even before the hurricane season starts, everyone who lives in places that are usually hit by storms should already do house repairs if necessary. Roofs, windows, ceilings, basements or cellars should be checked for leaks, cracks and anything that could make your home more vulnerable to strong winds and rain brought by hurricanes. It is also necessary that every home should have some kind of action plan for when the hurricane hits. Special plans should also be in place for members of your family who are old, very young, or disabled.

Being prepared starts with putting together a good hurricane kit. Such a kit will contain all the basic stuff you and your family need, like water and food. Food items need to be nonperishable and periodically the expiration dates need to be checked. Replace food that is approaching the end of its shelf life with fresher items. The same holds true for water. The emergency kit should contain several gallons of drinking water, which should be replaced every 6 months with a new supply. Outdated, expired water and food will do no good when an emergency hits. Remember that it is likely you will be without power. So add to the kit things like candles and waterproof matches, flashlights and a small radio. If possible, go with a hand cranked radio and flashlight so you do not have to worry about batteries.

There is a big chance that your home will not survive the hurricane, so you should not forget to include important documents as part of your emergency kits. Just make sure that you put important papers inside waterproof document storage bags. You should also add into your hurricane emergency kits tools like shovels, axes and machetes to help you gather wood for cooking or help your family get out in case you are trapped inside your home.

Do not forget any medicine. That is one thing that people often forget but sometimes literally cannot live without. In addition to medicine, you also want to include anything related to children, the elderly or pets. Other stuff to have ready are blankets, clothes, personal hygiene items and sanitary products.




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